[Skooby]

At a bank today changing ballasts in some large chandeliers, (4-pin, 2-lamp dimmable, 18w, 120v.) Lutron 3 wire dimmers. The grounded conductors are 18awg 105C. The black and orange leads going into the ballasts are fine, but the grounded conductor leads are discolored and brittle. Possible reason: no egc to ballast, there is a bare egc in down rod then attached to ballast bracket @threaded rod supporting the bracket above the big alabaster globe. Any ideas?

 

[wildleg]

At a bank today changing ballasts in some large chandeliers, (4-pin, 2-lamp dimmable, 18w, 120v.) Lutron 3 wire dimmers. The grounded conductors are 18awg 105C. The black and orange leads going into the ballasts are fine, but the grounded conductor leads are discolored and brittle. Possible reason: no egc to ballast, there is a bare egc in down rod then attached to ballast bracket @threaded rod supporting the bracket above the big alabaster globe. Any ideas?

I guess it goes without saying that this is a classic sign of overloaded neutral.

why would a poor egc have anything to do with this condition ? ( unless the fixture has been receiving multiple lighting strikes, in which case I would think you would be replacing ballasts ?)

 

[Skooby]

Curious as to how only the grounded conductor is showing signs of over-load and not the ungrounded as well? Replaced three ballasts, all same symptoms...