Any electricians out there?

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by mike31154

Not sure it's a good idea to be looking for voltage at the output of a ballast at the endcaps. Very high voltage and without tube installed the circuit would not be complete anyway.

As suggested by Grizz a pen type tester is completely safe to use. The one I use is by Fluke but others are available. The tester detects current through the insulation of the wires and is made of plastic so you don't have to expose any wires or take things apart. Just plug the unit in and put the tester against the wires going into the ballast, if lights up or beeps you have power going to the ballast. Now place the tester against the wires leaving the ballast to the end caps, if the meter doesn't light up or beep your ballast is completly shot. The pen is handy to have for trouble shooting all sorts of devices such as wall plugs, light sockets, etc. Only works on AC voltage though, although they may make one for DC as well.