stacking metal halide ballasts

[CarlaW]

For those of us that have more than one metal halide ballast, is it advisable to stack these ballasts? I have 3 of them and was wondering if I used 2x4's and eggcrate,( for airflow between), would this be OK?
Thanx in advance.
I should add that these are 400w ballasts, 2 pulse start and 1 HQI.

 

[The Apprentice]

For those of us that have more than one metal halide ballast, is it advisable to stack these ballasts? I have 3 of them and was wondering if I used 2x4's and eggcrate,( for airflow between), would this be OK?
Thanx in advance.

I have been doing the same Charlie they are quite warm but not hot enough to burn any decals off them. My problem is the PFO wire harnes, The leads all have the same lenght.....Jeff

 

[CarlaW]

Do you use fans during the summer months? I have mine by an open window, would that help?

 

[The Apprentice]

Yes lots fans

Yes to all Charlie its 100 In Umatilla. This week all fans on the tank & hood are on constantly. My Central air is set at 75 in the house and today i am doing the poor boy chiller I have a small refrigerator going to pipe in a 1/4" air line from the intake of my Skimmer to this refrigerator and see what that will do ???

 

[CarlaW]

Thanx Jeff, appreciate it Anybody else want to chime in here with their experience??

 

[Scooterman]

Heat will shorten the life of any electrical equipment, when stacking avoid vertical placement, instead stack side by side on a horizontal plane. blowing air between from below. You could fabricate aluminum heat sinks with large fins, which also helps cool drastically.

 

[reedman]

I'm with Scooterman. My VHO ballast failed due to heat. The internal working of electronics are sensitive to heat. They will work in the heat, but will not last as long.

 

[CarlaW]

This is what I came up with. There is 3.5" in between the ballasts with a fan blowing from underneath with the open window behind it. The fan is on the timer with the first vho that comes on and will go off when they go off, a total of 12 hrs. If this is gonna prove troublesome, it's time to build some shelves. I needed the extra space

 

[CarlaW]

Now I'll post the darn picture, the excitement is killing me.

 

[Scooterman]

That is some wild stuff there Charlie, I hope your splitting your power on separate breakers. I wouldn't stack on top of each other like that. In this case looks like you won't be too bad off, I'd be more worried about the little ones on the side. It is hard to be neat, harder to play by the rules when heat is involved. . These ballast are hardy to say the least & can take some heat (I've actually had to make due in certain situations like that) BUT...

 

[CarlaW]

there's 8 separate breakers involved here so don't get all worried
I have been checking these ballasts every 1/2 hr. for the last 4 hrs. and there is less heat now than there was before. I will continue to monitor thruout the photoperiod. thanx for your concerns tho, at least someone is watching out for me.

 

[Scooterman]

Well, I can't say yea that will work, so instead I left it open. I think if you can hold your hand on them your ok.

 

[CarlaW]

Actually, I'm really amazed, they are actually cooler than when they were just lined up across the counter!! I really thought that they would heat up, but that is a 12" fan blowin on them
I may have to do something different in the winter, but I'll see when it comes that time.
Thanx for the help

 

[RGibson]

Charlie I ask PFO about stacking them like you have i was told thay would be ok my 3 ballasts are done 3 high but i used sq ala tubing

 

[CarlaW]

Thanx, I have been monitoring the situation rather closely, and am glad to report that the ballasts are still doin great.
Scooter: I am gonna work on the vho ballasts later today, they are a might scrunched together. Do you think a 2x4 between them will be alright?
Thanx for all the help people

 

[jazznreef]

that would never ever pass my wife acceptance factor (waf)... you must be single!

 

[CarlaW]

that would be a true statement. I don't think the single equivalent of waf can be posted here

 

[NeilsReef]

LOL

that would never ever pass my wife acceptance factor (waf)... you must be single!

jazznreef, waf can be such a challenge at times. Glad to see other married people go through this as well.

 

[Scooterman]

Yep, throw in a wife & we all get headaches! LOL

 

[The Apprentice]

Had to improve mine as well

Charlie This is what I did with My ballast to keep cool. And it just squeeked by The Home police :lol: