Should a 600w ballast get real hot?

Sorry real new to HPS

Anyone at all?

It will put off heat, just throw a fan on it.

Ok good idea, should it be hot to the point where you can only just hold your hand on it ?

mine did, i was a little anxious at first.

but all was cool. i moved my set-up into a cooler place. as long as the temp in the room isn't too hot you should be golden.

did you get rid of all those cfl's? or do they still play a role in your set-up?

Baz said:

Ok good idea, should it be hot to the point where you can only just hold your hand on it ?

Click to expand...

yes, quite normal.

If possible, put the ballast outside the growroom with a fan blowing on it. Also, put the ballast on something so the air can circulate under the ballast too.

burlingo said:

mine did, i was a little anxious at first.

but all was cool. i moved my set-up into a cooler place. as long as the temp in the room isn't too hot you should be golden.

did you get rid of all those cfl's? or do they still play a role in your set-up?

Click to expand...

Good good, i still got the cfl rig on my second grow, almost done im planning on using that room as my veg room

The room temp is about 78 when the light on and i got a delongi heater on a timer for lights out time, as it gets real cold in there

The seeds havent broke the soil yet im just trying to get my ventilation system sorted before they do, so what we saying stick an ocilating fan blowing constant on my ballast?

Baz said:

Good good, i still got the cfl rig on my second grow, almost done im planning on using that room as my veg room

The room temp is about 78 when the light on and i got a delongi heater on a timer for lights out time, as it gets real cold in there

The seeds havent broke the soil yet im just trying to get my ventilation system sorted before they do, so what we saying stick an ocilating fan blowing constant on my ballast?

Click to expand...

maybe once in a while. i see no reason to try to cool it constantly.

i found that generally mine was warmest just after lights go on. when it had been running a while it would cool down and you could easily touch it wit your hand.

I keep a small fan on mine the whole time it's running. Electrical devices run more efficiantly AND last a lot longer when they are kept cooler. If it's not a big hassle, I'd leave the fan on it while it's running. Can't do any harm.

Antman said:

If possible, put the ballast outside the growroom with a fan blowing on it. Also, put the ballast on something so the air can circulate under the ballast too.

Click to expand...

That is totaly possible, damn thats a good idea!

Thanks alot bud

burlingo said:

maybe once in a while. i see no reason to try to cool it constantly.

i found that generally mine was warmest just after lights go on. when it had been running a while it would cool down and you could easily touch it wit your hand.

Click to expand...

It gets hot, but antman's idea of situating it outside the grow room is perfect as its an attic grow and is cold as hell on the outside

Thanks for help bud

Is it in or outside the room where the light is located. My 600 is pretty cool to the touch, not warm enough to concern me. If you bought it new I wouldnt worry to much about it but if it was preowned I would be wearying of using it.

Baz said:

It gets hot, but antman's idea of situating it outside the grow room is perfect as its an attic grow and is cold as hell on the outside

Thanks for help bud

Click to expand...

I have a similar setup bro, it worked out perfectly like that. Glad I could help.

ahhh.... the good old attic..


served me well, the cold U.K weather was actually a help for once

Okay, first of all 600watts is not much to worry about. 600 divided by 120 = 5 amps....pishtosh me gosh that's not much. Also the ballasts are DESIGNED to be in high heat situations, so no worries about it being efficient.

Good Luck.....

out.

CrackerJax said:

Okay, first of all 600watts is not much to worry about. 600 divided by 120 = 5 amps....pishtosh me gosh that's not much. Also the ballasts are DESIGNED to be in high heat situations, so no worries about it being efficient.

Good Luck.....

out.

Click to expand...

A magnetic ballast(the ones that get hot), will run more "efficiently" if they are kept cool when in operation. Yes, they are designed to run hot, but ANY device that can be kept cool while in operation will run better and last longer.

ef⋅fi⋅cient /ɪˈfɪʃ

ənt/[i-fish-uh

nt/–adjective
1.performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of energy.

Well its placed outside now, and the temps in the room have droped a little, wich is good as it was about 82 !

The temps are at 79 now, that should be ok right? im growing ak47 what is the ideal temp to be at, ive read mid 70's somewhere, that right?

The amount of efficiency gained will be lost and then some by the cooling method.....unless you plan on running it in a room at 130 degrees. Just wire it up and forget it once properly insulated.



out.

CrackerJax said:

The amount of efficiency gained will be lost and then some by the cooling method.....unless you plan on running it in a room at 130 degrees. Just wire it up and forget it once properly insulated.



out.

Click to expand...

Bro, I gotta ask you a serious question. What in the fuck are you talking about? I honestly mean you no disrespect, but you ain't makin' any sense at all. "The amount of efficiency gained will be lost and then some by the cooling method?" !! That shit is so contradictory it's baffling. Do you understand that by keeping the ballast cool, it will run MORE efficiently, run better, last longer? How will efficiency be lost by keeping the ballast cool? PLEASE explain? Maybe I need to shut my fan off.