How to re-wire electronic ballast

Adendum · 30 Jan 2014

Hi,

I'm stuck. My old ballast has 8 connections, 4 for each tube. The replacement ballast only has 7 connections and one of them appears in the diagram not to be used at all. So I need to know how to re-configure the wires from 8 to 6 connections.

Diagrams of each ballast

Adendum
30 Jan 2014
1

Old and new ballast diagrams

Photos of each ballast

Adendum
30 Jan 2014
1

Old and new ballast photos

Would appreciate any advice!!

mfarrow · 30 Jan 2014

Number of ways of doing it, but

Old to New:

1&2 to 1&2
7&8 to 6&7
3 to 3
6 to 5
4&5 to each other in choc block.

Adendum · 30 Jan 2014

Wow, that was quick!

Why are there a number of ways of doing it? Just as a matter of interest?

mfarrow · 30 Jan 2014

Because the polarity of the connections, and of the tubes, doesn't really matter.

As long as 3 is connected to the same tube as 1&2, and 5 is connected to the same tube as 6&7, with the choc-bloc link on the remainder, it should work. 1&2 should be connected to the same end of a tube, as should 6&7, which is what the diagram's telling you.

My personal preference is snip it all out and then just trace the wires to see what should go where, ignoring the old diagram completely.

Adendum · 30 Jan 2014

Hi,

Well that's interesting to know.

Anyway, I re-wired and tested and all worked perfectly!

But...

After the initial test I put the unit and cover back together and turn on. Both tubes came on and I turned off while I cleared up.

Turned the light on after I was finished and both tubes came on....and then went off.

I think it's time to bite the bullet and just get a whole new unit!

Unless you know better?

Dave2010 · 30 Jan 2014

have you replaced the tubes?

I find old tubes that are starting to fail will initially strike but then fail as they warm up. I believe the ballast detects a failing lamp and shuts down rather than attempt to continuously restrike

Adendum · 30 Jan 2014

Yeah, they were new tubes.

I've been to Wickes already - got a replacement. Job done, old (2yr) unit in the bin!

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How to re-wire electronic ballast

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