Jimmy Verde
Well-Known Member
How long do YOU let your ballast run for until replacing.. specifically asking for phantom 1000w but all opinion's welcome !
How long was there average die timeMine run until they die. But I’ve always had a backup.
Sweet reallyPut a fan on your ballast, and you will likely double its lifespan.
Replaced 1 at just under a year. Replaced with warranty. The other two have been going 3 years now.How long was there average die time
My 1000w Phantom II ballast suggests vertical mounting for cooling in the manual. I have mine on the floor on a piece of tile where the air from my cool furnace room enters the room and flows over the ballast, stays luke warm/cool depending on the weather. without the airflow it gets too hot to touch more than a few seconds.What kills the silicon components inside is little crystals that are formed faster the hotter the dies inside run.
Those ribs on the side of the case provide the minimum of cooling they can get away with to save money.
Mount them vertically like a candle, so warm air from the bottom helps speed up the warm air near the top if not air-cooleded. If you caould keep the inside components under say 40 to 45C, it will likely outlast you.