1k HPS ballast plug getting warm, is it normal?

[CrackLemonade]

I have a HydroFarm 1000 watt, switchable HPS/MH 9.8 amp ballast. The ballast has been used for about a year. Right now its on a 18/6 schedule. The plug gets hot, before i ask the question here is some more info.

The power supply for the light is a dedicated 10 gauge cable from the breaker box with a 30 amp breaker at the box. I also got 20 amp outlets. I intended to run two 1000 watt ballasts on this line but right now I am only running one.

I noticed the plug gets a little more than warm. When I grabed the plug its not super hot but a lot more than warm. I was using a heavy duty 20 amp timer that had a 6 foot long plug. The plug for the timer was even hotter than the ballasts plug that's plugged into that timer. Also the first foot from each plug also was getting more than warm.

I went out and bought a hydrofarm 15 amp timer and plugged into the 10 gauge 30 amp breaker line. So I am no longer using a timer that has its own cord. Its the only thing plugged in.

The plug for the 1k ballast is still warm, not as hot as it used to be but just warm. Is that normal for a 1K a ballast?

If so would switching to 240 reduce the plug warmth? I know it would save a tiny bit of electricity. I can easily switch two 240 but one of my ballast is not 240 switchable so i ran the line at 110, but id get another ballast.


Thank you for your info, I really just want to know if, its normal for a 1k ballast plug to get warm under my conditions?

[CanGroIt]

I would think that it is normal for it to get warm but hot is something else.

From my experience, my timer gets warm but not the cord. And warm as in, it's not uncomfortable to touch.

Might be the ambient temp that allows the wires to feel so warm/hot. Might be because it is running for 18 hours straight then a short break of 6 hours off. Your gauges and amps sound right. Not sure......

If you don't mind getting a new ballast that will do 110/240 and won't have a problem running the lines, I'd say go with the 240. Instead of drawing the 9.8, you'll draw closer to 5 with just one 1k. So essentially, if you do two 1k, you can use twice the amount of light for not much more than what you are now drawing with one. Will definitely improve your conditions!!!!

CanGroIt::::::

[Breeder]

Ballast and lamp should be 1=1. 1v=1amp, 220v*10amp = 2200watt . 2200 this summ of all check power. all check power summ = 220v*10amp.

[CrackLemonade]

I think what you meant was 220v*5amps = 1100 watts. All 1k ballast draw 1100 watts, the extra 100 is lost as heat and in inefficiency. But we already know its 1k ballast.

At 110v*10amps=1100 watts the same at 220. But because the cable only carries 5 amps instead of 10 it is more efficient.

I don't think your math is right breeder and what do you mean by ballast and lamp should be 1=1? 1v does not equal 1amp! Volt is potential difference and amps is how much juice is being drawn.