Wrapping a ballast in r/6 insulation...

[Tonygreen]

I assume is a horrible idea. What are some options to quiet down the hum? I have my room set up to where it is now the loudest noise in there... It is not so horribly loud as it is obvious.

I am considering just playing a radio softly to cover it up as it is a quite obvious noise... Any better options?

 

[krunchbubble]

I assume is a horrible idea. What are some options to quiet down the hum? I have my room set up to where it is now the loudest noise in there... It is not so horribly loud as it is obvious.

I am considering just playing a radio softly to cover it up as it is a quite obvious noise... Any better options?

I have opened up my ballast and tightened the nuts that hold the transformer to the casing, to quite the ballast up...

 

[overbudjet]

Agree with krunch,or switch to Digitals.

 

[PermaBuzz]

Rubber grommet dampers under the mounting bolts?
They'd have to be able to handle some heat though.

 

[Puffaluffagus]

Wrapping it in insulation will cause it to overheat and burnout, or burn down your whole house I would think.

Reducing vibration often reduces noise.
I like rubber pads on top of a layer of foam weather stripping

 

[RB56]

You first have to determine if the noise is air borne or structure borne. Could be both. If pressing your hands against the case or heat sink solves the problem, vibration damper may work.

If pressing your hands against the wall or whatever surface it's mounted to stops the noise, isolation mounts are the solution.

If none of that helps and holding a heavy blanket in front of the ballast reduces the noise, it's air borne and needs to be blocked or absorbed. This gets very complicated for a device that requires passive cooling. The only solution is a baffled enclosure that does it's own internal air transfer. You can find quiet fans that can be used, but it's going to take a lot trial and error or the help from a good engineer.

Headphones?

 

[swisscheese]

Do what krunch said first but it could void your warranties if you have any on your ballasts. How are your ballasts mounted/hung/secured and to what?

 

[jm420]

go digi if you can,if your running a magnetic hps ballast no coice but to live with it .

 

[jm420]

I actually find the hum of 5-1 k's of hps pretty relaxing

 

[FatherEarth]

I agree, upgrade to digital, problem solved, no fire hazard, no screwing around inside your ballast. Especially if the noise is a security issue...

 

[growshopfrank]

usually the light kits with the aluminum heat sink enclosure run the quietest
if a ballast is kept cool with a fan or ventilation from new it should be and stay quiet

its been my experience that in 1000w HID cap and coil ballasts are far more trouble free than digital but with the lower wattage ballasts I would recommend digital