I've got a "no-name" clamp-on fluorescent fixture that no longer starts when the rocker switch is snapped from the off to the on position. The lamp has a polarized plug with an in-line black "brick" 7 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 1 3/8" that has the code "G0138" stamped above the code "GG10051F" on the bottom but no other markings. The 2 conductor cord from the brick goes to the base of the fixture where the clamp is located. The fixture uses a single 18W 4 pin double tube bulb with code G24q-2.
I'm sure that the bulb is good because I have a second, identical fixture (that works normally) and when I swap the bulbs, the "good" fixture works perfectly with the bulb from the fixture that is not working. I also have a brand new spare bulb that I've tried in the non-functional fixture and it too fails to light in the bad fixture.
The problem started spontaneously with no earlier indication of problems. Normally, when the fixture is turned on, there are a few quick white flashes in the bulb and the bulb lights and glows steadily. The behavior I observe is that when I snap the rocker switch to on, the bulb either has one quick white flash but then I only see the heaters glowing in each of the two tubes, or there is no white flash at all, and all I see is the glow of the heater filaments. I've tried plugging the fixture into another outlet in case the problem was related to grounding (I've read that these quick start bulbs need their circuits and fixtures to be grounded to work properly) but it did not help. The "brick" has always been entirely quiet and never got particularly warm, and that has not changed.
Any suggestions (besides ditching the fixture)?
P.S. Brick contains a Fu-chi ballast PC-4526P-B for PL-C 18W, 300 mA, with 2 wires at each end. No other components inside the "brick" case except for the 4 plastic insulating twist nuts that connect the ballast wires to the line cord at one end and the cord to the base of the fixture at the other end. No foul smells or scorch marks.