How can i ground a fluorescent light?

Question

I've run into a problem while finishing my aquarium canopy. after installing all the fluorescent end caps and everything where I wanted, I didn't realize that they need to be grounded to work until i moved my hand over then and just like magic they lit up. What can I do to ground these, I'm not using a metal reflector and the ballast has no ground wire coming out of it.... can I put a ground wire in one in each of the unused holes in the end caps and then run it through a three prong??

Answer 1

I suspect there is more wrong with your wiring than a missing ground.

Black wire from small blade of plug is hot.  This means 120v between the neutral conductor or the grounded conductor.

White wire from large blade of plug is neutral.  This means the conductor is grounded at the electrical panel in your house.

Green wire from the rounded prong is of course the ground.  That means that the conductor is also connected to your ground at the electrical panel, but electricity should not be flowing in the ground wire.

The black and white wires should power the device and the green wire should be connected to all metal parts of the fixture so that if there is a short (black wire touches metal) the breaker at your electrical panel will trip.

The case of you ballast should be grounded, but this should not effect the operation just your safety.