Rusted Ballast - Still works, but is it safe?

Hey all,

A bud of mine has a 1000W hps ballast, and we were digging into it and saw that the ballast itself seems to have gathered a sight dash of rust. I know what rust and corrosion looks like and how it can do damage, but it does not look like the components or anything would be affected by some rusty metal.

i cant even show you a pic to let you all see, but just imagine the ballast, and now imagine some rust on the ballast, I bet if I took a wire brush to it, it would shine right up. Which makes me believe the ballast is ok.

I am sure this ballast has been run in this condition, but not 100% because this is the first time it has been taken out of the housing and looked at.

Has anybody experienced this? Should a new one just be got?

Thanks!!

i used to be a janitor and had to change ballasts all the time. the way we did it, if anything looked funky, we junked em. then again we didnt pay for the new ballasts. i wouldnt mess with it. even if it works for awhile it could crap out down the line.

ugzkmk said:

i used to be a janitor and had to change ballasts all the time. the way we did it, if anything looked funky, we junked em. then again we didnt pay for the new ballasts. i wouldnt mess with it. even if it works for awhile it could crap out down the line.

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Thanks ugzkmk. your advice shall be heeded!

they usually dont blow up though, they just stop working, make a funky smell, and ooze shit out.

If its not the components that are rusted but the housing/frame, then just remove the rusty metal and sand off the rust and paint it or replace them.

There is no logic in replacing a ballast if you can repair it for a few dollars worth of primer and sheet metal.

i would wire brush it so it kills the rust repaint and open the container if you can and make sure the inside is all good