Lifespan of a ballast?

[Barn Owl]

Hey!

Can anyone tell me how long a 1000 watt HPS ballast is good for? I have one with a couple years on it.

Thanks

 

[Barn Owl]

pretty please?

 

[jocat]

i think you can get a very long life from one, like several years maybe even five or more the thing that kills 'em would be heat, i have opened mine up both a 1000 and a 400 because i wanted to switch them from 110 to 220, the plug cord had the brittle insulation thing at the connection inside the ballast so i redid the connection, it shortens the cord a few inches each time but thats fine, this would be a smart check for any older ballast. one thing about this is voiding the manufacture warenty, if it's old that might not be an issue. jc

 

[THRIPS AHOY!]

Im runnin some that are at least 8 years old and have been run most bof that time.Alot of that time they were on relays too so i was running them 24 hours a day.

 

[ooga booga]

Most magnetic ballasts are easily good for 10+ years. After they age they do get slightly less efficient and get a bit noisier. In a growroom environment what kills ballasts is heat, usually the capacitor going out first.

Ever seen old warehouses with a bunch of old HID lighting?

With digitals it seems like a crapshoot with no-name's and newcomers, and "decent" at best with the bigger name brands.

 

[00420]

ya.... mine gotta be 10 yr's old

i bought them used 7-8 yr's ago... KEEP THEM COOL........ & u will not need to replace them for a long time....

 

[Barn Owl]

Thank you!!

How would you suggest keeping them cool? The one in question is not in a very hot environment, but when running it does get warm.

 

[00420]

i keep mine in my room cooled by a/c..... in winter it's not needed but in summer for sure

 

[THRIPS AHOY!]

I just keep mine outside my room.

 

[Snagglepuss]

Whats the max life of digital? 3-5 years? Whats the longest anyone has had a continuous running digital?

 

[Pinball Wizard]

Whats the max life of digital? 3-5 years? Whats the longest anyone has had a continuous running digital?

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...and find a digital that is UL rated? If your place burns down...and the insurance company finds unrated UL equipment in the place...oh well, they won't pay. Sorry.

 

[00420]

I just keep mine outside my room.

i used too.... untell every summer i was blowing cap's & replacing them sence i have moved them into the room i have yet to change one (going on 7yr's now) maybe do to the fact that there older? but i only payed $50 each{6} for a 1k the guy thought they where done cuz the cap was bad

 

[Snagglepuss]

.

...and find a digital that is UL rated? If your place burns down...and the insurance company finds unrated UL equipment in the place...oh well, they won't pay. Sorry.

Funny you mention that .someone on the boards was just saysing they bought a digital UL rated ballast ,can't remeber which thread

 

[ooga booga]

I don't get it. Why would a UL rated ballast void insurance?

 

[TwinTurboGuy]

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...and find a digital that is UL rated? If your place burns down...and the insurance company finds unrated UL equipment in the place...oh well, they won't pay. Sorry.

They wouldn't pay either way cause you're growing weed. Even if you were under legal limits.

 

[Pinball Wizard]

They wouldn't pay either way cause you're growing weed. Even if you were under legal limits.

it all depends on the arson investigator's report