workhorse 7 heat and mounting??

[c-17 jet mech]

Please help with my question. I just received my T5 lighting system with the parabolic reflectors (very impressed, but thats another thread). Anyway my question is, where should I mount the ballast? That little puppy is getting pretty hot under the back of the hood. I screwed it directly to the back frame of the canopy and not too sure if that is a big no-no. I sure would hate to have the F word happen from the wood and ballast contact. I'm going to buy a clip on fan tomorrow and set it up the with light timer, but not sure if that is enough. What do you think?
Thanks

 

[c-17 jet mech]

^ bump

 

[overanalyzer]

I just built out a WH7 and have it mounted so that it is only contact the wooden mounts on either end and it is totall surrounded by open air .... it is located remotely. I can give you a drawing but it is nothing fancy

 

[elan]

i was able to add extra long wires and have all my ballasts in a cabinet about two feet from my tank... I feel alot safer due to water/electric and also the heat issue......
I plan on adding some more lighting, and went to radio shack and saw they have some good electric connectors... it will make it easier to connect the hood to the ballast setup....
just a thought.

 

[justinx]

Mine is mounted directly in the canopy. no problems after 10 months of use.

 

[c-17 jet mech]

thanks for all your replies. I mounted the ballast on one side and moved it 1/4 away from the cross piece of wood. Running for 10 hours now and it seems to be a little cooler now. Off to look for a clip fan to mount under the hood.
Thanks again,