DIY: Do ballasts need heat sinks?

I'm rigging up a 70w halide diy. The ballast, fixture, and wiring are ready to go. I want to set it up this weekend as I should have the bulb on Monday. The ballast is going to get mounted to the stand but the stand is wood, which will insulate it.

Should I elevate it off the wood? Or buy a metal box and house it in that for heat sink? I got the ballast for really cheap but I don't want to burn down the house.

 

Cody, If you have the option of putting the ballast in an enclosure with enough area and a backplate to help dissipate the heat. You could place this enclosure on the floor without having to worry about it being too hot. Just my 2 cc's of aquarium water

Jim

 

I have all the room I need as I'll be wiring it, I wanted the ballast in the stand as the light will be mounted in the stand as well (I don't want the ballast to be dragging along if I move the stand.)

So it's not necessary but a good idea, I'll probably put it into a metal case that they use for wiring houses. That way it will be shielded when I spill all my water.

 

What kind of ballast is it? Magnetic ballasts run extremely hot and will need some way to dissipate the heat.

 

It is an electronic ballast, that's a good point that I didn't consider.