250 W IceCap Ballast wiring help

tcollins · 01/12/2008, 03:01 PM

I'm getting ready to install the 250W IceCap Ballast and spider reflectors in my new wood canopy. The ballast is pre-wired with a three prong plug for the wall outlet. It also came with a three wire cord to connect the ballast to the bulb socket. However the bulb socket only has two wires. Where do I attach the ground wire going to the socket connection? Should I just fasten this to the inside of the canopy on the wood top, near the light? The wires are equal length, so I wouldn't think I'm supposed to attach it where I fasten the reflector into the canopy.

Appreciate any help. Thx

DarG · 01/12/2008, 03:11 PM

3rd wire is a ground. Attaching to wood doesnt do any good. Attach to the reflector itself. You can attch with one of the screws you mount the reflector with as long as it is making good contact with the metal reflector.

tcollins · 01/12/2008, 03:15 PM

I kind of thought that but this thing was supposed to come pre-wired. All of the wires on the cords have connectors which is simple enough, I would have thought that if it was to connect to the reflector, the ground wire would have been longer. Of course the reflector is attached to the wood, I guess attaching the ground to the reflector is to give the current a place to travel if for some reason the bulb breaks?

old salty · 01/12/2008, 10:10 PM

The third wire is an Earth ground and should be grounded to the chassis of the reflector. This way, in case there is a short in the wiring, the current goes directly to ground rather than making the chasis "hot". Ever touch a piece of metal that is "hot"?

You don't need it, but it is a good safety precaution, especially when considering the conductivity of salt water.

01/12/2008, 03:01 PM	#1
tcollins Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 250	250 W IceCap Ballast wiring help I'm getting ready to install the 250W IceCap Ballast and spider reflectors in my new wood canopy. The ballast is pre-wired with a three prong plug for the wall outlet. It also came with a three wire cord to connect the ballast to the bulb socket. However the bulb socket only has two wires. Where do I attach the ground wire going to the socket connection? Should I just fasten this to the inside of the canopy on the wood top, near the light? The wires are equal length, so I wouldn't think I'm supposed to attach it where I fasten the reflector into the canopy. Appreciate any help. Thx

01/12/2008, 10:10 PM	#4
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	The third wire is an Earth ground and should be grounded to the chassis of the reflector. This way, in case there is a short in the wiring, the current goes directly to ground rather than making the chasis "hot". Ever touch a piece of metal that is "hot"? You don't need it, but it is a good safety precaution, especially when considering the conductivity of salt water. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

01/12/2008, 03:11 PM	#2
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	3rd wire is a ground. Attaching to wood doesnt do any good. Attach to the reflector itself. You can attch with one of the screws you mount the reflector with as long as it is making good contact with the metal reflector.

01/12/2008, 03:15 PM	#3
tcollins Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 250	I kind of thought that but this thing was supposed to come pre-wired. All of the wires on the cords have connectors which is simple enough, I would have thought that if it was to connect to the reflector, the ground wire would have been longer. Of course the reflector is attached to the wood, I guess attaching the ground to the reflector is to give the current a place to travel if for some reason the bulb breaks?