Ballast Question.....

Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
I'm getting my first indoor grow ready... I bought a grow tent and have assembled it ..... I have the bubbler almost finished (still have to spray paint the res. with flat black paint)... and I have a 400w HPS/MH conversion light with timer ready to go....

My question is.... where is it safe to place the ballast? The room is carpeted so I know I don't want it sitting on the carpet..... I'm pretty sure I don't want to put it on another rubbermaid bucket either.....

I live in Hurricane country and as such I have a huge supply of cinder blocks in my garage (we use them to raise shit off the floor in case of flooding during hurricanes) I was thinking of placing the ballast atop 2 cinder blocks (side by side) which will allow air to flow and nothing available to melt or catch fire. Is this the way to go or should I do something else? The room is locked ... and the light will be on a timer... but I travel a lot for business and I'm worried about fire safety when I'm not home.

Any and all advice is appreciated. Smartass comments will give me a good laugh... but not really be helpful.... use your own judgement :mrgreen:

Thanks :D
 
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1stickybud

Active Member
i got my ballest sitting up off flor on a bita wood, one either end that allows airflow, and if you spill water it wont go on electrical bits. maybe put some black/white plastic down too so if you spill water = no water damage to carpet:joint::mrgreen:
 
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1stickybud

Active Member
my ballest dont get very hot either it a 400, if you got fans going, they help keep heat down.i wouldnt be too woried bout fire i doubt it would get hot enough
 
L

lucky182

Well-Known Member
I like to hang 'em from a solid hook in the ceiling SOLID as those thingz weigh a ton... that way the wires from the light run along the ceiling to the ballast off the floor... My partner is kinda clumsy and has pumped water from a 200l res on to te floor cause he was baked and the hose came unattached from the table he didn't notice... He was looking at the plants with like 3/4in of water around his show.. completly oblivious.... thought the plants were getting fed... now imagine if the ballasts were low.... I'd be sweeping him into a dustpan... hehehe

lucky
 
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1stickybud

Active Member
thats agreeable aslong as ballest hangs far enough away from lights ( ive bumped before it swug and smashed my bulbs)
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
I don't want to "hang" the ballast.... mostly because I have a steel frame home and I just don't want to drill into the ceiling into the steel beams. I really don't plan on living here more then 3 more years (god willing the RE market will recover in that time!!!). I'm a single women with 2600 sq. feet of house that I'm stuck with until the market improves. Luckily I'm beach front (and bought low) so I should be ok even if it doesn't fully come back to what it was.

I'm only planning on a small grow just enough for me and my sister personal use....nothing commercial so that's why I'm keeping it as low profile as I can without major home modifications. I'm willing to spend the money to make it happen .... hell it's worth it to keep me and my sister in GOOD smoke and out of "the laws" radar.

My MAIN concern is fire hazard. I travel a lot for work but am usually not gone for more the 3 nights ..... still I don't want my house to burn down when I'm gone. Do y'all think my cinder block idea is safe? FUCK I hate even thinking about my house burning down because I did something stupid!

Thank you all so much for your input!!! I love this place because I feel I get good solid advice!!!!! :peace:
 
L

lucky182

Well-Known Member
Cinder block's fine... just be careful around the wires not to snag 'em and stuff... and obviously with water...

L
 
L

lucky182

Well-Known Member
:mrgreen: Smart chick.... But I thought you said this wasn't a career just personal??:weed:

hehehe Keep up the bad work!

L
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
lucky182 said:
:mrgreen: Smart chick.... But I thought you said this wasn't a career just personal??:weed:

hehehe Keep up the bad work!

L
Click to expand...
LOL... my grow is personal... my being up late is because my boss is a shit and I have an early meeting and agenda, project plan etc. to prepare for it. Believe me.... as soon as the meeting is done.... I'll be hard core napping ;)
 
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1stickybud

Active Member
max temp 55deg c, lowest bout 22deg c, no real need for running at night as we get a constant heat, and sunlight like 12 full hours of light.i have got a indoor set up just incase sumthing gets into outdoor crop, like the cops or a fuckn kangaroo they both love the stuff
 
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