Ballast noise?
 

I have a TAR ballast powering my newly installed 250W MH. Got it all wired and then plugged it in. The bulb fired up and it went well. BUT. . The ballast is humming. I know that it is vibrating a little bit but does anyone have a solution for me to get the ballast quieter? Its loud enough for me not to use it. I think i am going to try mounting it on a high heat rubber to absorb the vibration. Anyone had this trouble?

Sounds abnormal to me. I have a dual 400w TAR ballast and it's dead quiet. Is it from AI, J&L or another supplier? I'd let them know, maybe get a replacement.

Ballast
 

Is it a new Ballast?If not,most Tar Ballast,when they start to hum,It means there ready to die.Is it leaking any tar?Also thats a sign of the Ballast going bad.Good Luck!!

Ballasts actually contain tar/oil?

Well this is an industrial ballast. brand new. I worked out its vibrating like crazy. I need to bolt it down better clearly. Its hard to tell if it will hum loud once I deaden the vibration since the vibration noise is very loud.

I would be a little concerned if I needed to bolt down a ballast to stop it from running away. Take it back.

I asked my electrician (spelling?) about it, since I bought it through him, he said yeah it'll vibrate and needs to be bolted down well. I think it is punishment for trying to be cheap. Bummer!

all ballasts make a hum, some more than others.

Steve

My 250 Hamilton ballast has quite a hum to it.

as mentioned in an earlier post, the older a ballast gets, the more noise and vibration it will generate.. so if its really loud, and moving around on you, then its at its lifes end...

a new ballast out of the box will make almost no noise at all ( just a very slight hum)