How do i change a ballast for a light fixture? and what if i can't cut the power?
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Answers:
If you don't have access to the breaker you can flip the light switch off. You really should turn off the breaker off though because if the switch is improperly wired you still may have live wires.
Disconnect the black and white wires. Put a wire nut over the black wire just in case somebody turns the power back on. Then cut all the other wires going to the ballast. Leave enough to splice in the wires from the new ballast.
Take the nut loose that holds the end of the ballast in the fixture and take the ballast out. Take it with you to the hardware store/home center and find a compatible replacement. If you have a 2 tube fixture get a ballast for two tubes if you have a 4 tube fixture get a 4 tube ballast. Also make sure the wattages of the new ballast match the old.
Connect the new one just like the old was connected.
PS. If this fixture uses F40T12 lamps be sure NOT to get a ballast for F32T8 lamps they are not compatible.
You should be able to cut the power by turning off the breaker. If you can't find the breaker, then you should call an electrician. With the power off disconnect the wires on the ballast and remove it from the fixture. Call the local supply house and give them the information from the ballast and they should be able to get you the correct ballasts. They will need to know the voltage that is feeding the ballast, the number of light bulbs that are connected to the ballast and what type of bulbs. Once you get the ballast they usually have a wiring diagram on them, but it should be wired the same way the old one was.
unless you have a fancy fixture you can get the whole thing cheaper than just the ballast
if its a 2 bulb fixture as in a 8 foot fixture once you remove the blubs that cuts power off to the ballast than you can replace it without killing the power to it but if its a 4 foot fixture those the incomeing power goes direct into the ballast itself ether way it may just be easer to buy a new fixture
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