We are in the process of converting 150 fixtures from T12 to T8 lamps and electronic ballast. On several of the fixtures one of my electricians got a shock from the ballast housing to the threaded rod supporting the fixture. So we started checking and found that the ballast case to ground registered
4 volts. We did find that the conduit feeding these fixtures had somewhat loose locknuts at the junction box. After tightening the voltage dissapeared. So I checked several ballast at our shop and found that when energized the ballast case to ground was 3.76 volts. Enough to give you a shock. I then talked to tech service at Phillips/Advance and was told that yes indeed the ballast gives off a "radiated type pulse voltage" and that 4 volts was within the UL requirements for leakage. I was also told that some ballast may be as high as 60 volts. I then asked what effect this many ballast may have on the grounding system if they all leaked 4 volts. I was told that because you can't touch all the fixtures at once it's not a problem.
Has anybody had any similar situations along this line?
4 volts. We did find that the conduit feeding these fixtures had somewhat loose locknuts at the junction box. After tightening the voltage dissapeared. So I checked several ballast at our shop and found that when energized the ballast case to ground was 3.76 volts. Enough to give you a shock. I then talked to tech service at Phillips/Advance and was told that yes indeed the ballast gives off a "radiated type pulse voltage" and that 4 volts was within the UL requirements for leakage. I was also told that some ballast may be as high as 60 volts. I then asked what effect this many ballast may have on the grounding system if they all leaked 4 volts. I was told that because you can't touch all the fixtures at once it's not a problem.
Has anybody had any similar situations along this line?