Ask the Electrician

I cleaned the tombstone contacts with a .22 brush in a drill. They didn't look corroded at all, but I tried it. Tried new bulbs then too. No difference. Odd isn't it?

 

There is another set of contacts on top of the tombstones where the wires from the ballast connect to the tombstone. This connection is another problem area for fluorescents'. Usually the connection is just a simple "push-in" type. You can usually check those by removing the plate that holds the tombstones with a screwdriver (You just pry it out from one side). Most of the time, just removing the plate will reveal the loose connection. Just make sure the power is OFF. Getting hit by a ballast conductor is like grabbing a spark-plug wire.

I've been doing electrical work for 30 years. Sometimes it's easier to trash these fixtures rather than fix them.

 

I have not for 30.
But I second this, it can be a bitch to troubleshoot and replace....sometimes more than once.

 

Hey Brother.
I started in 85 as a helper / apprentice doing residential (new / remodel / service). I've OJT'd all of my education and tested my Licenses (both J and M). Currently working as an Industrial Systems and Controls Tec.

Are you doing construction?

 

Yup
17yrs

 

That's the plan, I just need to get off my ass and do it.

 

Sometimes I think I miss it. But then I look at my benefits.

Stay Safe Brother.

 

Construction sucks.

If I could sit at a desk and get paid I would.
But I cant. I'm to productive of a person. As far as creativity

I would like both.

Fuck paperwork!

 

I had a few office jobs and lost my mind. Humidity can effect the magnetic ballasts of the fixture. Just means there weak.

 

Been doing it only 8 years and am already over it. Trying to get out of it currently but like you said the benefits make it all worth it.

 

Although I do have a desk, I don't get to sit there much. And even though I have a fancy title, I still have to do a lot of the regular maintenance jobs. I think it helps to keep my mind sharp on simple wiring jobs. I really enjoyed some of the construction projects I did. But I don't miss constantly wearing a tool belt. A maintenance job has provided me with a lot more than I could have achieved if I would have stayed in the construction industry.

 

Hopefully an ok-ish photo. Trying to figure out which wire is which. I am replacing switch with one that is timed and every wire is black. The random one on the right that is looped was around the bottom screw and going from the back bottom hole of the switch next to it.

New switch has black, blue and white. Black is line, White is neutral, Blue is load according to diagram and can’t figure out why I am not getting power.

Lastly, where do I connect the ground? New switch doesn’t have one.

 

My ground wire was bundled with the rest of the grounds in the box.

 

it's a single switch as far as I know, only thing it controlled was the porch light.

 

can you check voltage with meter? are you installing a smart switch that needs ground?

 

checked voltage, top one came out as 122 or so. it's a plain old fashioned timer switch, not smart in any way other than following a schedule, just saw an extra wire that the new switch didn't have a spot for.

 

Black wire on the new switch to the wire coming from the other switch. It’s most likely the power. Blue wire to the other wire from the old switch. Tie in the neutral from the new switch to your neutrals in the back of the box. Weird that the new switch doesn’t have a ground. You’ll be fine without it tho

If you have a meter and know how to use it turn off the switch and see which wire is giving you a voltage reading. That will be your power. The wire not showing a voltage is the one going to the light

 

Figure it out?

 

nope. got put it back to original...aint gonna mess with it. this house is p****g me off.
had weird issues with HVAC too that they had to come out and mess with.