IS THIS SAFE??

[JACKtheREFFER]

hello all

i saw a metal box in a dumpster few days ago.. my buddy works at the office were it was ,, went back later a snagged it for me . it looks perfect to house my ballasts in my "tomato" patch check out the pics ....it even has little vents.... the temps dont get to high even with the door shut about 90-95 max. ,,,IS IT OK TO HAVE THE BALLASTS THIS CLOSE ?????? there is about two inches all the way around both and the cables fit through without touching hot spots ...im thinking about air cooling.. it with the whole door up its pretty tight..i like that the ballasts are ALMOST fire prof, i use that lightly..

This is a shot on the inside , there is a second door that covers the open area..



give me a holla and tell me if its ok to do ,,,it seems ok ..

 

[Guest]

it probably only make the ballasts run alittle warmer.
do you want to put them in this box to conceal them?
otherwise, the box is pointless.

 

[JACKtheREFFER]

my reasoning for the box was yes concealment, my balasts are also in the growing space.. they have to be in that room i have no choice ...i was thinking about using a inline fan and flex duct to cool it. and also fire protection ...i mean if something sparks or blows is it safer just to have them on the carpet ? ive heard storys of lightning strikes causeing balasts to pop! ..or just from long term use, i recently had a 1000 watt balast kinda blow ,nothing big but i herad it sortta pop when it turned on and then stopped working. smelled a little afterward ..it couldnt hurt to use it right? i guess im just paranoid

 

[Guest]

well if its in the grow, it will give off heat.
plus boxing them in will cause them to give off more heat.

 

[Pops]

Thoro is absolutely right. If you can, put ballast in attic over grow. Just need small hole in ceiling for cords.

 

[JACKtheREFFER]

ok fair enough .....ill just take them out

 

[SmokingGlass]

If you could seal up the top and hook some ducting up to the box or somthing and hook up an inline to vent the heat out of your grow room?

 

[JACKtheREFFER]

SMOKINGGLASS:: thats what i wanted to try, the door actually covers the whole opening and has a pretty good seal .. but POPS and THOR say it will still give off heat. which i agree some heat will, i supose because the box is metal itself ,, right? but if you suck the heat out, it has no chance to build up inside and radiate out,...or am i just way off base ..i think im going to try to air cool it anyways, to see what temps i get with and without ventilation ...

POPS AND THOR there is no way to get the balasts out of the room i dont have attic or basement to feed the wires in, like you suggested .. thanks for the idea if i did thats what i would do. that would be easier..but i would still like to vent out as much of that heat as possible..anymore ideas....?