Ballast Shelf........

[mikegray]

i have a corner of my room between tank and wall for my ballasts.. i have 2 dual 250watt MH ballasts and PFO dual VHO ballast i need to put back here.. can i just build one outta like 1" wood to sit it on and have it like this. ill draw a picture. will wood catch on fire? i only have this area to work with.. help me

 

[buzzword]

i have my dual 250w MH and 2 PC ballasts sitting in a bookself and have had no problems. I do however have the 4 corners up on PVC/acrylic feet. HTH

 

[mikegray]

sooo i should double up the bottom or keep the wood from touching carpet.. but fishtank stand and wall is fine?.... im sure it wont get through the 1x5's anyways..
right?

 

[mikegray]

here

 

[acrylic51]

Should be fine putting them on wood...Are the ballasts enclosed in cases (housing) aluminum? If so they should be perfectly fine placing them on wood....I have my 250MH ballast in cases just sitting on plywood and it's been that way for about 4 years and no burn marks what so ever on the wood

 

[mikegray]

yea it has the silver aluminum covering.. and the VHO by PFO is a white metal housing.. i didnt kno they had them without aluminum Casing....... what if water gets on the casings???

 

[acrylic51]

You ballast will be fine sitting on wood....They won't catch fire and if you get water on your ballast you have a problem somewhere, but they are suppose to be mounted away from splashing though

 

[mikegray]

yea ima make that thing i posted... so if water splashes on it... it will hit the wood so there covered all around. so ill be a lil safer.. but the VHO one will stick out since its like 6" longer.. but ill put that closer to the wall and on the bottom shelf so its less likly to get wet.... but thanks.. so ill put it on wood 1" thick... and just wait for a burn smell lol.... still gotta find a way to run my middle MH socket chords.. ill just go under a VHO i guess. or keep it how it is.. just hangs down and goes out the back.. i havnt kept my MH on long enough to smell a burning or see if chords melt...... cause i donthave water in the tank and dont want my tank to get too hot.. ill wait for water.. ahaha and my fans are hooked up yet.

 

[acrylic51]

You'll be fine!!!!!! Why not just run your chords out towards the back of the tank???? Better yet run your wiring under your reflectors but away from your MH bulbs....Should be fine