Replace the fluorescent light ballast in four steps.
- Remove the Bulbs and Fluorescent Light Fixture Cover. Unplug the fixture or turn off the power at the main panel. ...
- Cut the Old Ballast Wiring. Snip the old fluorescent ballast wiring several inches from the end of the fluorescent ballast with side-cutting pliers or wire snips.
- Unscrew the Old Ballast. Unscrew the ballast- mounting nut and drop the old ballast free. Note: The ballast will have either one or two mounting nuts.
- Install the New Ballast
How to fix a fluorescent light with a bad ballast?
You’ll only need three kinds of tools for this project:
- Combination Stripper
- Screwdrivers
- Voltage Detector
- These Amazon links help support Home Repair Tutor…many thanks for using them
How do you replace a fluorescent light ballast?
You will need:
- Electronic ballast
- Wire cutters
- Wire nuts
How to replace the ballast of your fluorescent light fixture?
Steps
- Before you go to the trouble of replacing the ballast, you should determine if a bad ballast is indeed the likely cause of the problem.
- Remove the lamps and place them in a safe location.
- Turn the light off at the switch, as well as at the circuit breaker. ...
How do you change ballast on fluorescent light?
What to do with the yellow wires on a ballast?
- If you did not remove the baluster, just connect the bulb. …
- The 2 yellow wires go to the white neutral on one side of the fixture. …
- Colors of the wire don’t mater after the hot and neutral go into the fixture. …
- Once you remove the ballasts, the colors of the wires don’t matter.
How do I know if a ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:Flickering. ... Buzzing. ... Delayed start. ... Low output. ... Inconsistent lighting levels. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.More items...•
Can you rebuild a ballast?
Sometimes, the colour coding on the old ballast does not match the new ballast. We recommend that you always hire a qualified electrician to have a ballast repair or ballast replacement service done.
What causes a ballast to stop working?
Causes of Ballast Failure When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion. Some people may suggest removing the parts of the ballast casing and cleaning the electrical board.
How do you check a ballast if it works?
To measure it, set your digital multimeter to around a thousand ohms resistance setting. Connect the black leads to the white ground wire on your ballast. Afterward, test every other wire with the red lead. When you do this test, a good ballast will return an “open-loop” or max resistance.
How do you fix a broken ballast?
2:077:23How to fix "ANY" fluorescent Light | Ballast Replacement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe can cut any wires that are holding the ballast in place. And once we've done this we can go aheadMoreWe can cut any wires that are holding the ballast in place. And once we've done this we can go ahead and remove the ballast. From the lighting fixture. Guys once you have the bottles removed.
Can a fluorescent light work without a ballast?
In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
What is the most common reason for fluorescent lamp failure?
A dead fluorescent can be caused by lack of electrical power (tripped breaker or blown fuse), a dead or dying ballast, a dead starter or a dead bulb(s). Check for power first... then the starter (if applicable) and then the bulbs. When all else fails, the ballast should be replaced.
How much does a new ballast cost?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably - for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
What happens when a ballast goes bad?
The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren't. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.
How long do fluorescent ballasts last?
12 to 15 yearsAccording to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.
Why do fluorescent lights not turn on sometimes?
If a fluorescent tube neither lights nor flickers when switched on, first check to see that the fixture is plugged in and that no fuse has blown or circuit breaker has tripped. If this does not help, try wiggling the tube gently in its sockets by rocking it back and forth and from side to side.
How do I know what kind of ballast I have?
Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.
Can a HID ballast be repaired?
Do you want to know when to repair and when to buy a new ballast? If yes, you must learn how to reset HID ballast. Not all failures require a replacement; sometimes it is because of a damaged ballast. By resetting your ballast, you can make it work again, extend its operational life, you save money in the long run.
How do you disassemble a ballast?
6:3212:39Ballast Teardown and Re-assembley - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you just take these words stuck on so just take a chisel and pry them off gently. And thenMoreAnd if you just take these words stuck on so just take a chisel and pry them off gently. And then the two sides will come off and then we have our core.
How do I know if my HID ballast is working?
By connecting the multimeter to the ballast, you will see right away whether you have a working or a bad ballast. If the multimeter measures and detects current, voltage, etc. you will know that your ballast is perfectly fine.
Can you replace a ballast?
You can get a new ballast at a hardware store or home center and install it in about 10 minutes. However, buying a ballast can be expensive, so consider pricing a brand-new fixture for comparison.
Introduction
This is a comprehensive guide to the safe and complete repair of a fluorescent light fixture. It will advise if and when an unsafe condition is present as well as how to verify all safe conditions. This guide goes beyond replacing a burnt out bulb and shows the process for doing everything a homeowner can do without calling an electrician.
Step 1 Ballast
Prior to starting this procedure, be sure to turn off the necessary circuit breakers to cut off all power in your household or place of residence.
Step 2
Check the bulbs for failure by looking for black coloring at the ends of the bulbs.
Step 3
Remove the cover in the center of the fixture to expose the wiring and ballast components.
Step 4
Verify there is no voltage to the fixture using the non-contact voltage tester according to device instructions.
Step 5
Measure the AC voltage using a multimeter by placing the red lead on the bare metal of the black or red wire of the source wire and the black lead on the bare metal of the white wire.
Step 6
Repeat step 5 after turning the light switch for the light to the on position.
How long does it take to replace a fluorescent ballast?
Replace the ballast when your fluorescent light flickers or makes an annoying hum. The repair will only take about 10 minutes.
Why does my fluorescent light make a loud noise?
Wire connectors. When your fluorescent light flickers or makes a loud and annoying hum, a degrading ballast is the cause. The ballast takes in electricity and then regulates current to the bulbs.
What is a ballast in a fluorescent light fixture?
Learn more... All fluorescent light fixtures consist of at least lamp (s), lamp holders, ballast and internal wiring. Some older types have "starters", too. The ballast is used to create the voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent lamp. In time, the ballast may need to be replaced.
What happens if all the tubes in a light fixture stop working?
If all of the tubes in a fixture stop working abruptly at the same time, it's likely that the problem is not the tubes. If replacing the tubes does not fix the problem and if the light fixture has one or more "starters" (found only in older fixtures), replace the starters. There will be one starter per lamp (tube).
What wires go to the other end of a light bulb?
That way two blue wires go to one end of the bulb and two red wires go to the other end of the bulb and the 100V Hot (black) and Neutral (white) go ONLY to the electronic ballast. Connecting a blue wire to a Neutral (White) wire will burn out your electronic ballast. Thanks!
How many blue wires are in a ballast?
If you bought one of the new electronic ballasts, you will have two blue wires and two red wires. But your single bulb fixture may have only one blue wire coming from the bulb connector. The other wire is the neutral (white) wire. You will need to cut the neutral wire loose from the bulb.
How many starters per lamp?
There will be one starter per lamp (tube). The starter is a small cylindrical part (3/4-inch (20 mm) diameter x 1 1/4-inch (30 mm) long) that is twisted into a separate socket, usually located near the end of the fixture or behind a lamp. Starters are very inexpensive (about $2 each) and easy to replace.
What to check before cutting wires?
Before you cut any wires, it is recommended that you check both the hot and neutral feed wires for voltage with respect to ground. (And see the alternative to cutting in step 11 before doing any cutting.) The voltage can be checked with a simple voltmeter or voltage sensor.
How to connect blue wire to red wire?
Use a wire nut to connect the blue wire to the blue wire, the red to the red, the white to the white, and the black to the black. As a quick and easy alternative to cutting and wiring, simply rotate and pull the wires out of the lamp connectors.
What happens if you make a mistake in a ballast?
Making a mistake can cause a building fire, shock, injury, or death. Watch out: after electrical power has been removed from the light circuit you must also ground the ballast terminals before touching any wire ends; a ballast can give a tremendous electrical shock.
How many wires are in a replacement ballast?
The replacement ballast provides 5 wires: black, white, blue, blue (equivalent) and red.
How many watts does a fluorescent lamp use?
On 2020-01-26 by (mod) - Typically a fluorescent desk lamp is about a 15-22-watt device, depending on your country, operating at 120VAC or 220VAC. Scotty. Thanks for an interesting question. Typically a fluorescent desk lamp is about a 15-22-watt device, depending on your country, operating at 120VAC or 220VAC.
