Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install

AkaSlyGuy · 05-27-2007, 04:12 AM

Ok guys and gals. I just want to make sure I have this strait on wiring up my new Icecap 250 mh reto kit.

1. Three wires from ballast (white, black, green/yellow) hook up to the power cord (after removing the metal circle connection on the end of the green/yellow wire.

2. Plug blue wires into the two wires coming from the reflector/bulb socket. The cable that was sent to connect the light to the ballast also has a ground wire in it with the metal circle connectors (sorry, I don't know that actual name) on each end of the cord. On the ballast end of that cord I have read that I just need to scrap a little paint off one of the "feet" of the ballast and screw it down.

My real question is what to do with the ground coming out of the cable on the end that connects to the lights. I see two screws on the end of the buld socket....should I unscrew one of them and scrape some paint and place the metal circle between the screw and the back of the bulb socket?? This would have the ground running from the bulb socket to the foot of the ballast.

Thanks for any help.

Joe

meandean45 · 05-27-2007, 06:43 AM

Hi AkaSlyGuy!

ASK A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN!!! Even if you must pay for the advice!!! A miswired electrical appliance around water has the capability to shock you or a family member to DEATH, or CATCH FIRE and burn down the house!! It's not worth the risk just to save a couple of bucks!!

Now I'll give you my personal opinion. The ground wire to the lamp holder, like as not, should be attached to the external metal housing, to prevent you from being shocked if the live wire from the Ballast should make contact with the housing somehow/ sometime. If you cannot verify this by carefully re-reading your' wiring diagram, I can't reccomend doing it, and will reiterate the need to consult a professional Electrician. A little safety goes a long way!

Sorry to be so anal, but personal experience with electrical fires always raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

Regards'
Dean

AkaSlyGuy · 05-27-2007, 09:44 AM

The wiring diagram does not specifically show me if I need to hook the the ground wire to the back of the lamp socket. Seems to me like there should be a ground wire already coming from the socket just like the other two wires.

But from best I can tell from reading I will be in good shape if I have a ground wire connected to the back of the socket, and run it from there to the ballast where it will be grounded to one of the ballast feet. Then with the other ground wire hooked up to the power cord I should be finished. Correct??

Joe

cheeks69 · 05-27-2007, 09:49 AM

This is how I wired mine, I bought some quick connects plugs at home depot.

BoomerD · 05-27-2007, 10:59 AM

From Icecap's website:

AkaSlyGuy · 05-27-2007, 12:09 PM

Thank you for all your help. I knew I was making it harder than I should have. I had just looked at the diagram again before you posted it. I was just confused since there was no ground wire coming out of the fixture, I did not know exactly where I needed to attach the one supplied in the cable from the ballast. I am going to just unscrew one of the screws on the back of the bulb socket, scrape some paint off and screw it in there. Thanks for the helpl.

Joe

05-27-2007, 04:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
AkaSlyGuy Tubeworm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 32 View Gallery Karma Komment	Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install Ok guys and gals. I just want to make sure I have this strait on wiring up my new Icecap 250 mh reto kit. 1. Three wires from ballast (white, black, green/yellow) hook up to the power cord (after removing the metal circle connection on the end of the green/yellow wire. 2. Plug blue wires into the two wires coming from the reflector/bulb socket. The cable that was sent to connect the light to the ballast also has a ground wire in it with the metal circle connectors (sorry, I don't know that actual name) on each end of the cord. On the ballast end of that cord I have read that I just need to scrap a little paint off one of the "feet" of the ballast and screw it down. My real question is what to do with the ground coming out of the cable on the end that connects to the lights. I see two screws on the end of the buld socket....should I unscrew one of them and scrape some paint and place the metal circle between the screw and the back of the bulb socket?? This would have the ground running from the bulb socket to the foot of the ballast. Thanks for any help. Joe

05-27-2007, 06:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
meandean45 Ricordea Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bradford, Vt., USA Posts: 177 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install Hi AkaSlyGuy! ASK A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN!!! Even if you must pay for the advice!!! A miswired electrical appliance around water has the capability to shock you or a family member to DEATH, or CATCH FIRE and burn down the house!! It's not worth the risk just to save a couple of bucks!! Now I'll give you my personal opinion. The ground wire to the lamp holder, like as not, should be attached to the external metal housing, to prevent you from being shocked if the live wire from the Ballast should make contact with the housing somehow/ sometime. If you cannot verify this by carefully re-reading your' wiring diagram, I can't reccomend doing it, and will reiterate the need to consult a professional Electrician. A little safety goes a long way! Sorry to be so anal, but personal experience with electrical fires always raises the hairs on the back of my neck. Regards' Dean __________________ Meandean45 -RELATIVITY: "Sit on a red hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit next to a pretty Girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's Relativity". A.Einstein : "A man's got to know his limitations."- Clint Eastwood in "Magnum Force"

05-27-2007, 09:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
AkaSlyGuy Tubeworm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 32 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install The wiring diagram does not specifically show me if I need to hook the the ground wire to the back of the lamp socket. Seems to me like there should be a ground wire already coming from the socket just like the other two wires. But from best I can tell from reading I will be in good shape if I have a ground wire connected to the back of the socket, and run it from there to the ballast where it will be grounded to one of the ballast feet. Then with the other ground wire hooked up to the power cord I should be finished. Correct?? Joe

05-27-2007, 09:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,617 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install This is how I wired mine, I bought some quick connects plugs at home depot. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

05-27-2007, 10:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,632 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install From Icecap's website: __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

05-27-2007, 12:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
AkaSlyGuy Tubeworm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 32 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Help with ground on icecap 250 reto install Thank you for all your help. I knew I was making it harder than I should have. I had just looked at the diagram again before you posted it. I was just confused since there was no ground wire coming out of the fixture, I did not know exactly where I needed to attach the one supplied in the cable from the ballast. I am going to just unscrew one of the screws on the back of the bulb socket, scrape some paint off and screw it in there. Thanks for the helpl. Joe

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