Help understanding my ballast

[jimstar]

Hi All,

I have just bought this second hand ballast. Unfortunately for me its in Spanish!

With the letters:

F, N, LR, LA

and three wires:

brown, blue, yellow/green

I guess it all works the same, but i don't have much experience with electrics and would like some advice please.

i think i need to use the brow and blue but am just unsure about how to connect it.

Any help will be really appreciated!

 

[LUDACRIS]

Contributed by: radneo
Thanks to: MikeRoGrow (for last image)
Submitted: 30-09-2003
Images archived: 2003

This faq includes illustrated images of the components and wiring of a HPS Ballast within Europe (220v). The last diagram dicpicts the wiring of a multi-tap HPS ballast.

​

 

[jimstar]

Contributed by: radneo
Thanks to: MikeRoGrow (for last image)
Submitted: 30-09-2003
Images archived: 2003

This faq includes illustrated images of the components and wiring of a HPS Ballast within Europe (220v). The last diagram dicpicts the wiring of a multi-tap HPS ballast.


Thanks for the reply.

I must be overlooking things here - i can connect cables to the ballast, but then what? There is no second location to link ballast to lamp.

Please tell me if i am just completely stupid!

I still dont even know where the right cables go, and if I need to fit all three cables or just brown and blue!

help would be appreciated!

 

[jimstar]

I've just had an idea - on the left of the ballast I have F and N, on the other side LR and LA.

I connect two wires from the mains to F and N. And the cables from LR and LA to the Lamp.

OK. If this is right i still need to figure out what F, N, LR and LA stand for.

 

[robert 14617]

there is a wiring diagram on the ballast the picture shows how to wire

 

[jimstar]

bare with me Robert!

So i just go ahead and connect which wires where?

 

[robert 14617]

F -field hot usually black
n- neutral white
ground to case -green
look at the mogul socket and wire according to diagram

your going to need another cable ,one for power and one for the light

lets hold off until an electrician adds to this europen may require 220v

 

[jimstar]

Cheers Robert!

the wires are a different colour over here, but i can research from the info you have provided.

Nice one!


*I am scared of putting in the live and neutral wires and leaving the earth wire just hanging loose. Would I get electrocuted by touching the ballast?

Its pretty important that I get this right!!

 

[robert 14617]

please be careful

 

[jimstar]

please be careful

You did it Robert, thanks to you my light works!

and I was being careful!

I basically went ahead on the basis of F being hot or live in Europe. And simply translated the American terms into European.

Did a bit of research on the web and was enlightened - it was a beautiful moment my friend!

The key to all this was the F.

F = Hot or Live (Brown)
N = Neutral (Blue)

LR = Hot of Live (Brown)
LA = Neutral (Blue)

The ground or earth wire (yellow/green) from the mains, I just wrapped in black tape. From the ballast to the lamp I connected all three wires.

Hope this helps someone.

 

[robert 14617]

thanks jim i'll keep this info , i've seen these ballasts on here before

 

[tuone]

-if its of any help, the wiring is ludicrously simple - mains feed in to ballast - terminals possibly marked "F" (live, brown), and "N" (blue, neutral) - output from ballast to lamp - marked "LR" (blue,neutral), and "LA" (brown, live) - connect earths where needed, and off you toddle!

TYPICAL!!!! the forum at uk420 says the exact opposite.

Looks like ill have t see with the multimeter.

 

[VagabondGG]

Thanks alot for this thread, easied my worries. But did you ever findout what that 3rd green/yellow wire was for? i has the same

 

[bryan oconner]

why mess with that fire hazard ? why not get a brand new digital ballast ? you can get a good one for about 110 bucks. sold by solis tek .

 

[Dr. Who]

Thanks alot for this thread, easied my worries. But did you ever findout what that 3rd green/yellow wire was for? i has the same

why mess with that fire hazard ? why not get a brand new digital ballast ? you can get a good one for about 110 bucks. sold by solis tek .

DUDES!

This thread is almost 7 years old! The grow done burned down and was rebuilt a cpl of times already!

Zombie thread!