HD Fluorescent Lights

[Davey4000]

I've seen a few references here related to the Home Depot 8' fluorescent light fixtures with four 4' t8 bulbs. Has anyone had any problems with the wiring? The instructions say the sockets with the blue wires from the ballast goes at the end, but they will not reach anything but the center position.

I wired the lights the the only way possible based on ballast wire lengths; however, they will not come on when power is applied. Also, if I measure the voltage at the switch terminal with the switch in the off position the reading is 120V. In the on position it reads 0 volts. I have two lights wired in parallel.

 

[AGBill]

Typical ballast wiring has the blue wires going to the socket at one end of the lamp and the red wires going to the socket at the other end of the lamp. If the wires supplied are not long enough, then you need to extend the wires using similar size new piece of wire, typically terminating with wire nuts.

The white and black wires from the ballast go to the hot (120 V, black switch leg) and neutral, (white).

Check the wiring diagram that is typically a sticker on the the ballast housing to make sure this is how your particular ballast should be wired.

Good luck..

 

[Davey4000]

If the wires supplied are not long enough, then you need to extend the wires using similar size new piece of wire, typically terminating with wire nuts.

Is extending wires a common necessity for new lights straight out of the box?

 

[cw_racefan]

Sounds like I just put in the same lights, and I had no problem with the wiring. Off the top of my head there was the yellow wire with the splice in the middle that went to the far ends, and then the red and blue went to the middle. I can check tonight (at work now), but you should not have to extend anything to get them to work. Like someone else said, take a look at the diagram on the ballast.

Are you sure the wiring to them is correct? Where are you measuring 120v with the switch off?

 

[Davey4000]

Sounds like I just put in the same lights, and I had no problem with the wiring. Off the top of my head there was the yellow wire with the splice in the middle that went to the far ends, and then the red and blue went to the middle. I can check tonight (at work now), but you should not have to extend anything to get them to work. Like someone else said, take a look at the diagram on the ballast.

Are you sure the wiring to them is correct? Where are you measuring 120v with the switch off?

Thank you. That's exactly the way I have them arranged...yellow wire at the far ends and the red and blues in the middle.

I'm measuring 120V at the input terminal of the wall switch. I wanted to make sure power was getting to the switch. However, when I move the switch to the "on" position the voltage drops to zero still measuring at the same place.

 

[cw_racefan]

Thank you. That's exactly the way I have them arranged...yellow wire at the far ends and the red and blues in the middle.

I'm measuring 120V at the input terminal of the wall switch. I wanted to make sure power was getting to the switch. However, when I move the switch to the "on" position the voltage drops to zero still measuring at the same place.

Double check all your wiring to the fixtures. It sounds like something is not right with your wiring. You could try disconnecting the second light and see if the first is ok by itself. Another thought would be to disconnect both and wire in one of those cheapo ceramic based incandescants to make sure the circuit wiring is ok.

 

[Davey4000]

Double check all your wiring to the fixtures. It sounds like something is not right with your wiring. You could try disconnecting the second light and see if the first is ok by itself. Another thought would be to disconnect both and wire in one of those cheapo ceramic based incandescants to make sure the circuit wiring is ok.

Thanks for the advice. I will try it when I get back home. I'm out of town on business for two weeks. I think the circuit is fine though. I read 120V at the CB and the wall switch. I suspect the second light may be the problem.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Thanks for the advice. I will try it when I get back home. I'm out of town on business for two weeks. I think the circuit is fine though. I read 120V at the CB and the wall switch. I suspect the second light may be the problem.

Are they the Advance ballast in them?

The lamps don't care which end the wires are at, just that the correct coordinating wires are there.

Blue/blue on one end, yellow on the other

red/red on one end, yellow on the other.

They do need to work in pairs, make sure that the blues are side by side, and the reds are side by side.


Next question - are you sure that you got fixtures with 120V ballasts? Are they 277V maybe?

 

[Davey4000]

Are they the Advance ballast in them?

The lamps don't care which end the wires are at, just that the correct coordinating wires are there.

Blue/blue on one end, yellow on the other

red/red on one end, yellow on the other.

They do need to work in pairs, make sure that the blues are side by side, and the reds are side by side.


Next question - are you sure that you got fixtures with 120V ballasts? Are they 277V maybe?

More possibilities... Thanks. I'll check it out when I get back home.