I was just making the point that the replacement with a different brand doesnt matter, you just wired it wrong. And every magnetic ballast I have ever used has universal wiring colors for the most part. It was likely manufactured with a 396 and you probably only had a 496 on the truck and forgot to cap the 2 yellow. Its ok, poop happens!
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Irritating electrical sign....any thoughts
- Thread starter visual800
- Start date
I was just making the point that the replacement with a different brand doesnt matter, you just wired it wrong. And every magnetic ballast I have ever used has universal wiring colors for the most part. It was likely manufactured with a 396 and you probably only had a 496 on the truck and forgot to cap the 2 yellow. Its ok, poop happens!
signage
New Member
An Allanson 396 and 496 3 lamp wiring is the same, except the 496 does not use the brown wires which need to be capped (Wire nutted separately). What I think the op is saying is that not all ballasts from different manufactures are wired utilizing the same colors for the same number of lamps!
visual800
Active Member
Yep it does happen and im human! Notma good excuse but....! actually i did cap the yellows while i should capped the browns and used the yellows. All the ballast ive put in you would think i would have screwed something up by now....smh
Here's another helpful guide:
http://www.allanson.com/lighting-el...support/fluorescent-ballast-technical-support
http://www.allanson.com/lighting-el...support/fluorescent-ballast-technical-support
rydods
Member for quite some time.
When this happens to me...and it does still happen often, it usually isn't the obvious it's an overlooked mistake just like this. Not much you can do. I take pictures of the wiring and ballast before I dig in. Don't usually think I'll refer to them and I always do, multiple times. Just extra insurance.
signage
New Member
When replacing a ballast not of the same manufacturer and same model number, never assume the wiring is the same! The internal circuits may be different and if not wired correctly can not only shorten lamp life but also shorten ballast life from not having them loaded correctly! SO ALWAYS CHECK WIRING WHEN REPLACING A BALLAST!
yea on a 4 to 3 lamp cap browns, 6 to 5 cap yellow and 6 to 4 cap both.
signage
New Member
Why now a change in you color capping of wires(see you post#21)?
Also are you sure this is true for other manufacturers?
Any yes brand does have something to do with the wiring of ballasts! They are not all wired the same color wise!
I was thinking about going from a 6 down
I have never run into issue replacing a like for like size mag ballast that isn't ancient, almost all manufacturers I know of have an industry standard wire color schematic. Some ancient ones have been diff colors, but like you and other have repeated Dont assume. Look at the schematic
petrosgraphics
New Member
if you want to really drive yourself crazy get yourself an electronic ballast
* *and switch that out....*
* *years ago GE made a ballast where the black and white wires came*
* * *into play...*
* * ALWAYS check the new ballast wiring diagram just to make sure......
* * *we have all swapped out a ballast at 1 time or another, that lets
* * *just say, wasn't quite wired right.....
* *and switch that out....*
* *years ago GE made a ballast where the black and white wires came*
* * *into play...*
* * ALWAYS check the new ballast wiring diagram just to make sure......
* * *we have all swapped out a ballast at 1 time or another, that lets
* * *just say, wasn't quite wired right.....