How warm do your electronic MH ballasts get?

[smcdonn]

I was just curious as to how warm/hot your electronic ballasts got. I have some DIY ballasts and feel that they get pretty hot. When I say hot, you can touch them and hold you hand on them for about 10 seconds, then it gets to be too much. Is this too hot? They work excellent, 100% silent, just wondering if this is too warm for a electronic ballast?

 

[JoeESSA]

I have M57 probe start ballasts (250W). They do get very hot. I am thinking about moving them outside of the stand and put them in a separate, well ventilated cabinet beside the stand. I do get a bit concerned with the amount of heat being generated in the stand cabinet with all the wiring, backup UPS and outlets...

I think that electronic ballast do not necessarily have much better efficiency than a standard ballast and therefore you can expect similar amounts of heat to be generated..

 

[escape2theocean]

I have 2 - 250w ARO electronic ballasts, they get VERY hot, you can only touch for a few seconds like your describing.

 

[jdieck]

Depending on the ballast brand and design.
E-ballasts and blue lines have been known to run up to 110*F, MH Ice Caps run cooler Warm to the touch and do not need to let go but their 660 and 430 run hotter.
It is recommended that all electronic ballasts be mounted on metal plates or finned boxes to act as heat difussion exchangers.
IceCaps 430 and 660 come with or require aluminum heat finned mounting plates. If installed in a metal box insure that the box has convection vents and if installed in a way that there is some air between the box and the wall even better.

Now having said that, magnetic ballasts (ANSI M58 ar such) because of the lectrical lossed heat up significantly, a 400 watt output magnetic may heat up similar to a 50 watt heater)

 

[Elite]

Get an Icecap (for MH). You can hold it as long as you want.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I ran some 250 watt EVC e-ballasts and they got fairly warm but I wouldn't say hot.

 

[DrBDC]

I have 2 ARO 175 ballasts and they get "slightly" warm. I've felt strained low backs putting off as much heat as these do. Make sure the wire junctions are connected/soldered well.

 

[pyro383]

I have 2 (250w) coralvue eballasts, they come with fans and are finned enclosures, warm to the touch at most.

 

[Toddrtrex]

My Hamilton 2*175 Eballast (in a single "box") is never hot. I can't feel a temperature difference, with my hand, between it being on or off.