Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Installing flourescent light ballast
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skytime
04-21-05, 08:43 AM
Greetings my fellow countrymen (and elsewhere)
I work in downtown Spokane WA and recently had an engineering maintenance position fall in my lap for the upkeep of a number of buildings here.. I was just a part time assistant to the main maintenance guy but he up and left all of a sudden to return to a previous job. I'm still part time but have a number of maintenance issues popping up that I didn't know or was not trained for (the main guy was territorial and also felt better about himself if he could keep me in the dark, etc.)
Anyway, I have never installed a flourescent light ballast and would appreciate any input on this matter. Do I have to secure all power to the light first? (I have many offices on some of these floors with computer systems and if I can't isolate the lights only I may shut off someones power suply to computer and wipe out their work etc.) What else do I need to know. I can also be contacted at skirbyb@hotmail.com Thanks. skytimeundefined
I work in downtown Spokane WA and recently had an engineering maintenance position fall in my lap for the upkeep of a number of buildings here.. I was just a part time assistant to the main maintenance guy but he up and left all of a sudden to return to a previous job. I'm still part time but have a number of maintenance issues popping up that I didn't know or was not trained for (the main guy was territorial and also felt better about himself if he could keep me in the dark, etc.)
Anyway, I have never installed a flourescent light ballast and would appreciate any input on this matter. Do I have to secure all power to the light first? (I have many offices on some of these floors with computer systems and if I can't isolate the lights only I may shut off someones power suply to computer and wipe out their work etc.) What else do I need to know. I can also be contacted at skirbyb@hotmail.com Thanks. skytimeundefined
John Nelson
04-21-05, 11:20 AM
First of all, you need a very detailed list of what breaker kills power to what. So you'll know for sure what else will die when you shut off the breaker to that light. If you have to schedule night or weekend time to do make this list, then do so. Warn everyone to shut their stuff down before leaving.
Then you should always shut off the breaker controlling power to any fixture before doing anything more significant than changing a light bulb.
Then you should always shut off the breaker controlling power to any fixture before doing anything more significant than changing a light bulb.
skytime
04-22-05, 07:16 AM
John Nelson,
Thanks so much for your quick reply and advice. I am also in the dark (no pun inteneded) about just the basic wiring of the ballast. Once I get to the old ballast and get it out will it be self explanatory as far as which wire goes where or (?)... Great web-site. Thanks for staying on top of things. Take Care. skytime--(Steve Baldwin)
Also. I called a gentleman who does some work for us occasionally here and he said I would just need to turn the switch off for the light and then use a voltmeter to make sure there was no power. How does that sound?
Thanks so much for your quick reply and advice. I am also in the dark (no pun inteneded) about just the basic wiring of the ballast. Once I get to the old ballast and get it out will it be self explanatory as far as which wire goes where or (?)... Great web-site. Thanks for staying on top of things. Take Care. skytime--(Steve Baldwin)
Also. I called a gentleman who does some work for us occasionally here and he said I would just need to turn the switch off for the light and then use a voltmeter to make sure there was no power. How does that sound?