Metal Halide Ballast

kcb1123 · May 30, 2012

I have a 2X 250W DE fixture with with a single ballast. That ballast died today. I looked at the mfg and it appears that they have changed their styles and cord type. I also saw some ballasts online that I like better. I am wondering on how it works with the cord plugs being different. Is this something where I need to slice the new cord off and put on the old end, or is it something where I slice both ends and make them perminantly attached? If so is this something that most folk can do or do I need and electrician, or maybe just and handy friend? Also any thoughts on ballasts would be nice.

Young Frankenstein · May 30, 2012

Its a neutral, hot and ground going to the bulb, it doesn’t mater how you splice hot and neutral going to the bulb, ground does and its always green.

Dog Boy Dave · May 31, 2012

Young Frankenstein said:
Its a neutral, hot and ground going to the bulb, it doesn’t mater how you splice hot and neutral going to the bulb, ground does and its always green.

Normally on an enclosed ballast you will have two cords. Each cord has multiple wires in it. One cord goes to AC POWER SOURSE and the other goes to the bulb (LAMP) There is a NEUTRAL, HOT, AND GROUND wire in the cord going from the BALLAST to the AC 120 or 220 (POWER SOURSE) . From the BALLAST to the LAMP you will find another cord with two wires. They are usually both white on a comercial ballast. Polarity for the wires from the ballast to the bulb (LAMP) is irrelevant and they can be hooked up either way.
Usually the manufactures that use special cords on their ballasts will have spare connectors available. If they do not have them available, then you can splice your connector to the end of their cord.

Thoughts on Halide Ballasts. I have used many. Currently running ovr 3000 watts on mutliple ballasts in a couple of systems. The comercial open analog ballasts used to be cost effective and useful. However, they have gotten more expensive now than electronic ballasts. A good local source for ballasts is often your local gardening or hydrophonics stores. Much cheaper than some other sourses. There are charts available that list the analog ballasts and lamp compatability. Some have starter circuits. Not a big deal actually if you do some research on sites dedicated to halide lamps.