Ballast Noise!

[Spills]

I just got the 400 watt hps from htgsupply.com (High Tech Garden Supply (http://htgsupply.com/productdetail.asp?productID=518))

I knew the ballast would make a little noise, and it did for the first few hours it was plugged in, which was fine but then at about five hours the humming started to get way to loud.

Is this normal? If so, how do you deal with ballast noise? It gets too hot to just muffle it with a blanket on top. Any ideas?

[GaGrown]

It's not the ballast that makes the majority of the noise,it's the resenation.The travel of sound.The ballast is vibrating the floor.They make noise anyway.You could tighten the screws on the ballast box even set it on a towel fold the towel thick and set the ballast on it.That will help,but your still gonna hear it,just not as loud.

Ga Grown!

[doco]

I have a 400w hps from htg also and it is not very loud - I have it just sitting on the carpeted floor. Try tightening the bolts holding the transformer down and if that doesn't help, you might want to contact them and see if you can get it replaced. I think they are pretty good people to work with. Good Luck.

[deftdrummer]

yeah like doco said just try the basics like tightening the screws up (if any). You dont really want to mess around with it too much so look at what kind of warranty it is covered by. Hopefully it has a warranty and they will just replace that. My ballast is built in to our 400W light and we only have a real low buzz. Your light shouldn't be that loud. Also, I am assuming it is not a digital ballast since there should be absolutely no way it would be making that much noise. In fact it wouldn't be making any noise. Hope you get that worked out.

[dusto2k3]

i hang my ballast, to it gets real hot and i dont want to put it on the carpet. I think it helps the heat too.

[Spills]

I took a look at the screws holding down the big black thing and one of them was sticking out an eighth of an inch. I tried to tighten it but it just spun loosley and didn't move.
The light is brand new so this is a big dissapointment.
Sending it back is my last option because I have some obstacles when it comes to recieving packages at my house.
Maybe I could clamp down the thing with a mini clamp?
Any suggestions?

[GaGrown]

Go to home depot and buy some cork pad.That may shut it up some.Put a peice of tape on the screw that is loose.That'll keep it from vibrating.Try three or four pads.Covering it up is not an option!!! It gets Hot!

Ga Grown!

[divestoned]

i suspend my ballast's from the ceiling on rubber coated bike hooks.

Dive:stoned:

[Spills]

I'm confused. What on a ballast makes the noise?
Is it just the whole thing vibrating and loose parts like the outer shell on mine contibute to the noise?
Someone clear this up for me.

[doco]

I think it's all of the plates (the black things) that make up part of the transformer that vibrate if they are not tight. The bolt that you say just spins....is there a nut missing from it? Check the other three corners and see whats different about that one

[bombdiggity]

oh man that blows.. i just bought 400W HPS from HTG.. got it in today its been running for about 6 hours and I havent noticed any sounds yet.. imma go check my bolts though!!

[LOTE]

I put my ballast on a mouse pad, it cuts down on the noise a bit.

[herbaltivo]

Dude, I have the same one and it's fine. It's plenty quiet. I have a 175w MH ballast that blows it away by maybe 5x in loudness. It's horrible.

I've dealt with them on returns, at least on my item they preshipped me a replacement, which was totally unexpected and freakin fantastic, and my return was not the 400 HPS system, which I must say is pretty damn nice for a sweet price.

I really should have built a bigger closet.

[TheGanjaKing420]

I have the same exact light, and while it does make a bit of a buzz, it isn't anything that my furnace blower or a dehumidifier doesn't mask without a problem. But I most certainly wouldn't cover it up with a blanket or anything or you are looking to have some serious fire issues.