Fluorescent Lights Changing Color?

[Chairman_Pow]

So, by my desk at work is a fluorescent light that is red, while the other lights are white. This is not too worrisome as the light is dimmer and occasionally flickers. I figure that maybe the ballast is going or else there’s a leak…whatever

But, on the el on the way home, I sat down and looked up. In a row of white fluorescent lights was…a blue one. Now, this didn’t appear to have the same characteristics as my flickering red one and it was only one bulb, right over my seat.

What’s going on here? Do I have reason to be paranoid, either because “they’re” marking me, or because mercury vapor is leaking out?

[DuhCow]

@Chairman Pow

So, by my desk at work is a fluorescent light that is red, while the other lights are white. This is not too worrisome as the light is dimmer and occasionally flickers. I figure that maybe the ballast is going or else there’s a leak…whatever

But, on the el on the way home, I sat down and looked up. In a row of white fluorescent lights was…a blue one. Now, this didn’t appear to have the same characteristics as my flickering red one and it was only one bulb, right over my seat.

What’s going on here? Do I have reason to be paranoid, either because “they’re” marking me, or because mercury vapor is leaking out?

they’re marking you, or it could be that they are using different gases in the tubes to make the light different colors, either way you’re screwed ;j

[Chefguy]

Flourescent lamps come in a wide spectrum of “heat” ratings, such as cool white, warm white, daylight, etc. Each of these different lamps produces a different color and is designed for a particular use. If you are seeing a blue lamp in the midst of a bunch of yellow lamps, it’s because the maintenance guy stuck the wrong tube in the light.