Question on Housing a DIY m58 mh ballast.

[college429]

I am rigging up a two diy 250watt m58 mh ballasts.
Like this Ballast.

Should I completely enclose the core & capacitor in a metal box?
If I do, do I need to use a cooling fan?
How hot do these get?
Is the heat a problem?

Thanks.

 

[Herman G]

I feel your pain.
No seriously, I encased my two 175watt halide cores & capaciter in a metal electrical box from home depot.
been going good for 6 months now.

I didnt install a fan but it would probably be a good idea with 250 ballasts as they will generate more heat.
Actualy I will be wiring up a set of 250watter's soon allready have the ballasts just neeed to get some wire, some plug ends and the box!

 

[rustybucket145]

I diy'ing some 175's right now. I had two old army ammo boxes laying around. The ballasts and the capacitor fit great into them. I'm doing one box per light in case I want to re-configure in the future. The boxes seal air tight but they will have a hole in them for the chord to enter/exit through. The boxes also have a nice heavy duty handle on them and simply snap open for maintence.

I hadn't planned on putting any fans in mine. Mainly b/c the fan would almost cost as much as I paid for the ballast.

 

[Steverino]

So where do you guys keep these boxes? Are they hung from the back of your stand, or put inside the base of your stand? You obviously need at least 5 ft of wire to the light, and a few feet to the outlet. How many amps on a 250 MH?

 

[Herman G]

Mine kinda just sits on the floor beside the tank under a coffee table hidden out of sight.
as far as amps go im not sure but I overkilled it and used 12 guage house wire, i kinda lean toward safe then sorry!
when i did it I was very nervous as I had never wired up HID lighting but it realy is pretty easy. just follow the diagram on the ballast, use heavy wire and you will be fine!
If you have any questions that I can answer Ill be glad to help!
or if pics would help, i can do that too!

 

[BruiseAndy]

250 watts divided by 120 volts equals about 2.1 amps but the ballast will actually draw about 10% more than that when you factor in efficency.