[Travlnman]

Hey all, I have 9 5 inch cans with the 4 pin plug in CFL bulbs and one of the ballast is bad. Have any of you all replaced a ballast in a can that was installed when the house was built? If so, how in the world do you get to the ballast as the cans are in the kitchen between floors. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[stickboy1375]

Hey all, I have 9 5 inch cans with the 4 pin plug in CFL bulbs and one of the ballast is bad. Have any of you all replaced a ballast in a can that was installed when the house was built? If so, how in the world do you get to the ballast as the cans are in the kitchen between floors. Any help would be appreciated.

Remove the lamp, and feel around inside the can, you'll come across a wing nut of sorts or a junction box cover with a tab that will release a cover, inside that will be the ballast, and no joke, these are always fun to replace.

 

[Travlnman]

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately the wing nut only adjusts the socket up and down for length of the bulb. The ballast is actually external to the can and the wires feed through a hole in the top of the can. There is 3 screws that look like they attach the inner sleeve of the can to the frame but I am not sure if that will allow me to pull the can down in order to get to the ballast.

 

[stickboy1375]

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately the wing nut only adjusts the socket up and down for length of the bulb. The ballast is actually external to the can and the wires feed through a hole in the top of the can. There is 3 screws that look like they attach the inner sleeve of the can to the frame but I am not sure if that will allow me to pull the can down in order to get to the ballast.

Yep, remove the 3 screws and pull the down on the lamp housing.

 

[Travlnman]

Thanks for the help, I will give it a try.

 

[stickboy1375]

Thanks for the help, I will give it a try.

They are never fun, so good luck.

 

[Dierte]

They are never fun, so good luck.

Ill second that sticky.

 

[ddawg16]

Ill second that sticky.

I'll third that.....

Which is why I went with standard cans with the Edison base...lets me use either a regular CFL or LED. In the near future I'll be removing the Edison socket and puting in a GU24 socket.

 

[frenchelectrican]

I have done few in both resdentail and commercal side so therefore it is NO fun try to change the ballast it will be not easy to work around.

You will need to be extra pataince with it and take your time with it.

Before you start to disconnect the old ballast take a look at the new one they useally have 4 to 6 leads in the ballast connnection beside the power supply so you will have to be creative with this one.

One trick I am sure it will work is use the mirror and use flashlight or flourscent troublelight up the hole where the recessed can located ( yeah 3 screw and it will come down.

Merci,
Marc