Electrical 101

Rapid Start Ballast Wiring using 4 Lamps

Rapid Start ballasts use two wires for connections to each end of a fluorescent tube. This series wiring uses a non-shunted lampholder, with each side of the lampholder isolated from the other side.

With a two lamp rapid start ballast, if one lamp fails the other lamp connected to that ballast will not light. Generally, rapid start, programmed start, and dimmable ballasts are wired in series. Find Rapid Start Ballasts

4 lamp fixtures containing rapid start ballasts will usually use two 2 lamp series wired ballasts (see diagram below). 4 lamp fixtures containing HO (high output) lamps use one 4 lamp HO ballast (diagram not shown).