Ballast Setup

[BoRacho]

What kind of surface should the ballast sit on? I have a bedroom setup...it shouldn't be on the carpet?

[Ozzy420]

I wouldent have it sitting on the carpet if it is running as thay can get hot, if u have to have it sitting on the floor sit it on 2 bricks, or if u have a little tabel to sit it on would do the job as well for ya...

[WantDaChronic]

ballasts get extremely hot, scaely hot sometimes its best to keep them on fireproof tiles or bricks if you have them :smoke

[Ozzy420]

yer in the weather we are havin in qld at the moment my ballest is gettin very hot...

[Buddy]

The 250 watt ballast that I use for the mother plant doesnt give off much heat compared to the 1000 watt I use for flowering but it's wise to keep all ballasts suspended on a heat proof surface.

I rested the 1000 watt on a 100mm thick slab of polystyrene after I switched it on and was distracted for a few minutes, when I came back it had melted through the styrene, luckily there was no fire.

Ballasts and electricity are the number one causes of fire when growing hydroponics so be sure you pay special attention to its placement in the grow room.

[Ozzy420]

with the ballest i would try and keep it out of the growing area as it can push up the temp a bit with the heat it puts off...

 

i have my ballest on top of my wardrobe sitting on 2 pavers...

Edited December 18, 2005 by ozmade

[Gazza2001au]

bricks are the go :thumbsup my first setup i bought a second hand light it burnt out lucky i had it on a brick and 1 foot away from walls it blew a fuse black shit everywhere the thing that saved us was the good old brick other wise the house would have burnt down for sure 80% of the box was burnt and when it went up i hadnt been to the house for the first 2 days Edited December 20, 2005 by Gazza2001au

[BoRacho]

I have an 1100 watt ballast so if I buy a couple bricks/cinder blocks...it should be okay sitting on that in a bedroom? Thanks for all the replies...

[Gazza2001au]

a 1100w will be the same things just use more bricks and have it a little more than 1 foot away from walls

[BoRacho]

Cool...I'll build a brick fort below and around the ballast! Thanks for help!