Wiring a PC fixture

[OUsnakebyte]

Okay, I dug out my old Custom SeaLife PC fixture the other day to try and get it up and running.  Don't ask me why, just try to understand that I enjoy torturing myself....

 

The old endcap was rusted and had fused to the bulb.  So, after scoring a new endcap w/ attached cord (thanks Chris!), I am trying to splice in the new endcap.  This has happened before, btw...

 

So, here's where I get confused, which easily happens with me and electric stuff, b/c about all I know is that the black wire is the ground (right?).  No, I have no idea what that means, I just like to talk like I do.  Have I showcased my ignorance enough yet?

 

Anyway, coming from the ballast are 4 red wires and a yellow wire.  The old endcap has green, white, red, and black wires.  The green and white wires connect to the yellow, the red to two of the ballast reds, and the black to the remaining two ballast reds.  Okay, fine.

 

The new endcap has a yellow with green stripe, brown, blue and black wires.  I think I know where the new black wire goes (that's the ground, right?), but after that, I'm lost....  ???   [crzy]

 

Anyone?

 

Cheers

Mike

[craby]

Any wire that is red, black, or blue is hot, & any wire that is green or yellow with green stripe is ground wire. White and brown wires are used on circuits where the hot wires are being run in series.

On the ballast - 4 red wires are hot, yellow is ground.

On the old end cap - red & black are hot, green is ground.

On the new end cap - blue & black are hot, yellow w/ green stripe is ground.

I would connect the yellow wire on ballast to yellow w/ green stripe and brown of new end cap, and 2 red wires from ballast to the blue & other 2 reds on ballast to the black of new end cap. That should either work or spark. Good luck. HTH

[Caribbean Jake]

My suggestion before you start any connections.  Read the manual that came with the end cap, or in the event you don't have a manual grab a AC/DC meter and verify each wire continuity and voltage.  That will help you determine what wire is what and were is connected,..  I think a little work is better than second guessing and perhaps reducing the chances of a fire.

Jacob