How to Replace a Fluorescent Light Ballast
You can count on fluorescent bulbs to shine brightly for different areas in your home, but they need to be replaced every now and then. Sometimes though, the lights burn out too quickly. When you notice this happening, the problem might not be in the bulbs, but the ballast. Here’s how to change a fluorescent ballast properly.
What You’ll Need:
New ballast
Nut driver
Screwdriver
Electrical tape
Wire stripper
Wire connector
Ladder
Voltage tester (touch-type)
Procedure:
Remember to turn off the power that goes to the fluorescent light you’re working on. This will prevent you from being accidentally electrocuted. You can either turn the breaker that powers it off or just flip off the switch that controls it. Put a note that tells the other people not to turn on the breaker or switch while you’re working.
Climb on the ladder carefully, making sure it’s sturdy and safe. Afterwards, take off the lens on the fluorescent light fixture. To make it easier, ask someone to stand beside the ladder so you can hand him the pieces you’ve removed.
Remove the fluorescent tubes, one at a time. Turn them until the prongs are lined with the socket’s slot, then slide one side out, followed by the other. Be cautious when handling these tubes because they can break very easily, and might release a cloud of phosphor.
Look at the inside of the fixture. You’ll see a metal cover which is as long as the fixture. This is usually a compression type of cover which can slide in some grooves. Carefully squeeze one side, to release it, then pull it out of the other side simply. You will then have a clear view of the ballast.
Put your touch-type voltage tester beside the black feed wire, then push the button on it to see the voltage. If it indicates that the line’s dead, remove the connectors from both the white and black pair of wires. Screw the connectors back on the white and black wires coming from the ceiling, then bend them to get them out of the way.
If the ballast is an original that came with the fixture, you need to cut the wires so it will be removed. Cut as close to the ballast’s body, so you’ll have enough wire to connect the new one. If it’s a previously replaced ballast, just take off the wire connectors so you can disconnect it from the sockets.
Find the proper nut driver so you can remove the locknut securing the ballast to the fixture’s body.
Put in the new ballast, securing it in place using the old locknut.
Connect the new ballast to the same color wires as before. How you wire it depends on the type of fixture you have (one, two or four tubes).
Complete the socket wire connections first, attaching red to red, blue to blue, and yellow to yellow. Afterwards, connect the two black wires and two white ones. Cut off pieces of electrical tape and wrap around every connection.
Bend the wires back to fit them beneath the metal cover. Put the cover back, making sure no stray wires slide from under the cover’s lip.
Install new fluorescent tubes, then put back the lens. Turn on the breaker or switch and see if the light works.
Keep your fluorescent light useful for longer time by replacing the ballast. Just follow these easy tips and you’ll do this in no time.