Grounding Tek retrofit into wooden canopy? NEW troubles...

[cwatkins]

Since we all know Wikipedia is the source of all factual infomation (), see below:

Ground or earth in a mains (AC power) electrical wiring system is a conductor that provides a low impedance path to the earth to prevent hazardous voltages from appearing on equipment (the terms "ground" (North American practice) and "earth" (most other English-speaking countries) are used synonymously here). Normally a grounding conductor does not carry current.

Neutral is a circuit conductor (that carries current in normal operation), which is connected to earth (or ground) generally at the service panel with the main disconnecting switch or breaker.

This also explains why two conductor plugs always have one bigger prong, so that neutral always goes to the neutral connector in the outlet?

[hillegom]

In my 1970s house, the neutral went back to the breaker box and connected to all the other neutrals. This bus bar was connected to the incomming neutral and to the grounding bus bar and then to a 10 foot (I think 10 ft) grounding rod close to the breaker box

[KrazyKuch]

Originally Posted by hillegom

In my 1970s house, the neutral went back to the breaker box and connected to all the other neutrals. This bus bar was connected to the incomming neutral and to the grounding bus bar and then to a 10 foot (I think 10 ft) grounding rod close to the breaker box

Is correct, your neutral does get grounded at your panel Once and only once, The real difference is that you can get shocked from a neutral since it is carrying a load, but you can't get shocked from a ground..

Myka just make sure that you take the ground wire from your power cord and attach it to your ballast with the same screw you use to hold it in the canopy!

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

The real difference is that you can get shocked from a neutral since it is carrying a load, but you can't get shocked from a ground..

Is this always the case 100% of the time? I don't understand what the point of having a ground wire is if there is problem (such as a stranded line wire touching the ballast housing at the same time as the proper attachment point) and it can't carry a current away from the fixture in an emergency situation. Can you please clarify this for me.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

IMyka just make sure that you take the ground wire from your power cord and attach it to your ballast with the same screw you use to hold it in the canopy!

I thought I would just hard wire the power cord right to the ballast, no screw needed?

[hillegom]

Originally Posted by Myka

I thought I would just hard wire the power cord right to the ballast, no screw needed?

As long as you attach the ground to the surrounding metal of the ballast
(metal surround?) the usual bare or green wire.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by hillegom

As long as you attach the ground to the surrounding metal of the ballast
(metal surround?) the usual bare or green wire.

The green wire comes out of the ballast. Does that count?

[hillegom]

Originally Posted by Myka

The green wire comes out of the ballast. Does that count?

Yes, attach the gr from ballast to green from power cord.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by hillegom

Yes, attach the gr from ballast to green from power cord.

Ok, that was my plan. Thanks!

I should have wired it up today, but I got distracted sledding!

[hillegom]

sledding!

Nice