One question: The input wires are brown and blue;

which one is Hot and which one is Common?

Brown is hot on the electronics.

Thanks

getting it wrong, could you damage something?

It needs to be wired properly.

when stripping the wires on the chinese ballast. i noticed that the wiring is silver with what seem to be copper wires around the out side. i didnt remove the brown(copper) wires is that wrong?

I think you wired it correctly...did you get my last email?