DIY Light Bulb Replacement: Identifying and Replacing the Ballast
Hey there, DIY Nation! It's Jeff with HomeRepairTutor, and welcome to our latest video on how to replace a faulty light bulb. Today, we're going to tackle one of the most common issues that can prevent your fluorescent lights from working - the ballast. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of identifying and replacing the ballast, so you can save money by doing it yourself.
Before You Begin
To start, make sure to turn off the light switch at the circuit breaker. This is a simple step that will ensure your safety while working on the light fixture. Next, gather the necessary tools: a voltage detector, a Philips or flathead screwdriver, and a combination stripper. The voltage detector will help you test for electricity going to the ballast, while the screwdriver and combination stripper are essential for removing the old ballast.
Identifying the Ballast as the Culprit
So, how do you know if the ballast is the cause of your fluorescent light's failure? In my case, I noticed two different signs. First, whenever I turned on the light switch, the bulb had a hard time lighting up. This was my first clue that something was amiss with the ballast. Secondly, after the light stopped working, I tested the power going into the ballast and found that it had voltage, but the wires connected to it had no juice at all. This confirmed my suspicion that the ballast was the problem.
Removing the Old Ballast
Now that we've identified the ballast as the culprit, it's time to remove it. To do this, you'll need to release the two screws that hold the ballast to the light fixture. Be careful not to strip these screws, as they can be tricky to remove. Once you've removed the screws, gently pull out the old ballast. Be sure to handle the new ballast with care, as it may have some fragile components.
Rewiring the New Ballast
With the old ballast out of the way, it's time to install the new one. Start by removing any wire nuts that are connecting the old ballast wires to the light fixture. You'll need to loosen these connections carefully, taking care not to damage the wiring or the ballast itself. Next, pull the ballast wires from the frame and insert them into the new ballast. Make sure to secure these wires with the correct wire nuts.
Connecting the New Ballast
Once you've installed the new ballast, it's time to connect it to the light fixture. Start by tightening up the screws that hold the ballast in place. Next, feed the hot and neutral wires (black and white) through the hole where the old ballast wires were. Be careful not to damage any of the wiring or connections.
The Importance of Ballast Type
One thing to keep in mind when working with ballasts is the type of ballast you're using. There are two main types: magnetic and electronic. Magnetic ballasts are older technology that can produce noise and delay the light's turn-on time. Electronic ballasts, on the other hand, are more efficient but may be harder to find. If possible, opt for an electronic ballast for better performance.
Conclusion
Replacing a faulty ballast is a relatively straightforward process that can save you money by doing it yourself. By following these steps and taking care to handle the new ballast with care, you should be able to identify and replace the ballast successfully. Remember to check your local electrical codes before starting any work on your lighting fixtures, and don't hesitate to seek professional help if you're unsure about anything. Happy DIY-ing!
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enFluorescent light bulbs may not work for anumber of reasons. But one culprit could bethe ballast.Hey, DIY Nation! It's Jeff with HomeRepairTutor.And if you have a light like the one behindme in this laundry room—which is my laundryroom—and it's not working, chances are itcould be the ballast. If you know how to replacean outlet or a switch, you can definitelyswitch out a ballast. So stay tuned. Thisis an easy fix. You're going to save a lotof money doing it yourself. And before youknow it, your light's going to be back upand running in no time. So let's get to it!Before you get started, turn the light offat the circuit breaker. It's as simple asthat.What kind of tools do you need? So you needthree kinds of tools. You need a voltage detectorto test for electricity going to the ballast.You need a Philips or a flathead screwdriver.And if you don't mind putting up the money,get an insulated one like this. And then finally,a combination stripper. Always have this littlebuddy with you whenever you're doing electricalwork. You're probably going to need it.So how do you know if the ballast is the culprit?How do you know if the ballast is what's causingyour fluorescent light to not work? Well,in my case, two different things. Wheneverthe light switch would go on, the light bulbwas having a hard time lighting up. So that'sthe number one clue. And then secondly, afterthe light stopped working, I tested the powergoing into the ballast. So there's the powercord right here and it's going into the ballast,and that had voltage going to it. But thesewires right here, had no juice, had no powerwhatsoever. So a nice indicator that the ballastis most likely the problem.So the two screws that are holding the ballastto the light need to come out. Hold on tothose screws because typically the new ballastisn't going to have them.Now it's time to remove the light bulb. Simplyjust push on the tabs that hold them place.And then, pull out the plug—whoa! Pull outthe plug without breaking the light bulb.Then you can set this aside.There are two screws holding this frame tothe junction box. So what you want to do istake those screws and loosen them. This willallow you to slide the frame and pull it off.I recommend you look at the wiring and takea picture, although it's probably not thatcomplicated.So in this case, we have the black going tothe red wire up in the ceiling. And we havethe white neutral wire coming from the ballastjust being connected to the neutral wire upin the ceiling. Oh, and don't forget the groundwire. The ground wire's wired to the barecopper wires up in the junction box.To loosen the wire nuts that are connectingall the connections, I always like to undothe hotwire—in this case, the black—thenthe neutral wire, then the ground wire last.Now you can pull the ballast wires from theframe and put the new one in its place. Placea new ballast on the frame of the light andjust tighten up the screws that held the oldballast in place. So screw here and screwhere. Then finally you need to do is feedthe hot and the neutral wire—the black andthe neutral wire—through the hole wherethe old ballast wires were. Because the groundwire is so bad and so kinked, I'm going tocut it and strip it ¾ of an inch.All right, now it's time to rewire the newballast. So what you're going to do is wirethe ground wire—the green wire—first,then the neutral—which is white in thiscase—and then the hotwire—which is black.And then, in this example, the hotwire's goingto be wired to this red wire.Super simple project, right? So like I saidat the beginning, if you can change out anoutlet or a switch, you can change out a ballast,too.Now, one thing—listen up—one thing aboutballasts. There are magnetic ballasts andthen there are electronic ballasts. Magneticballasts are dinosaurs. Electronic ballastsare way better. I replaced the old ballastwith a magnetic one and listen what happens.Okay. So as you could hear—hopefully asyou could hear—there is a little bit ofthe noise whenever the light turned on. Andthe light took a little bit longer to turnon. That's because magnetic ballasts operatethat way. And if you can get an electronicfaster ballast, that's way better. But I couldn't.It's right before the holidays. I had to gorun out to the home store and buy the ballastthat was available.So I just wanted to let you know that it'snormal to hear that pop and the light to delaya little bit with magnetic ballasts. And Ididn't want you to think that there was somethingwrong with the electrical wiring.So anyhow, if you have any questions, letme know. I'm only a handyman. I'm not an electrician.So I'll help you out the best that I can.And leave your comments in the comments section.If you're new to my channel or if you're newto my videos—a new one comes out every Friday—makesure you click on the subscribe button overon YouTube to get them. And I have a website,too, called HomeRepairTutor.com if you'renot familiar with it. You can go there, lookat all sorts of different tips and tricks.And you can sign up for my email newsletterso that you don't miss any.Until the next video, have a great day, andI'll talk to you soon.So in this case, we have the black going tothe red wire up in the ceiling. And we havethe white neutral wire coming from the ballastjust being connected to the neutral wire upin the ceiling. Oh, and don't forget the groundwire.\n"
