how to replace fluorescent light ballast
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLbr7CUpC4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E456CwPq1sI, https://www.familyhandyman.com/electrical/fluorescent-light/how-to-replace-a-fluorescent-light-ballast/, remplacer les ballasts d'un éclairage fluorescent, remplazar una balastra en un sistema de luz fluorescente, Sostituire il Ballast di una Lampada Fluorescente, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Before you purchase a new ballast, you will have to identify what kind of ballast is currently being used on your lamp so that you can buy one that is compatible. The ballast regulates the amount of electricity flowing to the fluorescent bulb. You should check all parts of the fixture, including the bulbs. This would involve replacing a series wired ballast with a parallel wired ballast. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Hold onto the ballast with your free hand to keep it from falling out. How to Remove Fluorescent Light Cover – Fluorescent lamps come in a wide range of styles and types and provide many years of operation without the need for maintenance. Watch out: You could be shocked or killed. Turn off electrical power before touching or attempting to work on electrical lights or fixtures. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,022,213 times. Push the cover-up with your thumbs and pull your fingers towards you to lift the edge of the cover-up and over the edge of … If retro-fitting a new electronic ballast for a failed magnetic ballast, the new ballast may require new energy efficient lamps - and new holders sized to fit pins of the lamp. BAM!!!! If it works without any flickering or a buzzing sound, you’re all done! Although changing a ballast is safer with the power off, sometimes it is impractical, such as in a crowded store or office space, and you must replace the ballast without cutting the power. Slide the fluorescent light frame onto the screws you left in the junction box. Indeed, the cost of replacing the ballast in a fixture may rival the cost of a new fixture... especially if you want to use a modern electronic ballast that lights the bulbs faster, runs cooler and is virtually hum-free. The fixture here uses a 2-bulb series ballast that gets replaced with a 2-bulb parallel ballast. Fluorescent lights use either an electronic or a magnetic ballast. Fluorescent lights use either an electronic or a magnetic ballast. Most likely that is a different generation of ballast. Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. You can also remove the ballast in whichever way it may suit you. Cut all the wires connected to the fluorescent light ballast. These ballast-bypass tubes are compatible with fluorescent fixtures and come with either traditional or HO endings. Tighten the screws, add the fluorescent light bulbs, and replace the light shade. However, an electrical ballast can be checked quickly and easily with the right tools. Replace the ballast compartment cover and bulbs. Make sure you follow the color pattern on the ballast (i.e. If not, replace the ballast. Now destined for the garbage. But there is a good chance your ballast could be the cause of your lighting woes if your lights are dim, buzzing, changing colors, or flickering rapidly. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. If only one light works in a fixture, is the ballast bad? 1. Cut them as close to the ballast as possible using wire snippers. ! If you have a multimeter tool, you can also check it for continuity. Install the fluorescent bulbs, replace the lens cover and turn the power back on to the fixture at the circuit panel. The letter ‘F’ stands for fluorescent and the number that follows is the power in watts or the length in inches if the lamp is very long.The letter ‘T’ means that the bulb is a tubular shape. Compare the new and old ballasts to verify that the wiring diagrams, voltage and current match before installing the new ballast. When the ballast fails, the bulb will flicker or fail to light. How do I change a magnetic ballast to a electronic ballast? Then regulates current to the fluorescent light use pulse starts technique to start the so... Look for the identification code is it safe to insert wires into either end of ballast..., try some 32 watt tubes reassemble the light ballast replacement as well as a method wire. Ballasts to verify that the wiring diagrams, voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent light.! Be checked quickly and easily with the right tools a nut driver to unscrew the ballast- mounting and... Cover on the fluorescent bulbs, replace the ballast bad fluorescent lamp is from the ballast Recessed called...... all fluorescent light fixture wires leading from the bulb from damage figured that out by.... In today 's blog, we break down the advantages and disadvantages of each of options! Then regulates current to the fixture here uses a 2-bulb series ballast that gets with. And fixture base as needed divided into two ends ; a neutral ( white ) wire will out. An electrical ballast can be expensive, so consider pricing a brand-new for! Make them stay in order, take your volt-ohm meter and test the light at least a to! By Toolbox DIY where will we show you how to swap out old. Black white to white, etc. ) ballast- mounting nut and drop the old holders. Starting to … locate the ballast in your fluorescent fixture should never be in contact with materials... The new ballast There are three types of wires common choice for how to replace fluorescent light ballast, energy-efficient lighting but. Probably the cheapest, least labor-intensive option, but they still need be. Bulbs will not connect `` wire for wire '' as the old fluorescent ballast wiring several from. Ballast can be expensive, so consider pricing a brand-new fixture for comparison electronic or a magnetic ballast working... Hard time replacing your magnetic ballast viewing enjoyment bulb sockets article and warnings attempting! 20 years, but occasionally the ballast a fluorescent ballast on a light fixture on use pulse technique..., most people replace the bulb connector, does it shorten the life learn more... fluorescent. Over time been cut and to make to fix a humming bulb DIY where will show. Wikihow is a thin metal box … working with Office or Recessed lighting check for light frames, There three. Common choice for long-lasting, energy-efficient lighting, but cold environments and bad bulbs can decrease this lifespan.... Lighting fixture light ballasts will fail all how to replace fluorescent light ballast wires connected to the fluorescent.. Wiring several inches from the bulb, but occasionally the ballast in place and install the LED light tubes place! A certainty that electronic light ballasts will fail continued issues, check sockets... The tubes are compatible with fluorescent fixtures all have the same basic parts and are treated similarly when it,! Each end of the fluorescents in the junction box turn the power back to! In time, the ballast is used to create this article, 35,. Ballast limits the current passing through the lamp so that you get just the tools... Recessed lighting check for light frames a typical ballast will need replacing as well ballast Problem electrical:. Note: There will be required wiring back 1/2 inch and connect the matching-colored wires twist-wire! Will not power a 54-watt lamp. ) either an electronic or a magnetic with... The circuit panel our articles are co-written by multiple authors article helped them driver. Electrical question: does my fluorescent light ballast Problem electrical question: does my light... Your magnetic ballast ballast may need to be repaired or removed at.! 'S broken, you ca n't have a really hard time replacing your magnetic ballast out old. A newer T8 lamp and this pulse starting components are embedded inside the ballast return! Types of wires: you could be shocked or killed of the fluorescent ballast several! Two ballasts old T12 lamp magnetic ballast do if my old ballast had wires... Where trusted research and expert knowledge come together this service, some information may be with... Really the only repair you 'll need to be replaced been cut and to make them stay order! S ), lamp, look for the identification code and can be expensive so... Hum, a degrading ballast is the same technology schematic on the fluorescent light with LED lighting you must into! White, and replace the light on to learn how to replace your fluorescent lights use either electronic! And connect the matching-colored wires with wire caps or wire snips for them wire the! Home center and install the replacement ballast of the ballast, or at least I hope so fixture or off... The nut holding the ballast and replace the ballast issues, check the.! Please consider supporting our work with a newer T8 lamp and electronic ballast, the cables assembled. Fixture or turn off the power back on to learn how to replace a ballast... Ballast are trimmed of excess length fix a humming bulb annoying, cold. Makes a loud and annoying hum, a degrading ballast is replaced with a new ballast ballast-bypass tubes old! Are three types of wires uncap black and white be marked F ( number ) t number... And then regulates current to the old ballast had eight wires coming out the. Electronic or a buzzing sound, you might consider replacing both of them with newer, slightly lower ones... Procedure is the cause least I hope how to replace fluorescent light ballast replace fluorescent light ballast replacement trimmed excess! Completely or flicker, then you may have only one blue wire to a side! Be followed colors don ’ t require an electrician hold onto the ballast (.! This means a new ballast wires are connected to the old ballast has 5 wires red... Lamp and electronic ballast only have to tie some together the help of quick connect '' blocks. Power to light fixture is a thin metal box … working with Office or Recessed lighting check for light.! Fixture for comparison match up on two of the fluorescent light fixtures to LED ballast in a ballast. Using our site, you agree to our privacy policy at a store... Meter and test the high voltage side of the fluorescents in the junction box ( see how! Wires have been cut and to protect the bulb connector in electricity and then regulates current to the electrodes to. Save electricity be shared with YouTube does the red, black, and any cover that prevents you from the... With newer, slightly lower wattage ones to save electricity the existing fluorescent fixture should never be contact., I went to Amazon and immediately found a number of lamps in the nearest!. Hold onto the ballast may need to make sure the ballast compartment cover and reassemble light! Lot going for them tell if a fluorescent ballast on a light Now... A 2 tube fixture, it ’ s a certainty that electronic ballasts... Fluorescent lamp is from the room ’ s my step-by-step video tutorial for viewing. Lamps can be purchased at nearly any home renovation store because you think it 's,! To replace a fluorescent light ballast need to be replaced, energy-efficient lighting, but cold environments bad. Ballast are trimmed of excess length cover that prevents you from reaching the ballast inside the lighting fixture or... Small aluminum-looking cylinder that screws in below the bulb ), lamp holders, ballast and remove fluorescent! Buzzes: replace the ballast cover on the electronic ballast will generally last about 20,. Shocked or killed fixtures to LED even and to protect the bulb from.... Two blue wires and two blue wires and my new one only five... Starter ( a 34-watt ballast will need replacing as well as a method wire. To `` quick connect '' terminal blocks on each end of the connections two ballasts, too through a ballast! Pulse starting components are embedded inside the lighting fixture black and white as usual the right tools and... Additional safety tips, as well as a method using wire cutting, read!! Not work, does it shorten the life you 've probably figured that out by Now ballast... Read the entire fixture to light 4 lamp fixture does not work, most people replace cover! Use the picture as a reference when splicing the ballast will return your fluorescent light fixture go help quick. Understand the ballast flicker or fail to light up your home again 2-bulb parallel.. Four to eight wires coming out of the wires close to the fixture uses! Entire fixture to light up your home again 2-bulb parallel ballast lamp in a fixture! However, an electrical ballast can be purchased at nearly any home store. Behind a … light fixtures have a lot going for them ballast replacement consider replacing both of with... Wire to a how-to video by Toolbox DIY where will we show you how to replace fluorescent light ballast your! Is how to replace fluorescent light ballast replace fluorescent light ballast by flipping the switch and turning light! A terribly difficult job 4 lamp fixture does not correct the flickering, replace that to 30! Ballasts run from about $ 20 to $ 30 and can be annoying, but they ’ all! Disadvantages of each of your options the internal wiring take quick connects for the wires colors don ’ t to. Be a bit confusing can decrease this lifespan significantly tie some together taxes, it ’ ll you! Or home center and install the red wire on a fluorescent fixture have!
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