ODNO wiring question

loachman · 02-09-2004, 05:19 PM

hey guys, just bought my sylvania e-ballast 4 bulb instant start

it has 2 red wires and 2 blue wires coming from the right side of the ballast and on the left it has 2 yellow and the power wires.

I connected the 2 reds together with the two wires coming off of the first bulb, and the the 2 blues toegther with the two wires coming off the second bulb endcaps.

and then I put the 2 yellows to the first end cap wires(2) and then jumpered those two endcaps together like illustrated in one of the other posts.

is this correct?? I don't really notice the 2X od effect with the T12's and I suspected I wouldn't until maybe I got to T-8's to go in the fixture. But they fire up, without any problems.

did I do something wrong or is everything ok? do you think?

Wasserpest · 02-09-2004, 05:39 PM

Also put jumpers between the two pins to which you connected the red and the blue wires.
To see the difference, run one with just one red or blue wire, the other with both connected. The gain will be more remarkable with T8 bulbs.

loachman · 02-09-2004, 06:59 PM

what exactly are the yellow wires for?

Wasserpest · 02-09-2004, 07:20 PM

Most ballasts have a wiring diagram printed on them. The yellow wires connect to one side of the lamp(s), and the red/blue wires to the opposite side of the lamp(s). At least on the ballasts that I have seen :mrgreen:

loachman · 02-09-2004, 07:46 PM

oh ok, well I was looking at some other guy's pictures of his wiring and he didn't have any yellow, but I guess it varies from one ballast to the next.

I think everything's cool.
thanks for the help.

dogg76 · 02-10-2004, 01:37 AM

can you do this with a magnetic ballast or just an electronic ballast? i have a advance magnetic ballast but wasnt sure if i could use it or not.

Wasserpest · 02-10-2004, 03:10 AM

No, this doesn't work with magnetic ballasts. Here is some good reading:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 02-10-2004, 01:35 PM

I also had a hard time being able to distinguish between 1x and 2x ODNO with T12 bulbs. The difference is definitely more visually dramatic with T8 bulbs, but the overall output is definitely increased. Trust the plants. They should definitely respond to a 50% increase in light, if water conditions are right (i.e. nutrients all at proper levels).

loachman · 02-10-2004, 01:37 PM

oh ok... thanks GCA, that makes me feel a bunch better

thanksf for the idea

02-09-2004, 05:39 PM	#2
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,648	Also put jumpers between the two pins to which you connected the red and the blue wires. To see the difference, run one with just one red or blue wire, the other with both connected. The gain will be more remarkable with T8 bulbs. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

02-09-2004, 07:20 PM	#4
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,648	Most ballasts have a wiring diagram printed on them. The yellow wires connect to one side of the lamp(s), and the red/blue wires to the opposite side of the lamp(s). At least on the ballasts that I have seen :mrgreen: __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

02-10-2004, 03:10 AM	#7
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,648	No, this doesn't work with magnetic ballasts. Here is some good reading: http://www.plantedtank.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194 __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

02-10-2004, 01:35 PM	#8
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	I also had a hard time being able to distinguish between 1x and 2x ODNO with T12 bulbs. The difference is definitely more visually dramatic with T8 bulbs, but the overall output is definitely increased. Trust the plants. They should definitely respond to a 50% increase in light, if water conditions are right (i.e. nutrients all at proper levels). __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-09-2004, 05:19 PM	#1
loachman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 90	hey guys, just bought my sylvania e-ballast 4 bulb instant start it has 2 red wires and 2 blue wires coming from the right side of the ballast and on the left it has 2 yellow and the power wires. I connected the 2 reds together with the two wires coming off of the first bulb, and the the 2 blues toegther with the two wires coming off the second bulb endcaps. and then I put the 2 yellows to the first end cap wires(2) and then jumpered those two endcaps together like illustrated in one of the other posts. is this correct?? I don't really notice the 2X od effect with the T12's and I suspected I wouldn't until maybe I got to T-8's to go in the fixture. But they fire up, without any problems. did I do something wrong or is everything ok? do you think?

02-09-2004, 06:59 PM	#3
loachman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 90	what exactly are the yellow wires for?

02-09-2004, 07:46 PM	#5
loachman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 90	oh ok, well I was looking at some other guy's pictures of his wiring and he didn't have any yellow, but I guess it varies from one ballast to the next. I think everything's cool. thanks for the help.

02-10-2004, 01:37 AM	#6
dogg76 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 390	can you do this with a magnetic ballast or just an electronic ballast? i have a advance magnetic ballast but wasnt sure if i could use it or not.

02-10-2004, 01:37 PM	#9
loachman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 90	oh ok... thanks GCA, that makes me feel a bunch better thanksf for the idea

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ODNO grounding question	mpa90	Lighting	9	08-26-2004 01:20 AM
ODNO wiring...	Rolo	DIY	15	02-02-2004 01:11 PM
ODNO wiring question	EvilKen	Lighting	2	11-24-2003 05:58 PM
To ODNO or not to ODNO? 2X or 4X is the question.	Anonymous	Lighting	11	10-28-2003 02:24 PM
another ODNO question	lorax	General Planted Tank Discussion	1	11-19-2002 04:51 PM