HPS Ballast setup

[Algag]

I am trying to set up my 400w HPS Ballast but cannot quite figure it out. The ballast itself comes with 2 wires, one for outlet and one with 3 colored wires going into connectors, and the fixture itself has 3 wires that match these, white green and black, but I can't seem to get it going. Any help is appreciated.

Algag Reviewed by Algag on 11-27-2007. HPS Ballast setup I am trying to set up my 400w HPS Ballast but cannot quite figure it out. The ballast itself comes with 2 wires, one for outlet and one with 3 colored wires going into connectors, and the fixture itself has 3 wires that match these, white green and black, but I can't seem to get it going. Any help is appreciated. http://i3.tinypic.com/85boj15.jpg Rating: 5

[Algag]

Here are some more pics. One is of the diagram on the Ballast. The top part of the diagram seems to try to explain the setup, white black and green. It looks like the white and black are getting hooked up to the lamp and the green is going to E, whatever that is. Again any help is appreciated I have some seeds germinated that need this light.

[Mr. Clandestine]

"E" is probably the electric current going to the ballast. But I've never seen a socket that's wired like that one is, so err on the side of caution when touching it while it's plugged in.

Though, it looks like it's wired like it should be, there can still be other reasons why it's not firing up. If all of the corresponding connections from the socket wires to the ballast wires match, and there are no loose leads or burnt connectors, then you are left with one of a few possible causes: the electrical outlet you're plugging into isn't live (test by plugging a radio, desk lamp, etc., into it), the bulb you're using is no good (try using a new bulb), or the ballast itself has taken a crap.

Bulbs are easy to change, but restoring power to a power outlet and repairing components on a ballast (especially digital) should only be done if you know how to work with electricity/electrical components. Don't risk killing yourself or starting a fire just to get a light fixture going.

Hope that helps. At least now you have a few places you can start looking. :jointsmile:

[Algag]

Thank you. I unhooked the green wire and it fired up I think that is some sort of grounding wire. My only concern now is that the wire connectors have labels on the holes and I didn't pay attention before connecting them. Im not sure if they are for different voltages or what, or if a wire connector can even have that effect. But it is working now at least so thats a relief.

[PharmaCan]

Mr. C, E = "Earth" aka "ground".

Algag, unhooking your green wire should not make the light work. If it does, something is wrong.

Who connected the power cord (the one that plugs into your receptacle), you or the factory?

As far as the connectors go, connectors generally won't accept a wire larger than they are rated for so, unless the connectors are too big and the connection is loose, you should be ok.

PC :smokin:

[Mr. Clandestine]

Mr. C, E = "Earth" aka "ground".

Thanks PC. When I was doing work on electrical equipment, observation and repetition was how I learned not to kill myself, and like then, I didn't pay very close attention to his wiring diagram. I also thought Algag was referring to a single main wire coming from the ballast to the light being labeled as "E" on the diagram. My misunderstanding.

Algag: I'm glad to hear that it's working, but if it will only work when the ground is unplugged, PharmaCan is right...there's something wrong. Did the ballast and lamp/reflector come together, or did you purchase them separately? The reason I ask is because you definitely shouldn't try powering a 400W lamp with a 600-1000W ballast. It might work temporarily, but you'll be overloading the wires going to the socket, and will likely burn the lamp out extremely prematurely, or even worse, frying the connection from the ballast to the lamp & possibly setting your house on fire.

If this isn't the case, then does the electrical outlet being used accommodate a grounded plug? I can't get a clear picture of the colors of your wires, but they look to be connected in the right spots. You might want to think about getting a pair of wire-strippers, and reconnect each of your corresponding wires using individual crimp-connectors. Maybe one of your connectors is faulty. If you're able to disconnect the ground and the light powers up, that means there is not a ground being used to divert the path of the current should an overload occur. Do you live in an older house? Some older model houses didn't require electrical grounds to be placed on all outlets, which is a standard procedure now.

Either way, I wouldn't run that light without a connected ground. I couldn't sleep knowing there is a potential disaster burning bright in my grow room.

[Algag]

Uh oh. I bought the ballast and bulb off a reputable source on ebay. I have no idea if the socket accepts grounding but it is traveling through an extention cord into a surge protector.

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

You may have the connections to the blue and brown backwards, blue is your nutral and should be connected to the white wire of your plug or cord to the wall outlet, brown is your line voltage or hot and should be connected to your black wire of your plug or cord to the wall outlet, green is your earth ground and should be connected to your green wire of the plug or cord to the wall outlet.
It was to hard to tell the colors in your pics so I could not verify if have it right.

[PharmaCan]

According to the schematic, all of the green wires should be connected together and then connected to the green wire in the cord going to the plug. The green wire coming from the ballast is not a ground; it needs to go to a ground.

You really should get someone who knows about electrical work to help you with that.

PC :smokin:

[redsunknight]

I'm not 100% sure but I believe that you don't need a ground wire to the socket, or even the ballast....

I've got a metal halide thats been running without a ground for months with no problems, though it may be dangerous....dunno