How to Change a Ballast in a Fluorescent Light Fixture

[@karikl438]

Ok. I know this video is 3 years old. But I have had this light out in my kitchen for almost a year and my husband wouldn't fix it. Said he was going to hire someone. Which would never happen because we have large dogs. Ive been cooking and eating in the dark and got sick of it. I am also scared of ladders and especially electrical. I watched this several times and I got the parts myself at home depot and did it!!!! I was so shocked that it worked that I started crying. My dad would have been SO PROUD OF ME!!! If it wasn't for you, I would have NEVER been able to do this. If I was there I would kiss you!!! Can't thank you enough!!!!!!!!!

[@karikl438]

*2 years old

[@zenistermister9695]

Hellyeah 🙂 Self empowered!

[@jeanniesanders6158]

Kari, That is AWESOME!!!

[@bdeithrick]

Well done you. Always investigate and learn and do.

[@SurfNturfz]

Need a new husband

[@RickWitt-uq4cg]

Very clear and informative; followed the instructions exactly and had the perfect result! Thanks.

[@alherrera9920]

Best video I've seen explaining the steps to change a ballast. Very clear and concise instructions. Thank You!

[@beckyb8929]

thank you for all the help! All fixed and basement is bright again.

[@bullseyenate231]

Becky B, your welcome that’s awesome. I’m glad to hear it!! And I’m glad my video was helpful!

[@justsaying113]

Thank you. I'm gonna use all the info you gave me at work tomorrow 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@carlosmccullough7106]

Excellent detailed teaching

[@Tai_Mai_Shu]

Thank you thank you. Dad taught me this when I was younger. Forgot. Needed to change ballast. Watched this video. And remembered how to complete task. Thank you! *People who disliked, ended up getting electrocuted....

[@philipsakhong1918]

Very thorough explanation!

[@carlospassi1894]

Very clear and informative, well done!!! Now heading to Home Depot...

[@pcm7315]

Informative and illustrative. The work was very neat.

[@mjsmjs522]

now that's what I'm talkin about a video that really helps thank you so much this really helped me out a lot

[@aminorsevenflat5]

Excellent tutorial

[@walters24051]

Great video.

[@greenjettank]

Informative video. Off to Lowe’s to get a ballast

[@bullseyenate231]

greenjettank 👍🏻

[@loriehuckabee9513]

thank you going to try to change mine out.

[@bullseyenate231]

Lori Cline, cool let me know how it goes!

[@loriehuckabee9513]

I decided to replace with a recessed led light.

[@martingonzalez529]

goooood jobbbb.

[@anthonycarbo7614]

Hi, I followed this and everything went OK. Then I turned the breaker on and flipped the switch and nothing. Brand new ballasts wires connected. I have no idea what I did wrong. My question is if you connect the reds up for example, does it matter which of the reds are connected coming from the ballast to the fixture?

[@bullseyenate231]

No. Either red wire to either wire is fine. I would make sure you put fresh bulbs in the fixture and also ensure that you have actual voltage going to your fixture as well.

[@anthonycarbo7614]

OK, thanks

[@sonuojha156]

Can you make video for 60x60 4 x18 watts light change ballast

[@bluewavejin]

Would this work if your new ballast doesn’t have the yellow wires ?

[@bullseyenate231]

Corey Wright, if you’re fixture and original ballast has yellow wires you need to make sure you get the correct ballast for your fixture. If your fixture does not have yellow wires and neither does the correct replacement ballast for your fixture then you have the correct ballast and you just connect the corresponding colors to your new ballast and fixture.

[@bluewavejin]

bullseyenate 231 Thank you, I took it back to the store and exchanged for the correct one. Got back home and installed it after watching your instructive video and it works perfectly. So thank you.

[@beckyb8929]

That was so clear and informative! Thank you. Is there any way to tell that it is the ballast rather than the bulb connection or fixture that is bad before spending money, wiring all together and then what if light still doesn't come on? I have a couple down in the basement that haven't worked for years. Other thing I want to know is on the directions that comes with the ballast it says ballast must be grounded. It looks like that just means make sure and screw tight so ballast is touching the fixture or connected by screw? Is that correct? Going to call my daughter's boyfriend over but want to make sure I have everything he needs and I know what's what. He knows what he's doing anyway. Thanks for letting me understand the process!

[@bullseyenate231]

Becky B, glad my video was helpful. You could check the connections on the Bulb sockets using a multimeter. It would be difficult to explain all of that just in text so maybe I will see about possibly making a video demonstrating if I get some free time. However, in my experience with fluorescent light fixtures, 9 times out of 10 it is faulty ballast’s causing the problems. As a result of the faulty ballast the bulbs usually go with it. I would recommend changing the ballast and the bulbs at the same time. As for the ground, older fixtures would actually sometimes have no ground but now a days all fixtures require a ground for code. The ground wire is typically grounded on the light fixtures itself therefore the ballast is grounded when secured to the fixture. As long as you purchase the correct ballast and follow the same wiring process for the new one you will not have any issues.

[@beckyb8929]

Thank you! I just noticed that the new ballast is different shape and longer than old one (which had dripped some molasses looking brown sticky stuff down onto the ballast cover) - so the end of ballast is too long to be secured by current screw. Do I just drill another hole farther down the fixture? I hope the slide in end is compatible. Haven't taken the old ballast off yet. I want to get everything set up for my daughter's boyfriend so it won't take up too much of his time to do the wiring. THank you!

[@bullseyenate231]

Becky B, Yeah brown goop coming out of the ballast definitely confirms they need to be changed 😂, but I would recommend using a self taping screw into the metal on the fixture unless you can find another ballast that fits into your specific fixture. Otherwise just use the self taping screw that will definitely do the job.

[@beckyb8929]

OK have never heard of a self taping but will go out and get one today. Thanks for quick reply!

[@beckyb8929]

OK - I see there was a typo - self tapping screw that goes through metal I guess. anyway will find out when I go to the hardware store.

[@raytrei13]

nice video

[@bullseyenate231]

Raymond Santos, thanks I hope it was helpful for you!

[@raytrei13]

i will replace my ballast soon

[@bullseyenate231]

Raymond Santos awesome, let me know if you have any questions. I would be happy to offer any advice I can. 👍🏼

[@raytrei13]

awesome thanks

[@raytrei13]

mines is the dual flouriscent light. but this looks kinda the same as the one i have

[@kevindavis4709]

At 2:32 is why I live T-8 lights they not oil drippers i replaced many T-12 lights they all are bad about leaking oil the ballast cover has oil on them allot of times T-8's rock plus one bulb burnout one one goes out.

[@waptek2]

added to backrooms survivalist; drop ceiling fluorescent light = power

[@davidfearing8218]

this all well and good but ive ask for english wires not usa dose not help in the slightist

[@JuanMorales-ks4ll]

why yellow wires goes like that

[@bullseyenate231]

Yellow wires in double ballast fixtures run the the opposite end of the fixture. Do not connect them to the closest set of yellow wires but rather to the same place the old ballast runs.

[@JuanMorales-ks4ll]

@@bullseyenate231 ok thanks

[@thomaslamoree3010]

How do l take out both ballasts And replace with one...

[@bullseyenate231]

Thomas Lamoree, you want to replace whatever you have in there. Some fixtures do run 4 bulbs on one ballast; however, if you have two you want to put back in two. Don’t convert ballast configurations change the whole fixture.

[@bdeithrick]

Ooomm

[@jimdavis9581]

No need to twist wires with pliers. The wire nuts will twist very well.

[@bullseyenate231]

Not necessarily. By using the pliers to twist the connections first ensures that the wire nut completes a solid connection. I have taken fixtures apart before That we’re not working due to lack of connection with the wire nut. Twisting it before is always the best way to ensure a solid. While you are right in saying it’s not necessary it does however produce a better Quality of work that one does not have to question.

[@YourUNKus]

@@bullseyenate231 OK crazy question but I have a whole bunch of old ballasts from a remodeled store. Is there anything that can be done with them other than toss em out? I took one apart and there was a thick and hard tar like stuff covering what looked like transformers which are wound with real thin copper wire but it looks like it would be a nightmare to unwind the transformers for the copper ... so garbage ?

[@bullseyenate231]

@@YourUNKus great question! So you can scrap the ballast but they are worth very little due to their make up. Most people just snip the wires at the base and toss them. Either way ballast are safe to dispose of normally and do not require and special disposing process.

[@waptek2]

@@YourUNKus AFAIK depending on age DO NOT dismantle the ballast due to ,,, "stuff" it will get messy ;-)

[@YourUNKus]

@@waptek2 Yup, did one after original post, took an hour to get the black stuff away with hammer beatings etc. only to find a 2.5uf 360VAC cap and another couple hours to unwind the thin (30 ga ?) windings (with the help of a small hobby lathe) from the individual metal plates which formed the transformer. Quite a mess indeed too much time and effort also but now I know... never again... all 49 of the rest of them to the recycler.

[@jacobscardino4330]

I LIKE TO EAT POOPOO LIKE KIYOO🇧🇦💅🏿

[@JesusLopez-ky1ws]

Umm

[@thugfoolery313]

I don't understand why you just didn't try turning it off and back on again. Dislike. Unsubscribed.

[@waptek2]

bill gates approves of this message