I am trying to replace a light ballast. They both have red wires coming out of thr right.

Don H
by Don H
But the old one has a white,black and blue wire coming from the left side.The white goes to the lamp socket.There is a white wire coming out of the same side of the lamp socket to the white house wiring.The blue wire goes to the other side of the lamp socket.The black goes to the black house wiring.The new ballast has a black ,white and 2 blue wires. This is a single blub 3' undercabinet lighting fixture.
  7 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 14, 2012
    Can you take a picture of this setup? And I'm not absolutely certain what your question is.
  • The wiring of this type of lamp must match the wiring diagram that is on the face of the new ballast. If it does not have one which most of them do, then you need to check with the manufacture of this product for the wiring diagram for this replacement unit. You must be sure that this is the correct ballast for the lamp size and type your using. Some have auto starts, some require a starter. What ever you purchased must match exactly what you currently have or you risk an explosion of the new ballast being put in. Here is a link that you can perhaps refer to. About mid way is wiring diagram. http://donklipstein.com/f-lamp.html
  • LandlightS LandlightS on Jan 15, 2012
    You have an electronic ballast that is replacing the old magnetic ballas (which are hard to find today thanks to Gov't regulations). It will work fine but you have to rewire the fixture to match the wiring diagram on the ballasts. Also check to lamp description: is this ballast for a T12 lamp or a T8 lamp (or both). If you decide not to attempt to rewire the fixture, either have an electrician install the ballast or return it and purchase a new fixture with an electronic ballast for just a few dollars more.
  • LandlightS LandlightS on Jan 15, 2012
    PS: hate to say it but the link from Woodbridge is outdated. It states that a 4 light fixture will have two ballasts and if you go to HD, Lowes or any Ace Hardware you will find a 4 lamp electronic ballasts that replaces the 2 old magnetic ballasts.
  • Thanks Landlights, I will update my library accordingly. I would think however regardless of type etc. Does not the ballast have the wiring diagram on the face of it? That should answer his question I would think?
  • LandlightS LandlightS on Jan 15, 2012
    Yes, th ballast does have a wiring diagram, however they are always not that easy for a DIYer to understand. With the electronic ballast, the neutral no longer goes to the lamp holder, but to the ballast, and that is where it get confusing. If he were replacing a " rapid start" ballast, he would find the neutral connected to the ballasts.
  • Don H Don H on Jan 15, 2012
    Thanks Woodbridge and Landlights-Diagram helped , and not needing a neutral wire to the lamp holder.