LightsOfAmericaModel9042 halp

[SchwagMeister]

Hello this is my first post and I already got a question. I recently got a few of these lights at quite a discount but I am not sure how to ground em. Now they seem to work fine ( plugged into outlet and left burning for a few hours) but fire safety and all...

 

[SchwagMeister]

Would this be considered a digital ballast? I like the low heat aspect of the 50 watt lights as I cannot tell a difference in heat output between these and my 22 watt cfls. It appears an inch minimum is all I will need between the bulb and foliage. Have any of you played with these before? I am going to try and post an image again but if it does not work they are in my gallery.

 

[icon]

i have 2 of the 65 watters only has 2 wires no ground does yours have 3 wires?
if it has only 2 wires you dont need a ground.

 

[icon]

uploaded a pic

 

[SchwagMeister]

Hey icon,
yeah there are only two wires but originally the fixture was grounded. So I am hoping someone can let me know what is best. It is kinda funny that I personally know half a dozen certified electricians but because of our screwed up war on drugs I cant just call em up and get this resolved. I'm glad there is icmag.

 

[1toke]

Hey Schwagmeister.

Ideally the circuit board should be mounted into a container (without all of the solder joints touching the case). I would use a metal container, if you did that you would definetly have to make sure all the contacts are isolated from the casing or else you will short circuit and most likely fry the board. Except for the ground, You would want to attach that to the metal housing and also attach the ground from your power cord to the metal casing. This would allow that line(ground) to make a complete circuit.

The ground is placed onto the box so that if any voltage shorts to the housing it will instantly trip the breaker eliminating the chance of electrocution or fire.



Hope this helps.. GL to you

 

[SchwagMeister]

1toke... hmm is that really all it takes? Man that must be some good chit!

Your post did help out. So everything from the outlet to the circuit board/junction box ends up grounded, correct? What about the light and socket? If I were using a reflector I could ground to that but I am hanging these verticlly at mid plant height. Thanks

 

[1toke]

You dont need to ground the socket, nor the bulb. I cant really give an explanation. But from past experience, the lights I've installed only had 2 wires going to the bulb.

1toke

 

[SchwagMeister]

Alright thats cool. Time to get busy then. Thanks for the help 1toke and actually I have installed 16 wall pack 70 watt HPS lights but I just wire nutted three wires and they worked. Sheeeet I just said NUTTED!