Wiring $20 150 HPS lamps with unmarked cord

[InjectTruth]

Recently, I got a cheap econolight 150w hps. I already have one, which I wired up using a cord I cut off a cheap surge protector. The wires in the cord are all color coded.

When buying the cord for my new light, I saved a few bucks by buying an extension cord instead of a power strip. Like this one, http://doitbest.com/Extension+Cords...odel-IN-PT2162-09X-WH-doitbest-sku-524212.dib

The problem is, there is no color code distinguishing the two wires (white and black). There are grooves on the wire coming from the wider blade on the plug, and the wire coming from the thinner blade is smooth.

Does "smooth = black" or does "smooth = white"?

An electrician friend told me that the wider blade is usually white, and the thinner is black. So I hook it up and plug it in, voila, it works. However, then I check my work, and find that its actually hooked up BACKWARDS to what my friend told me (Wider blade is hooked up to the black wire on the ballast).

So now Im completely confused.

P.S. After visiting this site, http://www.lightingfacts.com/Lamp Wiring.html, I see that my friend is correct, with the wider blade and ridges being the white wire. So why does my bulb ignite and work? I assume I should switch it, but I feel like it will break, as its working now, the other way "has to be wrong" in my mind.

 

[Balance]

Hey there,
Switching your hot and neutral is called reverse polarity. Many appliances and devices work perfectly fine on reverse polarity. Lamps, alarm clocks, etc... all have male plugs without one blade being wider.
Having said that though... If it were my ballast, I'd prolly switch it back. peace

 

[FreezerBoy]

I can never remember if smooth or ribbed is live but, the narrow blade is live and the wider blade is com. This leaves the "exit" at twice the volume of intake in case the system needs to dump.

Electricity works in a circuit or circle. Breaking the circle is "Off" completing the circle is "On." Lights don't care which direction the circle is going. Tape players, fans etc. do care and will run backwards.

 

[Shady Smoka]

Freezer is 100% correct.

 

[Guest]

In the matter of those plug in d.c. power supplies used to charge, or run things, the positive line is indeed the marked one. That's where that reference comes from.

In household electricity however, the ribbed wire is the neutral one. The wide blade is neutral as a way to 'key' the plug: ensure the polarity isn't backward.

Incidentally there's another discrepancy between d.c. electricity, and a.c. household systems that's in a similar vein: in d.c. electricity the black wire is the return to ground, but in household electricity though, black is one of the hot lines. Household color code is black/red/blue, with white as neutral of course. In extension cords, smooth is hot, ribbed is neutral.

There is polarity in an electrical system for a home; even though the ac waveform isn't the polarity referenced. The polarity is the matter of the hot line: which is always the source of the electron movement pressure; as opposed to the neutral line which isn't the source of that pressure, but a pathway for the pressure to convey electron movement.

There's no increased electron travel associated with the keying of the plug's blades. It's wider to perform automatic, proper orientation of the hot line vs the neutral line in correct wiring.

If you can open it up and turn it around man, do it. It's the proper way to do it, like your friend said, and has -like I said -to do with ensuring that the line that actively drives the light is kept isolated from other device parts. It's a safety thing, that you should observe: since in the future, if someone doesn't realize what's up with your light -even you -that someone could get thumped. In the case of a light that has no switch, and just gets plugged in: the danger of mis-polarizing it is about as minimal as it gets; nevertheless, remember: electricity is odorless, colorless, doesn't have any detectable indicator it's there: and it's not a good idea to start out wiring things the wrong way, when you've taken the time to go ahead and ask. Especially when people working around grows, are also often working around highly mineralized, conductive water; and alone.

Definately take the time to open it up and swap em back as per the safer arrangement man, it's just two wire nuts. You won't be sorry in the long run.