Mounting shop light ballast in canopy

[Modest_Man]

I've done this before without any issues, but I've hit a snag this time.

This time the lights have a ground, which was attached to the shop light reflector. As I've removed the reflector and mounted the ballast to the canopy I don't have anything metal to ground the power cord to.

Any thoughts on how to ground the ballast? I'm not too keen on wiring and electricity, how safe would it be to simply cut out the ground and use a two prong plug vs. keeping the ground and using a 3 prong?

If photos are needed I can snap a few, but I think this is pretty straightforward.

 

[Bderick67]

The purpose of the "ground" is to protect from any metal parts/equipment from becoming energized in case of malfuntion or miswiring. You are eliminating the metal from this sitsuation. So the only thing you could really bond with the ground would be the metal ballast enclosures. Not having a ground will not effect the operation of the ballast.

 

[Modest_Man]

So could I then just use the three prong plug it has and keep the ground wire loose, or should I remove the ground wire entirely and use a two prong plug?

I ask because I tried to switch it on and got nothing, not sure if the ground had anything to do with it or what, could just be old as I've not used these lights in almost a year.

 

[NilePufferFanatic]

Either cut it or put a wire nut on the loose wire or electrical tape. It would be bad it it contacted the hot wire. You dont "need" the ground. Make sure that you followed the wiring diagram that came with the ballast.

If you are screwing a metal ballast to your canopy, then just "trap" the copper ground wire under one of the screws holding your ballast on.

 

[Bderick67]

You could either eliminate the ground or attach to the ballast. Not having a ground will not effect the operation of the ballast.

 

[Modest_Man]

All right, I've removed the ground. I'm still not getting either one to start up, I get the little glow at the starter end but that's it.

It's odd because it's happening with both ballasts (I've got two two bulb ballasts) and I know they worked last time I used them. I've tried new bulbs as well, and I even tried swapping the end caps even though I had them done correctly.