Copyright 2024 Electrical101.com All Rights Reserved.
How to Replace 3 Lamp Programmed Start Ballast with Instant Start
A 3 lamp programmed start ballast can not be replaced with an instant start ballast without rewiring at least two lampholders. As you can see in the “factory wiring” diagram below, the left side of lamp 1 and the right side of lamp 3 have individual wires. The right side of lamps 1 and 2, and the left side of lamps 2 and 3 have common wires. This is typical series-
3 Lamp Programmed Start Ballast Diagram
Factory wiring
3 Lamp Programmed Start Ballast Replaced with Instant Start Diagram
The lampholders on the left side of lamp 2 and 3 need to be disconnected from each other and rewired as individual wires for the new instant start ballast as shown above. The lampholder on the right side of lamp 3 will be wired from Individual to common and connected to the lamp 1 and 2 right side common wires.
3 Lamp Programmed Start Ballast Replaced with 4 Lamp Instant Start Diagram
In the left image, the wire is wrapped around the fingers of the dominant hand as shown. In the right image the dominant hand is closed, while grasping the lampholder in the other hand. The wire is gently pulled while twisting the dominant hand until the wire comes out.
How to Remove Wires from Fluorescent Lampholders
How to Remove Wire from a Lampholder or Push-in Connector Video
