The HPS is a loud noise from the engine and it indicates how much power your car makes. It’s not uncommon for people to replace their cars because of this issue, but there are some ways you can make your car sound quieter in order to save money on repairs.
The “grow light ballast troubleshooting” is a guide to help you figure out why your grow light ballasts are making so much noise when they’re turned on.
If you’re a grower, you’ve probably heard about HPS.
The HPS’s buzz, on the other hand, may be rather frightening. When you utilize an HPS, you may anticipate a high level of output.
The sound, on the other hand, does not match. This is a sign that there is a problem with the electrical system.
So you may be wondering how to make HPS quieter.
There are four simple techniques to make HPS silent. You may accomplish this by tightening any loose screws, laminating the ballast coils, or wrapping the ballast in an insulating box. Finally, you may place dampers on the wall to completely silence the noise.
Are you stumped as to how to put it all together? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve outlined all of the stages as well as several other options.
So, without further ado, let’s see what we’ve got in store.
Is this a Case of Subtle BFixuzzing?
The sound you hear is made up of high order harmonics, which produce a buzzing or humming sound at roughly 60Hz.
As a result, the spectrum is quite audible.
So, what’s the deal with your HPS humming?
This is due to an oversaturated ballast core. As a consequence, when both electrodes in the ballast warm up after ignition, rectification happens. The lamp stops rectifying, resulting in a buzzing sound from the DC leads.
The magnetic flux is also pushed outward as a result of this. When steel is present, a force is formed, which causes the noise.
In this scenario, a Lutron MAELV-600-WH Lighting dimmer switch may alleviate or completely remove the buzzing. You can simply comprehend the whole installation procedure by watching the video below. Take a look and you’ll be able to fix your issue right away.
Identifying and Resolving the Issue
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HPS lights, as we all know, are quite useful in greenhouse plant production. However, in order to be more efficient, they must be maintained.
In growth, either an LED bulb or a high-pressure sodium lamp (HPS) is employed. Most gardeners notice that some bulbs have a gentle buzzing sound and lower brightness after examination.
With time, the growth of these bulbs slows, resulting in increased noise pollution and electricity usage.
We’ve developed a list of the most frequent causes of the HPS loud noise you’re hearing. Along with that, we’ve added a little technical know-how to investigate the problem and quickly resolve it.
Without further ado, let’s get started —
Loose Screw/Capacitor is the first of four reasons.
Loose screws are the most likely cause of your HPS buzzing loudly. This isn’t always the issue of your bulb; a minor tightening of the screw will usually solve the problem.
You must now examine the bulb. Was the buzz accompanied by a flickering bulb? If this is the case, you will see that the bulb has burnt out prematurely. This is due to the bulb being loosely screwed. As a result, you may hear a buzz.
Tighten the Loose Screw to fix the problem.
Wear heavy-duty electricity-proof gloves before beginning the operation. If the bulb breaks, this will protect your hands from shards of glass. Here are some of the most secure security suggestions. Please have a look-
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Even if you’re wearing gloves, use extreme caution while doing hazardous electrical tasks.
Let’s get started with the operation.
What You Will Require
Turning off the power supply is the first step.
Turn off the switch to turn off the power supply. You must disconnect the fixture if it is connected into the wall. If the bulb is out of your reach, be sure you’re using a ladder.
Step 2: Turning on the Light
Keep your hand near to the base of the bulb as you hold it. Then gently twist the bulb in the other direction.
The bulb will be removed from the socket. If the bulb seems to be stiff, use needle tip pliers to hold the bulb’s base.
Push the pliers’ end between the socket’s base and the shell side. This will assist you in removing the shell from the socket base.
Tightening Loose Screws (Step 3)
In the bottom of the socket base, look for a little set screw. You’ll see that the socket base has a tiny diameter pipe screwed to the top of it. It is necessary to loosen the screw.
After then, maintain a steady grip on the base. Turn the socket base clockwise to tighten the socket base.
If the threaded pipe is spinning at the same time as the base, you must examine the base. A nut coated in felt may be found under the base.
Hold the nut with a regular plier to prevent it from spinning. This should be done as the screw is being tightened.
Reinstalling the Bulb (Step 4)
Retighten the setscrew and the nut you were holding after tightening the socket base.
In a clockwise motion, gently screw the bulb back into the socket. When you sense resistance, stop spinning.
If there is a lot of resistance before you can fully screw the bulb in, double-check the bulb size.
Faulty Ballast Coil Lamination is the second of four reasons.
If you notice a rattling sound coming from your HPS ballast, you’re listening to a malfunctioning ballast.
A rattling sound is produced when the ballast is loosely attached to the base. It occurs as a result of poor coil lamination. As a result, the lamination must be clamped to halt the rattling.
Clamping the Lamination is a solution.
The coil lamination must be clamped as a solution. Foam insulation between the ballast and the base may help with this. Varnish is also used to keep things in place. Let’s go on to the step-by-step procedure to learn more.
What You Will Require:
The first step is to open the lamp shade.
Using the procedure outlined in the preceding step, open the lampshade. Clips may be found everywhere over the lampshade. To remove the lamp cover, use a screwdriver to rotate the clips. Keep the clips separate so you can reload them afterwards.
Disassembly of the Wire Plugin (Step 2)
After removing the lamp cover, you’ll see a wire slot on the ring light. The holder’s wire extension is placed into the slot. Because it’s a plug-in wire, you can just take it out. The ring and other wirings within the lamp may be removed.
Laminating the Ballast is the third step.
The loose coil lamination must now be clamped to the socket. Using varnish or sealer, fill up the excess space. The coil will get rigid in one spot as a result of this.
You may also add a layer of soft foam to the ballast’s base to keep it in place. Allow some time for the ballast to dry.
Step 4: Putting the Ballast Back Together
Rep the first two stages in reverse order. Replace the three clips and replace the lampshade. To test the sound, turn on the light. This is a short-term fix for your HPS sound.
Reason number three of four is a lack of space.
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Another reason your HPS may feel loud is the size of your flat. In a room or small confined environment, the HPS creates a loud noise.
This is due to the fact that an HPS is often used for plants outside or in a greenhouse.
When employed in an enclosed location, however, the sound is amplified. This causes the sound to reverberate off the room’s walls.
This performs really well in terms of sound audibility. As a consequence, it may create life discomfort.
There may be two solutions to this difficulty.
To begin, you might cover the ballast with a box to make it soundproof. Second, sound dampers may be installed on the walls.
Let’s look at the procedure in more detail:
Cover the ballast with a box to fix it.
The noise connected with the ballast is often caused by the cooling that occurs as a result of the tremendous heat.
Plant farmers cope with the heat by using vent hoods.
In this instance, you have the option of building your own vent hood or purchasing one. For the latter, we received some solid suggestions on which you may rely.
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For the DIY component, a 4″ duct on either side with a glass plate beneath the light may be installed. This panel allows light to reach the plants directly.
The duct will assist in keeping the heat contained inside the ventilation system.
An air cooler duct, which is normally a 6″ tube, may also be made. By managing heat, this will aid in the decrease of ballast noise.
Furthermore, make certain that the extraction fan is strong enough to keep up with the duct. The temperature within the room should also be comfortable.
This is because blowing hot air won’t be enough to cool a hot light. This also raises the possibility of the bulb fusing quicker than normal.
Install sound dampers on the wall to solve the problem.
Is the sound of your HPS bothering your neighbors?
Soundproofing your room is one final option for preventing this. That may be accomplished in a variety of ways.
Installing sound dampers is one of the cheapest options.
Before you begin, you must first choose the arrangement of your space. Due of the high frequency of HPS noise, it may travel through the air, windows, doors, and walls.
We’ve figured out the simplest technique to put sound dampers in.
Let’s take a look at what we’ll need first.
What You Will Require:
The first step is to turn off the electric box.
The main electric panel should be turned off. Separate the electric boxes that are located in the same stud cavity.
After that, seal the electrical box with acoustical sealant or silicone caulk. Make sure the box’s entrance and any gaps in the studs and plates are sealed.
Step 2: Insulator Filling
Fill the stud cavity with fiberglass batts, making sure there are no gaps or spaces. Cut the insulator in half and wrap it around the pipes and wires.
To separate the parts of the insulator, use a utility knife.
Cutting the Channels (Step 3)
Make a stud-to-resilient channel with a gap of 24 inches. You may use 1-1/4-inch drywall, and the top of the channel should be hidden behind the top plate.
The channels should not go beyond the studs by more than 1 inch. Use an aircraft snip to cut the channels. On the walls, make a stud mark.
Sealing the Door (Step 4)
Attach drywall to the flange of the channel. The sheets should be oriented vertically. Use drywall screws with a 14-inch thread that are spaced 12 inches apart.
Also, use adhesive-backed gaskets to seal the doors. To make the wall jamb-free, you may alternatively add a jamb extender.
Alternatively, a wood transition strip may be used to close the space beneath the door. Install a door sweep on the rear of the door as well. The strip will not be stripped as a consequence. For ease of usage, an automated door sweep is preferable.
Faulty Fixture is the fourth of four reasons.
You’ll notice that the HPS sometimes makes a high-pitched noise.
When your HPS bulb is aged, this occurs. HPS has a life expectancy of 24,000 hours on average. This equates to around 2000 days. As a result, employing this light for plant development is not a viable option.
In this instance, you have the option of using halide or fluorescent lighting.
When we compared kessil and radion lights, we discovered that both are excellent for aqua plants and fish. Similarly, for your ingrown plants, fluorescent light with a high-temperature hue of 4100 to 6500K would suffice.
Furthermore, a compact fluorescent light rated at 26 to 55 watts may easily outperform a 70-watt high-pressure sodium light. By now, you should have a lot of questions. Don’t worry, everything will be clearly out in the following section.
Fixture type: halide/fluorescent
A regular metal halide or fluorescent lamp may be used to convert your HPS. Because fluorescent lights are more environmentally friendly.
The conversion method is the same for both. One distinction is that halide lights, unlike fluorescent bulbs, contain transformers.
The procedure is outlined in detail below.
What You Will Require:
The first step is to find the stud.
Turn off all electricity at the circuit breaker first. To attach the light fixture, use a stud finder to locate a ceiling stud.
If you can’t discover a stud, toggle bolts may be used to secure the fixture. Because these lights are rather hefty, they must be placed securely.
Because they have a horizontal use, wall anchors should be avoided. As a result, there is a possibility of a pull-out.
Step 2: Disconnecting the Wire
Remove the diffuser if the fixture has one. Follow the wiring instructions to the letter. The cable colors must match the electrical supply, i.e. white to white.
If it’s a plug-in model, you won’t need an extension cable since you can just plug it in.
Step 3: Install the Fixture
If the light fixture is suspended, do not install it in the ceiling.
Suspend the fixture from any eyelets with a tiny link chain. Drill your holes in the ceiling and studs, or utilize through the ceiling for toggle bolts.
Screw the fixture to the ceiling after closing any access covers.
Is it still buzzing? Why not use Ballast (Digital)s instead?
https://www.galvinpower.org/ is a good place to start.
Have you exhausted all of your options? Is your HPS still beeping at you?
If this is the case, there is no other option than to get a new one. A new magnetic HPS, on the other hand, may have a buzzing issue.
So, what kind of ballasts will make the least amount of noise?
Ballast (Digital)
If you want to grow plants in a small closed area, Ballast (Digital) is the best for you.
It produces no noise and saves electricity. Your monthly cost will be reduced by 4% to 5%.
Oh and here are our top choices for Ballast (Digital)s-
Ballast: Electronic
Ballast: Electronics function at a frequency of 20,000 hertz. On the other hand, magnetic ballasts work at a frequency of 60 hertz.
Nonetheless, here’s our top preference for Ballast: Electronic.
Now, coming back to the main concern, do Ballast: Electronics make noise?
Yes, they can be heard in a quiet environment, and the volume rises with time. In a normal busy setting, however, background noises may drown out the noise.
FAQs
Is high-pressure sodium (HPS) a good grow light?
Yes, because of its enormous potential light output, HPS is the ideal growth light. This light may be used to cultivate a broad range of plants. A 1000w HPS bulb, for example, produces 130,000 lumens at 1150 PPFD. When compared to other types of light that are optimal for plants, this has significantly less lumens.
How far away from plants should my HPS be?
The longer you need to hang the light, the brighter it is. As a result, a 1000w lamp should be hung at least 15′′ (38cm) away from the ceiling. Depending on the strength of your light, you won’t want to reach higher than 30 inches (76cm) above your plants.
Is it possible to minimize the noise generated by HPS?
Yes, there is a way to lessen HPS noise. This may be accomplished by employing an insulating box and repairing any loose wires or capacitors, among other things. Installing dampers on your walls can assist to keep the noise from spreading. Furthermore, switching to an electric HPS is a superior option to the magnetic HPS’s buzz.
Conclusion
So that’s all we have to say on how to make HPS quieter. Finally, because you’ve made it this far, we have one more suggestion for you. A normal ballast lasts for around 20 years. To prevent any mishaps, you must replace it when the lifetime has expired.
Do you have any quarries on your property? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below. Have a wonderful day till then!
The “how to change high pressure sodium ballast” is a process that is used in many lighting applications. The process involves reducing the amount of light that comes from the lamp.
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