Forum Title: florescent lights working on 90 volts
I went to check some lights in a Pediatric Clinic. Normally just have to replace a ballast. This one had a dual-lite emergency ballast in it, with 2 hot feeds. Lights would not work on emergency ballast. The regular ballast feeds through the emergency ballast(bunch of wires). There was no diagram for the wiring on the emergency ballast, so before I did anything I took voltage readings on the 2 hot feeds feeding the ballast. I had around 115 volts on one, and only 90 volts on the other one. I traced the conduit a little in the hallway above the ceiling and find that the wire that only has 90 volts is feeding other lights in the hallway with regular ballast, and the lights are working:D I wouldn't think they would work on that low voltage, but obviously there's a bunch of them working on it. I'm suppose to go back on a Saturday and try to trace the problem. I'm thinking that this may be the reason the emergency ballast is not working. Either the low voltage has burned the ballast up or it just won't "kick in" with that low voltage. Plus I'm sure the low voltage is not good for the rest of the lights. Any thoughts on what would make the voltage be low? Loose neutral somewhere maybe? It's looks like it's going to be a job trying to find it. This place is pretty big. I'll probably have to check some j boxes at random, starting close to the panel. Thanks for your input...
Category: General Electrical Discussion Post By: Jake Dawson (Great Bend, PA), 03/23/2017
sparkync:The 'E' ballast has an internal battery that provides reduced illuination from 1 or possibly 2 fluorescent lamps in the fixture, and should be on a 'nite lite (24/7) circuit, usually with any exit or other egress lighting. Are you sure you were not 'reading' the 90 volts on the output?? (From the battery component) IMHO, these ballasts are a PITA, but you have to live with it. You could find the wiring schematic at 'Dual-lite' BUT you need the model # from the ballast.

- Tonya Becker (Clearfield, IA), 03/25/2017

John, no I took voltage before it ever got to the ballast and even with the ballast not hooked up. I went to another fixture that didn't have the emergency ballast in it, and got 90 volts. I pulled up the wiring diagram on dual-lite, and it don't show 2 hot feeds feeding the ballast, but it says there may be other diagrams. On the cover of the fixture, it says "Caution, this fixture is fed from 2 power sources". So now I'm a little confused. I put in 2 calls to Dual-lite, but haven't got a response yet. On the 90 volts problem, I even checked my meter again to make sure it wasn't messed up. I took a reading on an outlet nearby and found 120 volts, so I know my meters ok. Thanks for the reply anyway. Hopefully Dual-lite will call me today. Steve...

- Mitchell Vazquez (Owen, IL), 03/25/2017

sparkync:You may have to dig deeper. Can you locate the source of the 90 volts? There may be an 'emergency power source' located in the facility. Is there any info on the 'e' ballast? Look around by the panel(s).

- Natalie Parks (Hawarden, IA), 03/25/2017

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