Converting fluorescent to LED wiring question
#1
06-01-20, 02:50 PM
Converting fluorescent to LED wiring question
I'm planning to replace all my T8 fluorescent bulbs in my basement with LEDs. Bought a box of bulbs, non-shunted tombstones, watched a few YouTube videos and thought I was good to go.
I planned to remove the ballast, connect my hot and neutral to the tombstones and be done. But the other side of fixture has a pull chain with two wires coming in. One wire pigtails with the hot wire from other side and the other goes into the ballast. What do I do with those? I'm assuming the pigtail stays connected with the hot (and tombstone wires) but does the one going into the ballast connect to the white/tombstones? Just wanted to be sure!
Thanks.
I planned to remove the ballast, connect my hot and neutral to the tombstones and be done. But the other side of fixture has a pull chain with two wires coming in. One wire pigtails with the hot wire from other side and the other goes into the ballast. What do I do with those? I'm assuming the pigtail stays connected with the hot (and tombstone wires) but does the one going into the ballast connect to the white/tombstones? Just wanted to be sure!
Thanks.
#2
06-01-20, 04:39 PM
That is a switch within the fixture. If you don't want a switch just leave both wires from it disconnected. If you want the switch leave the power connected. Cut the line to the ballast and connect that line to the LED hot connection.
#3
06-01-20, 05:21 PM
Thanks but I'm not sure I understand your answer. When you say cut the ballast wire and connect that to the LED hot, does that mean connect it to the hot wire that's coming into the fixture? Because there is already a hot wire coming off the switch that is connected to the hot coming into the fixture. I thought that would stay and my question was about the other wire coming off the switch. Or do I have that wrong?
I think I have to keep the switch because the fixture is wired directly to my circuit box and not a wall switch. So I'd have no way to turn it off and on without the pull chain.
I think I have to keep the switch because the fixture is wired directly to my circuit box and not a wall switch. So I'd have no way to turn it off and on without the pull chain.
#4
06-01-20, 05:47 PM
Group Moderator
First, make sure you know how your bulbs are wired. There are two different styles, both equally easy to wire but you do need to wire correctly for your bulbs. The bulb will need hot (black) and neutral (white). Normally you'd unhook the hot and neutral feeding the ballast and connect to the bulb. Since you will be keeping the light's pull cord switch that should be left in line with the hot.
#5
06-01-20, 06:18 PM
Thanks but I guess I'm not explaining this very well as I still don't know what to do with the second wire coming coming off the pull switch.
Please see below. I have a black hot and a white neutral coming into the fixture. Hot connects to the hot line of the pull switch on other side of fixture. Incoming white connects to the white wire of ballast. There is a second black wire coming off the pull chain switch that is connecting to a black wire coming out of ballast. If I remove the ballast, where does that switch wire go? Do I connect it to white? Or do I connect it to hot (even though the other wire coming off the switch is already connected to hot).
Thanks!
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/CTV0mXU.jpg" width="720" height="540"/>
Please see below. I have a black hot and a white neutral coming into the fixture. Hot connects to the hot line of the pull switch on other side of fixture. Incoming white connects to the white wire of ballast. There is a second black wire coming off the pull chain switch that is connecting to a black wire coming out of ballast. If I remove the ballast, where does that switch wire go? Do I connect it to white? Or do I connect it to hot (even though the other wire coming off the switch is already connected to hot).
Thanks!
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/CTV0mXU.jpg" width="720" height="540"/>
#6
06-01-20, 06:31 PM
Group Moderator
Cut out the ballast. Connect the black wire that was connected to the ballast to the hot (black) side of your socket/tombstone. Connect the white wire to the other side of the socket/tombstone. Leave the wiring the same as it was to the switch with the black incoming wire connected to one wire and the ballast black to the other wire. (see above)
The switch will function the same as it did before you removed the ballast.
The switch will function the same as it did before you removed the ballast.
Basically, the right mystery switch has only 2 wires connected to it...a red one from the box and a black one just connected to the left switch. So, what's going on here?
And if I want to add a light dimmer switch and fan speed control switch...how should I do it?
Thanks!!!
