MH ballast makes too much noise; landlady complained!

zeblisik · 04/09/2006, 04:03 PM

So I just set up a system I've been working on, the sump is done, the lights are done, the pump is running.....

and I had the ballasts for my MH sitting on the floor, just test running it, seeing how hot itd get all day and so on........ and the landlady, who lives underneath us said she could hear a humming noise, which i could do from her place.

Are there any tips or tricks on mounting MH ballasts? i guess its an older core and coil? I took it from a coralife pendant.

Do I need to get an electronic ballast?

EricBrian · 04/09/2006, 05:45 PM

I think my uncle put a very thick piece of styrofoam under his which absorbs any sort of vibration

dustybuddy · 04/09/2006, 06:08 PM

u should probably get a nice new ballast. older ones are much more inefficient.

bertoni · 04/09/2006, 06:32 PM

Some sort of mat like a mouse pad might help. Styrofoam might, too, but it's more rigid.

PelagicMagic · 04/09/2006, 06:38 PM

be careful not to insulate the bottom too much for heat will build up. Try placing it on a tv stand or furniture and insulating the bottom of the stand or furniture. That way you wont interfere w/ heat transfer from the ballast

funman1 · 04/09/2006, 07:44 PM

You could go with a sweet new electronic ballast.
They are pretty darn quiet, and they only weigh a few pounds (2-4).

04/09/2006, 04:03 PM	#1
zeblisik Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 393	MH ballast makes too much noise; landlady complained! So I just set up a system I've been working on, the sump is done, the lights are done, the pump is running..... and I had the ballasts for my MH sitting on the floor, just test running it, seeing how hot itd get all day and so on........ and the landlady, who lives underneath us said she could hear a humming noise, which i could do from her place. Are there any tips or tricks on mounting MH ballasts? i guess its an older core and coil? I took it from a coralife pendant. Do I need to get an electronic ballast?

04/09/2006, 06:32 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some sort of mat like a mouse pad might help. Styrofoam might, too, but it's more rigid. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/09/2006, 07:44 PM	#6
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	You could go with a sweet new electronic ballast. They are pretty darn quiet, and they only weigh a few pounds (2-4). __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

04/09/2006, 05:45 PM	#2
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	I think my uncle put a very thick piece of styrofoam under his which absorbs any sort of vibration

04/09/2006, 06:08 PM	#3
dustybuddy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 242	u should probably get a nice new ballast. older ones are much more inefficient.

04/09/2006, 06:38 PM	#5
PelagicMagic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,671	be careful not to insulate the bottom too much for heat will build up. Try placing it on a tv stand or furniture and insulating the bottom of the stand or furniture. That way you wont interfere w/ heat transfer from the ballast