Anyone built a housing for their ballasts?

[piscivorous]

I just got my two electronic MH ballasts in the mail today, and once I get my electronic VHO ballast I need to figure out where I am going to house them. I don't want to mount them on the wood in my tank stand (55 gallon)....but I was thinking of building some kind of metal housing to hold all three ballasts. Has anyone done this??? I was going to price out aluminum...if that is too expensive, I even thought about perhaps using this old computer case I have and mounting them inside of that.......I was kind of thinking of a three tier box basically. Being that they are electronic ballast, they shouldn't get THAT hot...but I honestly have no idea, as I've never dealt with these before. Suggestions????

 

[piscivorous]

...though I may not need to be that elaborate with e. ballasts...as it sounds like they really don't even get very warm...let alone hot....but I'd still appreciate some thoughts on the subject....

 

[orlenz]

I built an enclosure to house my ballasts, while I was at it I went ahead and added a GFCI and Timers, it houses two 250w MH ballasts, my VHO Ballast, the ballast for my fuge lighting, and the 12v power supply for my fans and moon lighting,
I just broke it up out of .090 aluminum and painted it with epoxy paint. on the other side near the bottom is a 12v fan blowing in and a vent near the top.

 

[Dennis7]

I have seen people using surplus army ammo cases before. Plus they watertight.

 

[55chadman]

yep thats what i did a while back but i moved and re did a few thinds but i am goona redo the housing maby another ammo case if not i really like orlenz case above

bty orlenz do you have other shots of that control panel

hth

chad

 

[I Found Nemo]

I have seen metal tool boxes used also easy to open if needed and handle to move it around.