wiring flourescent custom fixture, 4-lamp ballast

I'll be making my own flourescent fixture that will hold multiple bulbs. I have 4-lamp ballasts and ends for the bulbs. I attached a pic of the diagram on the ballast and an end. I guess I'm not reading the diagram correctly or I lack the knowledge to, but I just don't get it. Any help? Thanks.

edit: Hmm, I guess I can't attach a pic. I don't really know how to describe it. There's four holes to insert wire on each end, but the diagram only shows two connections at each end of each lamp. Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?

 

Fluorescent sockets are made with two connections at each terminal so that a wire can be connected and another wire can jumper to another socket if needed. Your sockets have two "terminals" with each terminal having two connection points. Using an ohm meter (continuity tester) will show you that you only have two sets of isloated contacts.

 

I did some more in-depth searching and I found an old post elsewhere. The poster said that each "tombstone" socket had four connection points, two for each pin on the lamp. Since my ballasts are instant, current is sent through both pins at the same time. As far as I understand, I have to use a short jumper to connect the inner two holes on each socket, then wire according to the diagram. If you picture the four lamps aligned horizontally one atop the other, then one yellow to the two left ends of the first two lamps and the other yellow to the left ends of the second two, then on the right, red, red, blue, blue, respectively. Does that sound right?

 

Not sure about your jumper description. It sounds like you will be shorting the two pins together the way you describe it.

Here is a wiring diagram for a 4-tube ballast (for an aquarium):


http://www.justphish.com/drygoods/6604lampdiagram.htm

 

I think the diagram in your link is for a different type of ballast. Mine only has two yellow, two red, and two blue, and black and white of course. It says on the diagram "each lamp holder must be electrically shorted as shown", so I guess then it's correct. I'm no expert, but I think this is because my ballast in an instant start and it needs to pass current through both pins at the same time.

 

One diagram is for a slimline and one for an HO. Slimline will run only 2 lamps.

 

tricorythodes ,
Could you post a link to a website that we could see the diagram at? Or at least give us the name of the manufacturer and a model #?