Wiring Workhorse 5 Ballast for two 55 watt cf

[Budman912]

I'm trying to wire my ballast. I thought I had the correct diagram from the Fulham website ( diagram #11 ) for wiring two 55 watt compact flourescents to the ballast, but it won't fire the bulbs. One tube glows at the end, but that's it. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong.

[frank171]

on the lamp you have 4 pins left to right, pin 1 & 2 use yellow wire from ballast pins 3 & 4 gets 2 reds ,connect 3 & 4 together then to 2 reds, same for second lamp, this ballast is very easy, make sure that all connections are good

[Budman912]

I have the square pin configuration. How do these get connected?

[frank171]

connect 1 & 2 to yellow and 3 & 4 to reds

[frank171]

lay lamp down flat looking at the pins

1 o o 3

2 o o 4

1 & 2 connect yellow wires 3 & 4 reds wire

[Budman912]

There is only one yellow wire coming from the ballast. So I connect Pin 1&2 together and the yellow and do the same thing for both bulbs. There are four red wires. Pins 3&4 get tied together and 2 red wires get connected. Do the same for the other bulb also.
Is this correct?

[frank171]

correct there is only 1 yellow wire on this ballast,if you look at the end were the yellow wire comes out of the ballast there is 2 reds and 1 yellow comeing out togeter those 2 reds will be going to the same lamp and there is 2 reds about 1/2 inch away comeing out of the ballast those 2 reds by themself should go to the second lamp, and the one yellow whould go to both lamps

[Budman912]

Thanks so much for your help! I'll give it a try when I get home from work tonight!

[frank171]

if i were you just connect 1 lamp to see if itworks ,just safe the 2 reds that you not useing for the test and if the lamp works they try the other lamp, the wh5 ballat will fire up 1 lamp to test,

frank

[Budman912]

I tried it again tonight and it still didn't work. I have four of the ballasts so I even tried a different one and it didn't work. I'm obviously doing something wrong. I'm connecting pin #1 and #2 from each bulb and the yellow wires togther in one wire nut. The same thing for #3 and #4 and 2 of the reds for each bulb. Is that what I'm doing wrong, by having them come together. I have one wire nut connection for the yellow and #1 & #2 from each bulb. Then I have the two reds with #3  of one bulb in one wire nut. Finally I have the other two reds with #3 & #4 of the other bulb together in one wire nut.

[AQUAN8TOR]

Make sure you've got the pairs of red wires coming out of the ballast together---- I have this identical setup, among others.

[frank171]

are you connecting the white and black to 120 volts , pins 1 &2 togeter then to yellow wire, pins 3 &4 together then 2 reds together and to pins 3 & 4 you will have 4 wires together pins 3 &4 and 2 reds make sure you have the pair of reds comeing from the same cutout in ballast

[frank171]

wh5

[Budman912]

Yep, that's what I have. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and post it. See if you can see what I'm doing wrong.

[Budman912]

Well come to find out, it wasn't my wiring after all. I had gotten 2 brand new bulbs that were bad. Last night, I tried a different ballast and that didn't work so I tried changing to different bulbs, and what do you know. They fired up right away! I spent days working on this wiring and it wasn't even the problem. Oh well, you live and learn. Thanks for all your help Frank!

[DaveBrader]

I believe the Workhorse 5 can only do a max of 65 watts. So you can't run two 55 watt bulbs from one workhorse 5 ballast. You can wire two workhorse 5 ballasts together and run two 55 watt bulbs then.

Dave

[DaveBrader]

Oooops sorry, Workhorse 3 is 65 watts.... my mistake

Dave

[AQUAN8TOR]

actually, the workhorse 3 is rated for 64 watts. It will push 65 watts, though, without getting hot, IME.

[frank171]

its rare that both new lamps were defective but it happens that was the next step to test the lamps glad you got it working,

frank

[AZreefkeeper]

are these ballast inexpensive? and where can I find one, I have 4 spare 55W PC bulbs I'd like to wire up.

[frank171]

there about $25.00 electrical supply house or on line ,its a good ballast

frank

[AQUAN8TOR]

Wow. Somehow I missed the post about the new bulbs. Congrats. Glad it wasn't the ballast or the wiring suggestions.