Ballast is hot as hell

[HIGHGROOVE]

i just got two new harvest pro 600 ballast and wow they are hot as hell....any ideas? i know this model has a door opening so you cna replace the capacitor maybe i can open that door and pump a fan in? id like to hear your ideas and what has worked for you cooling wise and buzzing sound.... please dont mention a digital thats obvious...thanks community

 

[habeeb]

place in another room next to it, and run wire through wall

fan as you mentioned

fan directed on the ballast



I have heard the phillips ballast puts out a little less heat, but seems no one knows on here if that's true.

 

[HIGHGROOVE]

well see when you say phillips you are speaking of the advance core which is made by phillips and as far as sun systens only the sun system 1 uses the advance/phillips core the rest are cheap crap

 

[HIGHGROOVE]

all is good the sunsystem harvest pro and harvest pro elite have a back door that you can open up and change the capacitor...so tonight opened them both up turned on a lil fan...and they are cool as cucumbers

 

[10k]

3" hole saw + 3" 120 volt ac muffin fan from radio shack + some simple wiring.
Open up the unit and cut the hole through the top, mount the fan on the outside of the box blowing out so it pulls air in through the side inlet slots, wire it to the incoming power wire and viola.
Keeps the old style steel enclosed ballasts running nice and cool. Probably lengthens their lifespan too.

 

[micro gro]

With Hydrofarm XtraSun (and other identically enclosed ballasts) ballasts, I just remove the 4 screws that hold one of the plates on (the side w/o cords), and keep the plate off. Ballast runs noticeably cooler. Wish I had a reading with an IR thermometer before & after.