do all hps make a buzzing noise?

Dr. Indica

Active Member
Brand new bulbs make noise reguardless of quality usually. I don't know what you're using, but every bulb I've ever had buzzed a little or made a hissing noise. Some more than others, but I've never once heard a ballast digital or magnetic that did not make some sort of noise at least when you first turn it on. Maybe you just can't hear it over your fan, but I'd be willing to bet its making a noise.

No, the only time I have ever heard a bulb make noise is

A. Cheap bulbs

B. Older bulbs, make a high pitched noise as they warm up. I never have new bulbs make noise.

C. Bulbs that are screwed in improperly or too tightly.

My fan is also a overhead 42" fan, it doesn't make noise....it's a roof fan. MY BALLAST does not make noise, not at start up...not ever. My whole grow is completely silent, I sleep in the room with it.:lol:

My ballast sits out in the open and it certainly does not make any noise, the only ballasts I've ever heard make noise are.

A. Magnetic Ballasts.....fucking loud, I hate them.

B. Cheaper Ebay ballasts that claim to be electronic.:lol:

Never heard a peep out of my galaxy's . I'm not really here to debate it. My ballasts don't make noise and if they did....I'd replace their sorry asses.:leaf:
 

demonic1

Well-Known Member
No sorry my ballast is fine, just like every other digital that buzzes;-)
My digital ballasts are completely silent. Not a wisper out of them like Indica's. I would imagine if you have a digital ballast with the fans, they would make noise but mine aren't the kind with the fan. Cooling fins on then and they are completely silent. Most digital ballast manufacture advertising claim to be silent so that is what you should expect. Otherwise, they're ripping you off.
 

smppro

Well-Known Member
My digital ballasts are completely silent. Not a wisper out of them like Indica's. I would imagine if you have a digital ballast with the fans, they would make noise but mine aren't the kind with the fan. Cooling fins on then and they are completely silent. Most digital ballast manufacture advertising claim to be silent so that is what you should expect. Otherwise, they're ripping you off.
But the point of a digital ballast isnt for silence so i dont see how they could be ripping you off.:lol:
 

demonic1

Well-Known Member
But the point of a digital ballast isnt for silence so i dont see how they could be ripping you off.:lol:
It is for some people and if a company advertises it as a feature and its a lie, then they are ripping you off. Its that simple.

my lumatek 600w digital ballast is supposedly TOTALLY silent,but it makes a slight buzz
http://www.lumatek.ca/
They do advertise it being completely silent;
"The Lumatek ballast is completely silent (no buzzing) and produces less heat than a standard ballast"
I'm not real fond of the lumatek ballasts as the last time I looked at them, they do have little fans which means moving parts, which means more things to go wrong. But they should be silent if the company advertises it as so.
 

Bob Smith

Well-Known Member
I've had lights of every size and shape, and they've all made a noise of some sort.

These digitals I have now are quiet, but certainly not silent.

And I'm pretty sure that they're working just fine.

But they're in my garage, so I don't give a what about a whisper of a noise.
 

Heads Up

Well-Known Member
For me I had two issues with magnetic ballasts, heat and noise, I didn't particularly want either. I'm using a six hundred watt digital ballast and other than its fan running, it makes no noise and barely gets warm to the touch in one spot the rest of the ballast is cool to the touch.
 

Bluemax

Active Member
to be honest,the digital ballast still have the coil and core assembly,the whole show is just controlled with a microprocessor

so at around 5 amp start up,and nearly 3 amp running,the damn things are gonna buzz at bit with that electricity going through
 

waverider

Member
I have a 400watt Digital ballast that is supposed to be good for hps or metal halide bulbs. The ballast makes noise and is warm to the touch when I'm using a HPS bulb. But when I use a Metal Halide bulb there is no noise at all and the ballast is not hot/warm. Any idea why it runs like this?
 
Top