Replacing a Ballast

[boilermanc]

Hi all, I was able to score about 15 large florescent lights from work. They were remodeling and took the old ones out. They are in great shape. They are a three bulb unit. When I picked them up the electrician said it would only work on 277 volts and I would need a new ballast. So of course I took the old one out, went to one of the box stores and ask the guy there. He showed me what I needed but now that I am working with it I am not sure on a few things:

1. The old ballast says 120 - 277 volt. So I hooked up a plug to it and it does light up. Doesnt seem too bright but it works. You can see it in the pictures below.

2. The ballast I purchased says 120 - 277 volts so what would be the difference?

3. The ballast I purchased has three sets of wires coming out - red, yellow, and blue. So the unit is wired as you see. So if I use the new on would just wire one red wire to the end on one side and the blue to the other end?

4. Do I need a different ballast?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[cybrdyke]

Well, damn...you tore the label right where the helpful info should be.
Both ballasts will work on any voltage between 120 and 277. You were misinformed by the electrician. You didn't really need new ballasts. Consider returning them.
If you want to use the new ones, you have purchased a 4 lamp ballast instead of a 3 lamp ballast. Oops. But that's OK, too. Just put a wire nut on one of the blue leads and then hook up the other 3 (2 reds, 1 blue) to the lamps just like the diagram shows.
Hope this helps.
CD

 

[pattenp]

You need 3 lamp ballast. Does the new ballast show that it can be wired for 3 lamps?

 

[boilermanc]

Well, damn...you tore the label right where the helpful info should be.
Both ballasts will work on any voltage between 120 and 277. You were misinformed by the electrician. You didn't really need new ballasts. Consider returning them.
If you want to use the new ones, you have purchased a 4 lamp ballast instead of a 3 lamp ballast. Oops. But that's OK, too. Just put a wire nut on one of the blue leads and then hook up the other 3 (2 reds, 1 blue) to the lamps just like the diagram shows.
Hope this helps.
CD

Well, actually I ended up ordering the ballast from that big online store and it came that way. I only ordered one so not a big loss.

Once you mentioned it I did realize that yes, that is a four ballast and that's a three lamp. I had pulled the one I took the box store out of another unit. It didn't have a whip so I grabbed another one down after I go this ballast in. Hmmm, now I have to go through the rest of them. Wonder if some of them are four and some were three.

In any case, I will keep the one that is in there. The bulbs dont look so bright (kinda like the guy asking the questions). Not sure if you can tell from the picture but do you think they should be brighter?

Thanks all for the help!

 

[alfredeneuman]

It's the right one, but will need to be wired differently.
The old ballast was a 3 lamps only ballast, and the new one is a 3 or 4 lamp

The red lead on the old ballast was common, and it's the yellow leads on the new ballast that are the commons.

You'll have to open up the cover to the lampholders on the common side.
Separate 1 lampholder electrically from the rest, and connect 1 of the yellows to it.
The other lampholders need to be spliced to the 2nd yellow.

Both the reds and 1 of the blues need be hooked up to the other end.
Connect 2 of the reds to the old blue wires, and the other blue to the remaining blue wire,

Cap the remaining blue wire off.

I've done this exact thing over 100 times

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Let the Lamps stay on and "burn in" a while. I've heard that if leave florescent bulbs stood up on the ends too long they will do what you have, burn dim until the coating on the inside redistributes itself evenly on the inside. It may be nothing to it then it might be, not sure. I always store mine flat.

 

[cybrdyke]

the lamps look dim in the photo, but photos of lamps are hard to tell. they look like they're old. do you have a few new ones?
CD

 

[Bmwsyc]

Like Equine mentioned, let them burn in/warm up. You are fine with the original ballasts.

 

[Mustang51js]

How long did you leave light on for, like said above you sometimes need to let them warm up and get brighter

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I've heard, I don't know if it's true, if you take lights with multi-voltage ballast that were ran on one voltage a long time and switch them to another voltage they do not last as long. Maybe some that's done this will chime in.

 

[boilermanc]

So I did go out last night and plugged it in and turned all the lights out and it looked pretty good! lite the garage up. of course it was facing up on a table not attached to the ceiling.

I think i am good to go! just need to do some wiring now and i will LIGHT!

thanks for the help from everyone!

 

[TheEquineFencer]

So I did go out last night and plugged it in and turned all the lights out and it looked pretty good! lite the garage up. of course it was facing up on a table not attached to the ceiling.

I think i am good to go! just need to do some wiring now and i will LIGHT!

thanks for the help from everyone!

They work better mounted to the ceiling....

 

[boilermanc]

They work better mounted to the ceiling....

dang, that will be a pain...

 

[TheEquineFencer]

dang, that will be a pain...

 

[Ksullivan]

I would try new lamps, the ballast looks to be correct. If you do replace the ballast note the wiring diagram it seems like every different brand of ballast is wired differently. I have replaced probably 50 or more in the past 4 years.

Krys