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View Full Version : How hot do T5 ballasts get?


xlayedoutx
06/13/2010, 11:42 PM
Just wondering for those of you running retro fit T5's. How hot does your ballast get? I'm mounting mine directly on the back of the canopy and they will be between the wall and the canopy. They will be about an inch from the wall and I just want to make sure I don't need to worry about heat.

RokleM
06/14/2010, 07:05 AM
Depends on the ballasts. Standard drive Triad/Workhorse never seemed to get too hot, but the IceCap 660 can get a little warm (most of the time has an included heat sink).

xlayedoutx
06/14/2010, 09:11 AM
Yeah they are normal triad ballast.

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RokleM
06/14/2010, 10:35 AM
Personally, I would have no concerns then. Back when I was only T5 years ago with the same ballasts, I screwed mine right to the back of my hood as well. Just ensure they're out of slash area.

newreef15
06/14/2010, 01:07 PM
my t5 fixture was getting hot but then i put a fan on it and now its fine

RokleM
06/15/2010, 06:57 AM
Fixture is different from the separately mounted ballast. As the fixtures typically hold the bulbs, which produces the majority of the heat, they all pretty much get hot if they don't have active cooling.