Need help with t5 tek light wiring

[gnatp2]

Well I decided to give wiring a shot. I just bought a t5 retrofit tek kit. It came with 1 ballast and the setup for 2 bulbs. I'm trying to figure out how to wire the ballast to the endcaps. The ballast itself has a diagram but it appears that there are a couple wires missing from my retrofit kit. I'm sure this isn't the case and I'm just missing something.

There are 2 red 2 yellow and 2 blue wires on 1 side of the ballast. Each of the 4 endcap has 2 inputs for wires. So..... doing the math, 6 wires on the ballast and 8 inputs for the endcaps doesn't add up. It looks like I am missing 1 wire that goes directly from one endcap into another endcap. This wire didn't come with the retrofit kit.

Also, on the ballast, the power supply looks like it has a spot for a green ground wire, but no wire came with the kit.

1st of all, am I misunderstanding something or do I just need to go out and buy some ASW 18 gauge 600 volt wiring? And 2nd, where can I get this wiring? I've tried home depot, ace hardware and radio shack with no luck. (they have similar wire but I'm guessing I can't get away with anything else).

Thanks all,
Nate

 

[digitalreefer]

Well I decided to give wiring a shot. I just bought a t5 retrofit tek kit. It came with 1 ballast and the setup for 2 bulbs. I'm trying to figure out how to wire the ballast to the endcaps. The ballast itself has a diagram but it appears that there are a couple wires missing from my retrofit kit. I'm sure this isn't the case and I'm just missing something.

There are 2 red 2 yellow and 2 blue wires on 1 side of the ballast. Each of the 4 endcap has 2 inputs for wires. So..... doing the math, 6 wires on the ballast and 8 inputs for the endcaps doesn't add up. It looks like I am missing 1 wire that goes directly from one endcap into another endcap. This wire didn't come with the retrofit kit.

Also, on the ballast, the power supply looks like it has a spot for a green ground wire, but no wire came with the kit.

1st of all, am I misunderstanding something or do I just need to go out and buy some ASW 18 gauge 600 volt wiring? And 2nd, where can I get this wiring? I've tried home depot, ace hardware and radio shack with no luck. (they have similar wire but I'm guessing I can't get away with anything else).

Thanks all,
Nate

Hey Nate... the endcaps are daisy chained together... all the wires should be there. I'm sure someone has a diagram they can post, but you should not need anything additionally unless the included wires are too short.

 

[MO~IDOL]

check this out step by step with pictures great job from FRY(Frank)
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/10071-electrical-help-t5-retro-setup.html

 

[gnatp2]

Got it. makes a lot of sense. You need to cut a piece of the yellow wire off to make a "jumper". I'm surprised they don't give you more wiring. I'm gunna need to pick some more up. Anyone have some lying around or know where to get some?

Thanks,
Nate

 

[cali_reef]

The wire that came with all the kits I used had enough wire, the jumper should use only a few inches if the two light bulbs are placed close to each other.

 

[gnatp2]

Yeah, I am going to place the 2 lights fairly far away from each other in front and back of my metal halide reflector in the canopy. So I'm gunna need some more wire.

 

[cali_reef]

Go straight to an electrical supply place, skip Home Depot since I was never able the find the right gage solid wire at any of the 5 I visited in my area.