How do I replace the ballast on a T8 light?
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Piece out in the middle. And there's just some little clamps here but we just have to squeeze. And pull in a little bit. And now we have the ballast exposed. This is what we're gonna replace.
How do you wire a new ballast?
Quote from the video:
But these get twisted together and go to one blue these get twisted together and go to the other. And then the red one goes down and connects to both of those wires.
How do you replace an old ballast with a new ballast?
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If you want to change to a t8 that's going to be a different ballast. And you may need to replace what's called the tombstones where the bulbs hook in on either.
Can you replace a ballast yourself?
You can get a new ballast at a hardware store or home center and install it in about 10 minutes. However, buying a ballast can be expensive, so consider pricing a brand-new fixture for comparison.
How do I know if a ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:
- Flickering. …
- Buzzing. …
- Delayed start. …
- Low output. …
- Inconsistent lighting levels. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.
How much does it cost to replace a ballast in a fluorescent light?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably – for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
What is the blue wire on a ballast?
The ballast has a hot and neutral wire at one end to receive power, and two blue wires a red one at the other end to supply power to the lights.
How do you match a lightbulb with a ballast?
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The only things that matter when you're replacing a ballast are we're number one the number of bulbs number two the type of bulbs number three the voltage.
Can fluorescent lights be wired in series?
Fluorescent lights don’t daisychain. You can wire a bunch of ballasts in parallel, but nothing should be in series. That being said, there’s no reason not to attach lots of ballasts in parallel to a single power supply, as long as you’re under the rated amperage of the circuit.
How often do ballasts need to be replaced?
According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use.
Why is my fluorescent light flickering?
If your fluorescent bulbs flicker, most likely the problem is with the bulb itself. If the bulb is very dark on either end, it may be defective and burned out. The best way to test the functionality of a bulb is to put it into a fixture you know works.
Do you need to replace ballast?
Single bulbs with an integrated ballast need to be replaced just like any other bulb when they die or act faulty (you’re not going to tear apart the bulb itself to replace an internal mechanism). However, larger light fixtures may operate with the help of an external ballast.
Does a bad ballast burn out bulbs?
The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren’t. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.
Why does only 2 4 fluorescent bulbs work?
There’s a black ballast inside that is probably causing your problem. Take some pictures of the wiring and then disconnect all the wires going to the ballast, after turning off the power. Bring the ballast to a home store or electric supply store for a replacement. Then just re install it.
How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?
If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.
Can I put a T8 bulb in a T12 ballast?
Waveform Lighting’s T8 LED tube lights feature compatibility with all ballast configurations (ballast, ballast bypass single ended, ballast bypass double ended), so they can safely be used in T12 fixtures as long as the T12 ballast is bypassed or removed.
Are T8 and T12 fluorescent tubes interchangeable?
T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.
Can you replace a T12 ballast with a T8 ballast?
The easiest and lowest price option to replace a T12 is a T8 linear fluorescent. They have become the go-to option for pre-existing T12s. If you still have magnetic ballasts, switching to a T8 will require a ballast swap. Another option is to move forward with an LED retrofit.
Are T8 ballasts interchangeable?
As far as safety is concerned, you can exchange them. If you place T12 tubes in a fixture with a T8 ballast, you will wear out the ballast and have to replace it.
