My ballast (transformer) is hot

[elteejay]

Hi everyone, I am a noob to this site and growing.

I recently bought a complete kit that included a tent, timers, lights, reflector, and a ballast / transformer.

The bulbs are 250W & the transformer is 250W of course.

Hold your finger to the red zone and you'll burn it fast.

So I know this much about the transformer. It's German made Vossloh Schwabe. I would imagine they make better products than the chinese. I wrote a message to the people who sold me the kit.

I'm hoping this is normal. Right now I've got it on top of 2 small metal rails to keep it off the carpet floor and mildly improve the airflow. My next step right now is to buy a little fan that I imagine I'll have to leave running anytime the light is powered on.

My last resort will probably to have the transformer sit outside, but that'll be quite inconvenient to setup.

Anyone struggled with something similar? I have no experience with transformers such as these so maybe I'm looking into it too much.

I'd appreciate any affordable tips / suggestions.

Hoping to make it through my first night and not burn the house down.

 

[latewood]

I think I would find a metal box to put that in. These transformers always get hot as hell. Good Luck.

 

[elteejay]

I think I would find a metal box to put that in. These transformers always get hot as hell. Good Luck.

Would that metal box work a little bit like a heatsink? I'll see if I can find something out of metal.

Glad these transformers tend to get hot. As long as it's not ruining itself or doing something it shouldn't.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Transformer efficiency = 100 × Watts out / Watts in

The loss is presented in the form of heat.

 

[elteejay]

Transformer efficiency = 100 × Watts out / Watts in

The loss is presented in the form of heat.

But then there shouldn't be much of a loss since the light is 250W like the transformer?

 

[rob333]

Hi everyone, I am a noob to this site and growing.

I recently bought a complete kit that included a tent, timers, lights, reflector, and a ballast / transformer.

The bulbs are 250W & the transformer is 250W of course.

Hold your finger to the red zone and you'll burn it fast.

So I know this much about the transformer. It's German made Vossloh Schwabe. I would imagine they make better products than the chinese. I wrote a message to the people who sold me the kit.

I'm hoping this is normal. Right now I've got it on top of 2 small metal rails to keep it off the carpet floor and mildly improve the airflow. My next step right now is to buy a little fan that I imagine I'll have to leave running anytime the light is powered on.

My last resort will probably to have the transformer sit outside, but that'll be quite inconvenient to setup.

Anyone struggled with something similar? I have no experience with transformers such as these so maybe I'm looking into it too much.

I'd appreciate any affordable tips / suggestions.

Hoping to make it through my first night and not burn the house down.

i find that odd as i run 2 600w hps lights the ballest are old jb ones after 18 hours of light i can still have my hand on the ballest without it burning when temp tested i think its sits on about 34 -35 c

 

[rob333]

i find that odd as i run 2 600w hps lights the ballest are old jb ones after 18 hours of light i can still have my hand on the ballest without it burning when temp tested i think its sits on about 34 -35 c

me i wouldent leave anything alone that runs any more then 40c i wouldent trust it paranoid that it would burn my house down but thats just me tho

 

[SnapsProvolone]

But then there shouldn't be much of a loss since the light is 250W like the transformer?

250w core is smaller, design is minimum required. Heat dissipation is critical.

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

I fit a 250 in an ammo can.. works just fine.

 

[latewood]

You can find economy kit ballast boxes at most online hydro stores. I have never had a magnetic ballast that is cold to the touch, and I have 2 -150w, 1 250 watt 1 400 w, 3 1000 w. Now; I can say that my "digital" ballast stays cool. Worth the money too. Peace

 

[Diabolical666]

Put a fan on it, it will keep it cool

 

[mike4c4]

But then there shouldn't be much of a loss since the light is 250W like the transformer?

they all get HOT. i put mine in a kids metal lunch box and a 12v.pc fan. just google it.

 

[FrostyPelican]

Ebay or amazon "Junction Box", probably will want to attach a small output fan too.

They also aid in preventing fires from running wild in the event something goes wrong.

 

[elteejay]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I ended up following a guide for using computer fans with a 12v AC/DC adapter.

http://forum.grasscity.com/grow-room-designsetup/178566-how-connect-your-pcaxial-fans-12v-adapter.html

Here is my ghetto rig using a rabbit's cage and a slab of ceramic tile.

I can now place my finger on the transformer without any problems

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

Interesting use for a cage.. .reminds me of the bitcoin guys using crates for PC builds..

Im sure the 250 could benefit from the cooling from a fan.. But the 250s I have that are part of the light do not have fan cooling. just some vents cut for it.