Remote mounting ballast from lo-bay.. need assistance +rep! PICS

Decided to remove the ballast from my 250w MH lo-bay and put it a few metres away to reduce heat, letting me keep the light closer to my girls.

Don't know much about electrical stuff but I read up on a few related articles and such, had a look inside the casing and more or less figured out what needed to be done:

1. Unscrew the ballast from the casing and remove it.

2. Replace the wiring connecting the socket with the ballast with a longer one.

3. Move the ballast elsewhere, connected by the new longer wiring to the socket, which is the only thing left inside the casing now.

Is this correct?

Also, what do I ask for at the hardware store for the replacement wiring? I want to make sure I get the same type. I bought one today but I don't want to use it because its thinner and is copper, instead of the grey/silver stuff thats in there now (pic: black and white wires). I have no idea if the one I bought is good enough or not but I'm staying on the safe side when messing around with electricity .

Help is much appreciated !

I have a 400 watt MH with built in ballast and was considering doing the same thing. Man is that light heavy. Let us know how it works out.

Cut a small piece of the wire and take it to the store with you. The copper/silver thing isn't so much an issue as getting the same gauge (thickness) and matching either solid or stranded wire. Heavier gauge wire means less resistance.

By stranded you mean the 'normal' type you see in most household appliances where if the ends get all messy you twist them up? Sorry about the laymans terms, not much of an electrician.

Yes, that is precisely what I mean. Good Luck with that.

jrk152 said:

Also, what do I ask for at the hardware store for the replacement wiring? I want to make sure I get the same type. I bought one today but I don't want to use it because its thinner and is copper, instead of the grey/silver stuff thats in there now (pic: black and white wires). I have no idea if the one I bought is good enough or not but I'm staying on the safe side when messing around with electricity

Click to expand...

OMG learn to use Macro on your camera That goes for 99% of other camera users too heh. ANyway, pic is crap, cant see, but I bet the silver wire is nothing more than copper wire which has been 'tinned' on the eposed metal with solder, to help keep it together and lower the rate of fray.

And yeah, do not use thinner wire. It will heat up faster and possibly cause failure, or worse... As suggested, cut a sample and take it in. Still, if u dont know bout electricity, probably best not to modify your box.

I would just use standard 12-2 wire, which is found in the electrical section of your hardware store. I only think you can buy smallest roll is 50'. I use mine for wiring up other stuff to so i need lots. In your case buy a heavy duty extension cord. Probably two of them. Cut the cords off of them and use the wires. one for extending the ballast to the socket, and maybe another for power cord if you need. easy to do, just make sure you wire nut them, and electrical tape after wire nutting them. Don't be afraid just take your time. Make sure the power is off too please hehehe.