Hot ballast on wooden board get on fire?

[PakiWeed]

Hey guys, I wonder if I could put ballast on the wooden board because it gets really hot, but I need space and that would be an ideal place. If so, should i put between ballast and wood aluminium foil or something?

Thanks for all answers in advance!

 

[robro]

Ive got my ballast on a roofing slate,no fires in two years.

 

[rdo420]

I wouldn't do it man. Just be safe in what you try. If your ballast is like mine you just cut the wood in half so it leaves a gap in the middle. I highly doubt it would get hot enough to light the wood on fire BUT, better safe than sorry. Its not a good pic but hopefully you can see what I mean. See the block on the bottom? I also have a block on top. Whatever size wood you use for you spacer blocks will be the gap size. Mine is 2''.

 

[BigBudsBunny]

Home depot / lowes 12x12 granite tile - those are tough to burn up!

 

[tusseltussel]

I have mine hanging from hooks that go into a wooden board that's mounted to my ceiling. The hooks put it a few inches off the wood

 

[topfuel29]

Hey guys, I wonder if I could put ballast on the wooden board because it gets really hot, but I need space and that would be an ideal place. If so, should i put between ballast and wood aluminium foil or something?

Thanks for all answers in advance!

It takes around 500 F for wood to spontaneously combust.
Your ballast will shut off long before that it ever reaches that point.
There should be thermal protection on your ballast.

If you can't touch your ballast for more than a few seconds your ballast is malfunctioning , generating excess heat.

As for mounting, get ascrap piece of dry wall mount that to your wall then mount your ballast to the piece of dry wall.

IMO- every indoor grower should have a fire extinguisher next to your grow room door.

 

[RawCore]

i have my ballast on a 35lb steel dumbell... i figure better safe than sorry

 

[racerboy71]

Damn I must be doing something wrong or bought a crap ballast as mine never even gets what I'd call even remotely warm..

 

[socaljoe]

It takes around 500 F for wood to spontaneously combust.
Your ballast will shut off long before that it ever reaches that point.
There should be thermal protection on your ballast.

If you can't touch your ballast for more than a few seconds your ballast is malfunctioning , generating excess heat.

As for mounting, get ascrap piece of dry wall mount that to your wall then mount your ballast to the piece of dry wall.

IMO- every indoor grower should have a fire extinguisher next to your grow room door.

Agreed on the drywall. That's how we would mount remote ballasts and transformers for lighting when I was doing electrical on restaurants.

 

[medicineforpatients]

Damn I must be doing something wrong or bought a crap ballast as mine never even gets what I'd call even remotely warm..

No you probably have a great ballast that somehow controls its heat. That's my guess anyways.

 

[PakiWeed]

Thank you guys for all advices, really helped!

 

[Sir.Ganga]

I have 12 mounted to plywood but my ballasts have rubber feet that keep it a 1/4 inch away from the wood.

 

[tusseltussel]

remember kids, digitals don't get hot like magnetics

 

[hbbum]

Damn I must be doing something wrong or bought a crap ballast as mine never even gets what I'd call even remotely warm..

Seriously, me too. I got a cheaper model and it is "warm" but not uncomfortable to hold at all Maybe the ones without fans are different?

 

[MrBloomer]

I've got a 600w Maxibright digital ballast and it gets VERY HOT but i've had it for over a year and it works faultlessly, some ballasts run hotter than others that's just their design. Also you'll be A ok with putting your ballasts on wood, i've done it for years.

 

[kinddiesel]

I have 10 of the 1000 waters mounted to wood , for over 10 years nock on wood, still here. mounted those heavy fucks over head .