Can you use a 2 lamp ballast in a 1 lamp fixture?

How to Replace 1 Lamp Rapid Start Ballast with 2 Lamp Rapid Start. A 1 lamp rapid start (series) ballast can be hard to find, but it can be replaced with a 2 lamp rapid start ballast. Here is how a 2 lamp ballast is wired to a 1 lamp fixture.

How do you wire a two light ballast?





Connect the wires from the ballast to the wires on the light fixture in the following manner: one blue wire from the ballast to one blue wire from the light fixture; the other blue wire from the ballast to the remaining blue wire from the light fixture; black ballast wire to building’s black (hot) wire; white ballast …

What are the two yellow wires in a ballast for?

The common yellow wires connect from the ballast to push-in connectors on one of the right holders of lamp 1 or 2. Two yellow wires connect the common lampholders together.

What color wires are on a 2 lamp ballast?

2 and 3 lamp instant start ballasts use blue wires for individual connections, and red wires for common connections. Black wire is for line voltage and white wire for neutral. An instant start ballast uses a single wire which connects from the ballast to each of the lamp terminals.

Can you use a 3 lamp ballast for 1 lamp?

A 3 lamp fixture with two instant start ballasts can be replaced with one 3 lamp instant start. The wiring of the new 3 lamp ballast is fairly simple because the wire colors match the old ballasts.

What is the difference between rapid start and instant start ballast?





Instant start lamps don’t use a preheating method. Instead, they send a high amount of voltage across the lamp upon the strike. Typically, instant start ballasts use 1.5-2 watts less per lamp than rapid start ballasts. Instant start lamps also start reliably at temperatures as low as zero degrees.

What to do with the yellow wires on a ballast?


Quote from Youtube video: You have two yellow to red now these Blues on the new ballasts are interchangeable it does not matter what you do.

What is a two lamp ballast?

Light Fixtures with Two Ballasts



Individual wires of one ballast connect to the one side of the fixture, individual wires from the other ballast connect to the other side of the fixture. The common wires of each ballast are connected to the other side of the fixture from each of the individual wires.

How do you bypass a double ballast led?

How to Bypass A Ballast

  1. Step 1: Disconnect All Power So There is No Electrical Current. …
  2. Step 2: Find the Ballast. …
  3. Step 3: Locate and Cut Only the Hot and Neutral Wires. …
  4. Step 4: Cut the Socket Lead Wires. …
  5. Step 5: Remove the Ballast (if you wish) …
  6. Step 6: Connect the Wires. …
  7. Step 7: Reattach Any Coverings and Turn On.



Which wire is hot on a ballast?

Generally, the hot wire on the ballast is black, and the neutral is white. The other colors are the wires that connect the ballast to the fluorescent tube holders and to each other.

What is the red wire on a fluorescent light fixture?

The red wire is most likely a spare wire that was intended to be used when wiring for a ceiling fan. Typically when a ceiling fan is installed the red wire is most commonly used for the light and the black is commonly for the fan motor.

Does ballast have polarity?



If the lamp is fluroescent, it has a ballast. If you can get to that, the ballast should be marked with either the polarity or the usual black and white wires for hot and neutral. Polarity should not matter though, with AC power.

How do you install a ballast in a light fixture?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Into the light fixture itself. So that I have to worry about having it holding it or dangling dangling by the loose wires. So just putting it into the tabs. And going to screw in the screw.

What voltage does a ballast put out?

Newer fluorescent ballasts are usually rated for both 120 volts and 277 volts. Some are rated for only 120 volts, others for only 277 volts (used in commercial environments).

How do you wire an electronic ballast?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And you're going to connect this red wire. Over here to both the blue and the red wires going to the bulb connection on the fixture.

Does an electronic ballast need a starter?



Magnetic ballasts required a starter to get the lamp lit, electronic ballasts do not require a starter.

What is the difference between magnetic and electronic ballast?

Magnetic ballasts work at a frequency of around 60 Hz, whereas electronic ballasts work at an increased frequency of around 20,000 Hz. This is why fluorescent lamps using electronic ballasts do not flicker or emit any buzzing sounds. Electronic ballasts are also quite smaller in size and weight.