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sticky stuff leaking from ballast housing

G

Guest

A couple years ago I picked up a used security lamp, 400 watt HPS.
anyhow I had converted it to a remote ballast and all was working well.
well the other day i decided to move this lamp into a grow box and when i went to shorten the cord that runs up to the bulb I noticed that there is this sticky like substance that appears to be leaking from the capasitor. But i can not tell for sure if that is where it is coming from. The capasitor is located in a box seperate from the ballast itself. And what i'm wondering is if it is common for the manufacter to put any type of sealers in there to keep things from shorting out or if I do in fact have a leak somewhere. The light still seems to work fine,
Just scared it may start a fire if it is in fact leaking

Thanks M.E
 
G

Guest

Sounds like you are leaking PCB's,time to get rid of that ballast I would say.
 
G

Guest

Well it appears to be leaking from the capasitor. would hope that it could just be replaced. And I hope it is not PCB's cuz i have been stickin my finger in the stuff and i believe there toxic
 
G

Guest

How old is the ballast?Unless its 20 years old or older,your capacitor shouldnt contain any PCB's.Do a google search hid ballast pcb for more info.
 
G

Guest

Thanks Skeletor
I would not think that it is more than 5yrs. old. However I did get it used so I can't be certain. The stuff is kinda like a dried varnash or syrup. It is not running out but rather like a thick dried residue and very sticky to the touch. And I cannot see where anything might have leaked into the box. My main concern is FIRE. And was wondering if anyone has ran across thiss same issue
Thanks M.E.
 
G

Guest

Normally,at least with flourescent ballasts when they start to leak its time to replace them,I've never seen a HID leak myself
 

stonewall

Active member
just replace the capacitor if you have determined the oil is coming from it. It's the dielectric oozeing out from overheating. it is the most common failure for capacitors.

Most HID ballasts are not "pottted" like flouro ballasts are. They are just open core and coil. So there is no pcb or oil to leak from them.
 
listen to stonewall hes right about the cap i do A/C & Heating i work with them all day.The cap is ruptured sometimes they bulge just replace it.Dont worry about the PCB's the label will say contains no PCB'S.
 
G

Guest

ya gotta love stoners man, answerin a post thats been dead fer 2 months. lol. just kiddin tho weez. i've done it before. haaa.
 

marx2k

Active member
Veteran
Well, the lesson here is... if you see an unknown sticky substance, don't stick your finger in it until you know what it is!
 

Guvnor

Active member
While on the subject of ballast-just a general question:

How long will ballast's last you- I've had a 400 watt ballast for around 5 years now-will she go alot longer? Should you change your ballast after a certain amount of time?
I'd rather fork out for a few new ballast than risk a fire- I got a few ballast that are 4+ years old.

All the best and thanks for any help
Guv'nor :wave:
 
G

Guest

The ballast wil function until you let the smoke out of it,its not like a lamp that needs to be replaced over time,a, functioning 10 year old ballast will operate the same as a new ballast of the same type.
 

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