Trying to install a new fluro light, pull out old light to find 3 reds and 3 blacks 1 copper earth. What do I do to connect it up the right way??? When I pulled the old Fluro light out the 3 Reds were joined together with a connector ,two blacks were joined to one end of light wire, the other to the other end of the light wire,earth wire to the light case,the third black wire was connected to the wire from the ballast? Does this all make sense
Sport & Outdoor - Others - Electric - Drill Scaler
Answers & Comments
No, this does not make sense but I have seen strange wiring before. There is power going from the light someplace else. Just connect it back up exactly as the old light was connected. It worked before so it will work again. If it works it is wired correctly. Without being there to check which wire was the hot wire and which was neutral it is impossible for me to say what is what. Make sure you connect the ground wire to the light chassis.
The reds are the neutrals. 2 of the blacks are power in and power out. The 3rd black is a switch leg wire running to the light switch. Separate the 3 black wires and check to see which one has 120 volts. The one carrying 12 volts is the power in so label it or mark it in some way. You now have 2 black wires left. With the power turned off at the breaker set the multimeter to ohms. Turn the light switch for the Florissant light to the on position. Now connect the black lead to the red wires and the red lead to one of the black wires. If the meter moves to full you have the switch leg wire. If not check the other wire. Once you know which wire is the switch leg wire connect the other 2 blacks together and jump one to the hot wire on the light and the switch leg to the white wire.
Hi rod
To answer your question;
The electrician that wired the house used the light fixture as a junction box(it is common practice and legal)that is why you have 3 three cables/6 wires coming in ,
One is use to bring in the power another goes to the light switch and the other continues the circuit to the rest of the line.
The way you explained it , the wiring is correct and your ballast(two wires beside the ground wire) connects to the junction of those two blacks and the lone wire.
That is 1 wire from the ballast to the junction of two blacks
the other wire from the ballast to the lone black wire which is the return from the switch.
try it and let me know how it goes.
Hope this help. Merry Christmas
Sorry rod
Thought you where replacing an already wired fixture