How to Ground an Instant Start Ballast

Unlike older ballasts that took time to warm up, instant start ballasts provide full illumination of fluorescent tubes immediately. If you have older fluorescent fixtures that flicker or take time to illuminate, you may want to consider replacing the ballasts with instant start ballasts. Like other ballasts, the instant start ballasts wire to 120-volt household current and use the fluorescent fixture as a ground.

Phillips screwdriver
Flat screwdriver
Wire nuts

Instructions

- 1
  Disconnect the power supply to the fluorescent fixture. Remove the bulbs from their sockets and set them aside.
- 2
  Remove the retaining screws holding the cover on the fixture. Pull the cover off the fixture and set it aside.
- 3
  Unscrew the wire nuts connecting the socket and supply wires to the ballast. Remove the screws holding the ballast to the chassis of the fixture. Remove the ballast.
- 4
  Place the new ballast in the fixture, insert the screws in the chassis holes and tighten the screws securely.
- 5
  Use wire nuts to connect the socket wires to the ballast according to the wiring diagram printed on the ballast. Connect the power supply wires to the ballast wit wire nuts according to the wiring diagram.
- 6
  Ensure that the bare copper wire from the power supply wraps around the green grounding screw in the fixture chassis and the screw is tight against the wire.
- 7
  Place the cover on the fixture and install the retaining screws. Place the bulbs in their sockets and restore power to the fixture.

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