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    hwmcf's Avatar
    hwmcf Posts: 10, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Nov 12, 2010, 08:48 AM
    Installing track lighting
    I am replacing a fluorescent fixture with track lighting, there are only two wires coming from the ceiling, no ground, no junction box. The track lighting has a ground wire. How do I get this to work?
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #2

    Nov 12, 2010, 08:53 AM

    Your two wires from the ceiling box are most likely black/hot and whire neutral and they get connected to the black and white from the track. The ground wire can be connected to the ceiling box if it is metal and grounded. If the box is not ggrounded just pout a wire nut on the ground, it will work.
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    hwmcf Posts: 10, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Nov 12, 2010, 09:16 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    Your two wires from the ceiling box are most likely black/hot and whire neutral and they get connected to the black and white from the track. The ground wire can be connected to the ceiling box if it is metal and grounded. If the box is not ggrounded just pout a wire nut on the ground, it will work.

    There is no ceiling box so I used a wire nut, still cannot get the lights to work. Any other suggestions?
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    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #4

    Nov 12, 2010, 09:22 AM

    Did you have a working fixture up there before? No ceiling box, how do the wires come through the ceiling, there should be a box. Please answer these questions and we'll go from there starting with testing for power coming from the black and white from the ceiling
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #5

    Nov 12, 2010, 12:06 PM
    No ground equals no light.

    Fluorescent fixtures will not operate properly, sometimes not at all, without a good ground.

    Read the ballast, it will tell you on the label it must be grounded.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #6

    Nov 12, 2010, 12:51 PM

    "replacing a fluorescent fixture with track lighting" OP removed the fluorescent fixture and is installing a track. Hot and neutral should be available.
    hwmcf's Avatar
    hwmcf Posts: 10, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Nov 12, 2010, 11:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    "replacing a fluorescent fixture with track lighting" OP removed the fluorescent fixture and is installing a track. Hot and neutral should be available.
    Hot and neutral are available, just no ground. The fluorescent fixture that I removed worked fine. There is no box, the wires came through the plaster ceiling, I have an older home.
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    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #8

    Nov 13, 2010, 03:38 AM
    Duh sorry, your right Bal.

    Never mind.

    Got a bad head cold, not reading correctly.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #9

    Nov 13, 2010, 11:05 AM

    To do this right you should open the ceiling, hopefu;lly from above and install a ceiling box attached to a hanger or rafter. Is there open space like an attic above this hole in the ceiling
    hwmcf's Avatar
    hwmcf Posts: 10, Reputation: 1
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    #10

    Nov 14, 2010, 12:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    To do this right you should open the ceiling, hopefu;lly from above and install a ceiling box attached to a hanger or rafter. Is there open space like an attic above this hole in the ceiling
    Yes, there is space so I can install a box, but how is that going to help with getting the light to work? The box will not be grounded.
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    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #11

    Nov 14, 2010, 01:54 PM

    It may not fix that issue but it will make it a better install. Test between the white and black coming out of the ceiling, your should get 120 vac with the switch turned on, zero with switch off. Test and come back.
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