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  #1  
Old 01-06-2004, 04:34 PM
BCOrchidGuy BCOrchidGuy is offline
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Default Cool ballast??? why?

Okay so I'm running my 400 watt Ushio 10,000k bulb it gives of great light. The ballast however runs MUCH cooler than it did with my other 400 watt bulb. I ran that other bulb for a year and a half with no problems but the ballast (ballast case actually) was always to hot to touch. If I wanted to move it I had to unplug it and let it cool. This time with the Ushio bulb the ballast is just warm, I can touch the case no problems, any ideas or thoughts?

Doug
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  #2  
Old 01-06-2004, 09:59 PM
robbyville robbyville is offline
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Hmm, well as your topic says cool ballast? I can tell you that I have a standard PFO dual 250w and I don't cool it with anything other than natural air. Perhaps if I had it in an enclosed space I would, but I figure that it reduces my heating bills by just leaving it as is!

Rob
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  #3  
Old 01-07-2004, 12:10 AM
BCOrchidGuy BCOrchidGuy is offline
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Sorry Rob, my question is, why is my ballast so much cooler with the Ushio bulb as the load. It ran very hot with a SunMaster bulb, to hot to touch, now with the Ushio it's nice and cool. Just wondering if anyone has a thought.

Doug
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Old 01-07-2004, 12:24 AM
robbyville robbyville is offline
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Whoops, gotcha!

I certainly don't have a knowledgeable reply to that! However maybe the ballast is better suited to the Ushio's and is not having to overdrive the system? I would have thought that this would make more of a difference to the bulb than the ballast, but maybe not?

Good luck!

Rob
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  #5  
Old 01-07-2004, 02:31 AM
BCOrchidGuy BCOrchidGuy is offline
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Yeah kind of odd, the ballast and bulb were from a hydroponics store, don't know why it's running so cool now.. I'm baffled, not complaining, just.. baffled.

Doug
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Old 01-08-2004, 03:27 AM
BCOrchidGuy BCOrchidGuy is offline
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Bump, I'm still hoping someone can tell me why my ballast is so much cooler.

Doug
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  #7  
Old 01-08-2004, 03:40 AM
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Bob I Bob I is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BCOrchidGuy
Bump, I'm still hoping someone can tell me why my ballast is so much cooler.

Doug
As far as I know the heat is caused by the amount of current the bulb is drawing. Therefore if the new bulb draws less, the ballast will be cooler.

BTW I am a Red Green fan, and I have always heard him say "If it ain't broke, you are not trying" I'll watch another episode of the many I have on tape just to check.
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Old 01-08-2004, 03:52 AM
BCOrchidGuy BCOrchidGuy is offline
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Yeah Red is a Canadian Icon, I swear he's one of the funniest guys on TV

Doug
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