Ballast is HOT, too hot???

First time using ballast and HPS/MH. I want to know, is my ballast supposed to get hot, like hot to the touch? It does make a loud buzzing noise. It's black and quite large. Last thing I need is a fire.

Pretty standard. They get quite warm, depending on the wattage alot of people will keep them outside of the actual grow room for temp reasons. All the magnetic ballasts make buzzing noises, however they typically get quieter after running for a bit. I would check all your screws on the outside of the ballast make sure everything is tightened down. But for the most part your not describing anything my ballast does not do

Ok just making sure, this is the longest I've run it because it's now on the timer, before was all testing so I never knew it got that hot. Thanks!

i have my 2 600 watts side by side on a normal house fan blowing down the cooling rails

I bought a 600 Magnetic ballast used and it did the same, i changed the capacitor and its hot still but not as much noise.

is this heat and sound an issue with digital ballasts aswell?