How to Connect a 1000 Watt Ballast

Installing a light fixture, or ballast, is a job many homeowner's take on themselves. It isn't difficult if you understand how 120 volt electricity is supplied in the home. The hot black wire sends the power to the fixture from the electrical panel. The white neutral wire provides the necessary path back to the panel. The green or bare ground wire provides a safe path to earth for any electricity that gets somewhere it shouldn't.

Non-contact voltage detector
Wire stripper
Pliers
Twist on wire connectors

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the power off to the wires you are working on at the home's electrical panel. Double check that the power is off by touching a non-contact voltage detector to the wire's insulation.
- 2
  Strip 3/8 inches of insulation off the black, white and green or bare wire coming from the panel.
- 3
  Loosen the grounding terminal in the back of the electrical box with a screwdriver. Wrap the green or bare wire around this terminal and tighten it down.
- 4
  Twist together the black wire from the panel with the black wire from the ballast and install a twist-on wire connector on top.
- 5
  Twist together the white wire from the panel with the white wire from the ballast and install a twist-on wire connector on top.

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