06-07-2015, 10:50 PM
I know it goes without saying really - but for others who may not be aware of how dangerous these are!
Be insanely careful playing with HID Ballasts - especially taking the lids off - they run at a very high voltage and frequency - this means that the spark can jump a surprising distance - more than you'd imagine and really can give you a very nasty shock and burn - they start at about 25kV and run at about 400V the ballast will output quite a hefty current also during warmup - this is enough to cause very nasty burns simply from the spark and break the skin, transmitting the current through your body - during startup the voltage and current involved is easily enough to kill if you get the current to the wrong places - it'll most certainly throw your hand away with a nasty, deep burn to go with - remember electrical burns on the surface that don't look like much are usually MUCH more serious under the skin where it's wetter and conducts better
Even when powered off, they are likely to contain reasonably large capacitors, good quality OEM ones will have discharge resistors, but cheapy ones are likely to have no discharge resistors and can hold lethal amounts of charge for weeks after being powered off.
Please be extra careful with them!
Be insanely careful playing with HID Ballasts - especially taking the lids off - they run at a very high voltage and frequency - this means that the spark can jump a surprising distance - more than you'd imagine and really can give you a very nasty shock and burn - they start at about 25kV and run at about 400V the ballast will output quite a hefty current also during warmup - this is enough to cause very nasty burns simply from the spark and break the skin, transmitting the current through your body - during startup the voltage and current involved is easily enough to kill if you get the current to the wrong places - it'll most certainly throw your hand away with a nasty, deep burn to go with - remember electrical burns on the surface that don't look like much are usually MUCH more serious under the skin where it's wetter and conducts better
Even when powered off, they are likely to contain reasonably large capacitors, good quality OEM ones will have discharge resistors, but cheapy ones are likely to have no discharge resistors and can hold lethal amounts of charge for weeks after being powered off.
Please be extra careful with them!
