Lighting issue?

[KENLUDE97]

So i'm running new electrical service in my garage.

I ran 6, 4 bulb 4'troffer (recessed) fixtures. I ran 2 "banks" of lights. I turned them on last night and the first fixture in both banks didn't turn on. But the other 2 fixtures down stream light up perfectly fine. We swapped out the bulbs no luck, checked the wires and all tight (they must be because of the other ones lit up). The only thing that i can think is that the ballast are not working? thoughts?


Thanks

 

[fefarms]

Two thoughts --

if these are used troffers it is entirely possible you have two bad ballasts.

the metal frame of the fixture is supposed to be well grounded for safety reasons. Some ballasts rely on this for starting of the tubes. If you didn't do a good job grounding the fixtures then they may behave in a flakey manner -- sometimes they'll work and sometimes they won't.

 

[KENLUDE97]

Yes they are used. 4 used 2 new.

They must be grounded ok. All the connections were checked and the lights down stream work... hmmm

Thanks fefarms.

 

[KENLUDE97]

Lights -

Im standing at the back of the garage looking towards the front.

 

[fefarms]

Yes they are used. 4 used 2 new.

They must be grounded ok. All the connections were checked and the lights down stream work... hmmm

Thanks fefarms.

The fact that the downstream lights work does not prove that any of the fixtures "must be grounded OK'. The ground is not essential to conveying power to the fixture. It is a safety provision which normally doesn't come into play at all. (We're talking about the bare (green) wire in Romex (MC), not the white neutral wire.)

Some fixture/ballast systems rely upon a grounded metal plane "close" to the fluorescent tubes for reliable starting of the lamps. Once the lamps are started then the ground doesn't affect operation after that. If your fixtures are of this design they'll be "flakey" without a ground. Sometimes they'll start, sometimes they won't. Sometimes you can get them to light up just by touching the glass tube with your hand.

 

[KENLUDE97]

ok ill check some more. Ill also buy a ballast and see if that works.

We messed with all the wires, grounds included, bulbs and nothing seamed to work....

Thanks for the help!