New Ballast / SolisTek Ballasts

4:20toYuma

4:20toYuma

Active Member
I have a SolisTek 600w digital ballast.
http://www.amazon.com/Solis-Tek-STK600-SolisTek-Digital/dp/B00R2Q7LWK

It runs extremely hot. I can't hold my finger on it more than 3 seconds without having to remove my finger. It's a year and a half old, but it has always run this hot.

I'm considering replacing the ballast with something with a cooling fan in addition to the extruded aluminum fins. https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/XTE600D
But I don't want to just flush $ down the toilet.

Anyone happen to own this particular ballast who can say whether it's normal to run so hot?

As always, any insight or suggestions are welcome
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
I bet you have it on a 110v circuit with a bunch of other shit causing resistance making the ballast run hot as fuck.

I run only solis tek on 220v, on 1000w it just feels slightly warm maybe equivalent to a heating pad.
 
4:20toYuma

4:20toYuma

Active Member
Carolina Dream'n said:
I bet you have it on a 110v circuit with a bunch of other shit causing resistance making the ballast run hot as fuck.

I run only solis tek on 220v, on 1000w it just feels slightly warm maybe equivalent to a heating pad.
Click to expand...
It is running on 110v with other things on it. But gosh many growers, especially those with very small setups like myself are doing the same thing and they can't fry eggs on their ballast.

Running a 220 line isn't exactly feasible for me right now. Would getting a ballast with cooling fan help? Other than wear and tear on the ballast and heat management, could the overheating of the ballast have negative effects?

Suggestions?
 
jwreck

jwreck

Well-Known Member
i have 2 600s going on 2 years strong, they do get hot but i have them near the AC and have fans circulating the air- no problems yet.
one tip is to keep them outside the grow tent
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
i've got my solis 600 on 220v. i'd say it's almost hot but not like glowing hot.

the heat sink fins should be warm to slightly hot. it means they are doing their job of keeping heat away from the internals.

i'd stick with the solis. if i'm not mistaken, it will shut off if it gets too hot.
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
i've got my solis 600 on 220v. i'd say it's almost hot but not like glowing hot.

the heat sink fins should be warm to slightly hot. it means they are doing their job of keeping heat away from the internals.

i'd stick with the solis. if i'm not mistaken, it will shut off if it gets too hot.
Click to expand...
Interesting. My solis teks put off no heat on 600w 220v. They might be 95-100 degrees on 1000w 220v in a 82-84 degree room.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
Carolina Dream'n said:
Interesting. My solis teks put off no heat on 600w 220v. They might be 95-100 degrees on 1000w 220v in a 82-84 degree room.
Click to expand...
do you have the matrix model with the lcd display? i just have the 600 w that can run 400 too with or without solis boost. you definitely can't put your hand on mine for very long. maybe matrix runs a bit cooler??

are you in south cackalacky? i lived in the upstate for about 15 years. miss me some good BBQ for sure!
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
do you have the matrix model with the lcd display? i just have the 600 w that can run 400 too with or without solis boost. you definitely can't put your hand on mine for very long. maybe matrix runs a bit cooler??

are you in south cackalacky? i lived in the upstate for about 15 years. miss me some good BBQ for sure!
Click to expand...
Yea I do have the matrix.

Too funny, eating bbq right now.
 
4:20toYuma

4:20toYuma

Active Member
Thanks for all your responses.

I grow in a cabinet and the ballast is mounted to the backside of the cabinet. So the effect the ballast heat has on the interior of my cabinet is minimal at best.

I've been using it for over a year and a half without issue, except the occasional "ouch" if I brush against it. I mean it's not glowing hot. But I can't hold my finger on it too long without having to take it off.

I guess I'm just going to leave it alone.
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
4:20toYuma said:
Thanks for all your responses.

I grow in a cabinet and the ballast is mounted to the backside of the cabinet. So the effect the ballast heat has on the interior of my cabinet is minimal at best.

I've been using it for over a year and a half without issue, except the occasional "ouch" if I brush against it. I mean it's not glowing hot. But I can't hold my finger on it too long without having to take it off.

I guess I'm just going to leave it alone.
Click to expand...
Put it on its own dedicated curcuit I bet it will cool down b
 
jijiandfarmgang

jijiandfarmgang

Well-Known Member
dedicated circuit going to cool it more? please explain this to me.

Ballast with cooling fans introduce dirt into the ballast, and if those fans fail the ballast will likely fail.

Install your Solis tek on a wall in an upright position. The heat will dissipate better off of the cooling fins.

- Jiji
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
jijiandfarmgang said:
dedicated circuit going to cool it more? please explain this to me.

Ballast with cooling fans introduce dirt into the ballast, and if those fans fail the ballast will likely fail.

Install your Solis tek on a wall in an upright position. The heat will dissipate better off of the cooling fins.

- Jiji
Click to expand...
If he has the 15 amp circuit maxed out including his ballast the wires are hot, creating resistance (the reason why the ballast is hot in the first place)

Put a 600w on it own dedicated 15-20 amp, and it will run cooler than another 600w with 600 more watts of miscellaneous items on the same circuit.
 
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