Bought four new tubes after the garage lights went out. I wanted to try to use T8 in my T12, so I tried one T8 and nothing on the other side. Light kind of zapped at one end for a split second, then nothing.
Same thing happened with a T12, the other side, etc. after each bulb was tried, they wouldn’t even zap/flicker again.
So did I kill the bulbs one by one by putting them in some wrong way, or do I have a screwed up fixture that will kill all bulbs or what? Any tips that don’t involve expensive electricians?
Most fixtures I have seen require bulbs installed in pairs for them to function. The exception would be a single bulb fixture.
Did you have two good bulbs installed?
Are these very old fixtures with starters?
Are you talking about a two tube fixture or a 4 tube fixture?
Most ballast are ment for two tubes. Before electronic ballast all ballast required both tubes be put in before the light will light, and some electronic ballast still requires both tubes.
T-8’s may not work in the fixture at all. What were the numbers on the tubes that you removed and what were the numbers on the new tubes? If the tubes will not light up when all lights are replaced then the ballast may be the problem. If you replace the ballast with some simple rewiring the fixture can be changed to T-8 tubes.
the bulb has to be seated well in the socket. on the metal end should be a mark (paint dot or dimple) on the metal that is at a right angle to the pins; this should point down when the bulb is properly seated.
twist the bulb in place using two hands, one on each end (or as close as you can reach towards it. if the socket is in good shape you will feel tension on turning and it will spring into place.
all the above about the fixture taking that bulb and using bulbs in all the sockets of the fixture.
Assuming you used the correct lamps, it almost sounds like the starter is stuck closed. If the fixture doesn’t use a discrete starter then you may need to replace the ballast.