icecap 660retro please help!!

[dboy999]

well i got my icecap 660 retrofit today with 4 lamps..wired everything like it says...but in the directions it say use a junction box with a switch..so what i did is took a regular electric switch like on your wall put it in a box an wired the ballast wires, green(ground),the white(netural) an black (hot) like they said ..an put the green,white,black from the power cord to the same places also...now when i plug it in it just gives me a quick flash of the lights an pop the curciut goes off an have tryed to rearrange the wires to the switch an everything ..keeps poping the circuit then have to go in garage to main electric box an reset it...can someone please help me what am i doing wrong?

 

[shanev]

On the switch the only portion that needs to go is the black wire. Basically cut the black and put one end on one end of the switch and one end on the other. The you can strip a section of green and ground the switch and dont hook up the white at all to the switch.
You are basically having it hooked up where only the hot wire switches. Does that make sense?
Also if you plan on running it on a timer you dont have to have a switch, it doesnt hurt but you dont have to have it.
Let me know if you still have problems.

 

[shanev]

Not exactly the same as a ice cap but same exact wiring idea.
The yellow in this pic is the white on ice cap and ignore the red on the switch. See how the neutral is just connected ad the black is switched.

 

[dboy999]

ok i kinda understand...dont hook up the white from the power cord?or the white from the wire harness that hookes up to ballast?theres green white an black raw ends coming from the ballast an the power cord...

 

[shanev]

Ok
From wire harness
Black goes to top part of switch
White goes to white from powercord (Connect with a wirenut)
Green goes to the ground on switch.
Plug-
black goes to bottom of switch
White goes to white from harness(Connect with a wirenut)
green or ground goes to ground on switch.
DOes that make more sense?

 

[dboy999]

makes total sense bro thanks...have screwdriver in hand....be back with the results in about 5 min...thanks so much greatly apreaciated

 

[shanev]

no problem let us know how it turns out.

 

[dboy999]

dam dident work...when i plugged it in dident pop imeditaly like before ..but did as soon as i flipped the switch to on...dont know what im doing....got black from power cord to bottom of switch ...black from ballast to top...both grounded...dont know have any idea?

 

[dboy999]

an yes i connected the two white together

 

[shanev]

Are the whites wired together? Have you tried wiring it up without a switch to make sure the the rest is wired correctly?

 

[dboy999]

i assume with no switch you just connect the green to green red to red an so on with no switch?

 

[dboy999]

sorry im realyt tired an irratated..meant green to green ,white to white black to black .....directly...for no switch?

 

[shanev]

Yep, thats it. I would try that, Im 95% sure you have the switch wired correctly. Thats why it doesnt blow until you flip the switch. double check the diagram.

 

[shanev]

Just in case heres a 4 light diagram for a 660.

 

[shanev]

From the icecap troubleshooting page :
Lamps not properly seated in endcaps
... Reseat lamps into endcaps
Defective Lamps
... Replace questionable lamps
Harness wired incorrectly for lamp configuration
... Double check that all connections match the wiring diagram for your lamp configuration
Improper endcaps in use
... Replace endcaps with correct end caps for your application

 

[dboy999]

tried it direct wiring...still popped ..dam...ill check my wires again....but i know i followed the diagram ...hmm..thanks for the help shane...any other ideas..if its not that the wires are wrong?

 

[shanev]

If they are all wired right I would then take out each bulb and put it back in the socket to make sure nothing was loose creating an arc.
What kind of endcaps are they? Are they the 3 piece ones?

 

[dboy999]

just rewired everything..no luck ,,,but this time lights stayed on for about 2 sec. an then shut off...an poped the breaker...i have no clue...any other ideas?thank again shane
..there 3 peice ..ends

 

[tangman99]

Junction box with a switch? Damn, I guess I should read directions every now and then. I just wired a plug into mine and plug it directly into the timer. Been working great for 10 months now.

 

[krux]

have you tried running it on a socket on another circut? sounds like either a ground issue to me, or that you are overloading the circuit with too many amps.
try plugging it in in another room of the house and see if you have the same issue.