Replacing Ballast - Bit off more than I can chew

[idnetter]

Hi,

Hopefully I'm posting this in the correct section.

First off, I'm not a qualified electrician. I'm replacing a ballast in my home aquarium light and thought it would have been a straight forward like for like swap, the connections on the replacement has 7 wires when the original has 6.

See attached photo, can someone please shed some light on where I'm supposed to connect the wires on the new unit?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[markc123]

They're push connections, by the looks of it. Can be very fiddly.

There's a nack to it - need to push the wires in, with the screwdriver then release so the connections stay firm lol.

 

[idnetter]

Thanks for the quick response. Sorry, the query wasn't about how to actually terminate the cables but if the cables were connected to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 on the original ballast, where do they go in the replacement?

I'm sensing sarcasm?

 

[Richard Burns]

Looks like you should be OK with
1 to 1
2 to 2
3 to 6
4 to 7
5 to 5
6 to 3

Don't connect anything to 4.
However I am not quite sure why they have a connection to 4 on the new unit since it would not normally be required, so I could be wrong.

 

[ipf]

Looks like you should be OK with
1 to 1
2 to 2
3 to 6
4 to 7
5 to 5
6 to 3

Don't connect anything to 4.
However I am not quite sure why they have a connection to 4 on the new unit since it would not normally be required, so I could be wrong.

Agree with the connections R. 4 is unusual, it's usually less terminals on the new ballasts rather than more. Could split the link and take both legs to 4, I suppose.

 

[idnetter]

Thanks. I've terminated the wires as above but I'm not getting the light turn on. On the new ballast, there are 2 terminals, control pos/neg - these were not on the old unit. Do I need to do anything with them?

 

[markc123]

Thanks for the quick response. Sorry, the query wasn't about how to actually terminate the cables but if the cables were connected to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 on the original ballast, where do they go in the replacement?

I'm sensing sarcasm?

Honestly it wasn't sarcasm lol I've misread your OP and genuinley thought you wern't sure how to terminate them. Appologies.

RB and IPF have given you the answer so no need for me to stick my tuppence in anymore. Sorry again, but my excuse is - it's late lol.

 

[Darkwood]

The new ballast may be configured to operate different and reference off the link so just add the extra cable as it shows on the new ballast plan to the link cable of the tubes that way you have followed the wiring plan and it should work. Where you have gone wrong is your truing to translate the old wiring to the new ...forget this and just pretend you wiring afresh of the new ballast ...that way its simple to follow and you don't get confused from the old set-up.

 

[Marvo]

With control pos/neg terminals it's possible your new ballast might be dimmable. Can you give exact make and model numbers for both the old and the new ballasts please.

 

[idnetter]

With control pos/neg terminals it's possible your new ballast might be dimmable. Can you give exact make and model numbers for both the old and the new ballasts please.

It's off a sealed unit, same make as fish tank...

New ballast: ARLEN EFA DIMMABLE 1-10v HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRONIC BALLAST
Old ballast: JUWEL AQUARIUM Electronic ballast EVG-HP

 

[ipf]

There you go then. Equivalent ?

 

[idnetter]

The new ballast may be configured to operate different and reference off the link so just add the extra cable as it shows on the new ballast plan to the link cable of the tubes that way you have followed the wiring plan and it should work. Where you have gone wrong is your truing to translate the old wiring to the new ...forget this and just pretend you wiring afresh of the new ballast ...that way its simple to follow and you don't get confused from the old set-up.

Just add the extra cable (4) as per wiring on Richard Burn's post?

 

[Richard Burns]

It does not sound like the two ballasts are equivalent replacements I notice that U out is 220V on one ballast and 300v on the other.
Was your original light dimmable and was there a supply for this?

What type of lamps are you using in the aquarium?

 

[markc123]

Aye, seems like you maybe buying another ballast OP.

Im out, bedtime for me...it's late and the missus is moaning lol.

Hope you get it sorted by the other kind, generous, loving, caring, thoughtful, considerate, amazing, talented, beautiful electricians on this forum...right enough arse licking and general immaturity. Inabitch.

 

[idnetter]

It does not sound like the two ballasts are equivalent replacements I notice that U out is 220V on one ballast and 300v on the other.
Was your original light dimmable and was there a supply for this?

What type of lamps are you using in the aquarium?

Yeah I'm getting that, I unwittingly ordered the replacement following someones guide for a similar aquarium thinking by chance mine would have been the same.
2 x 590mm 28 Watts (Juwel High Lite)
Original light was not dimmable.