HighBay MH fixtures

[BFBOB]

I probably haven't done my homework sufficiently, but here goes:

I got 4 used, functional high bay fixtures with (I think) metal halide lamps thinking I'd hang them at the peak of a high attic. Yeah, I know, poor placement for something with a long startup time, but they were FREE!!

The problem is I hadn't realized how BIG they are, and hung from a hook as intended, they'll be about forehead level. Is it possible to remove the ballast from atop the lampshade and mount it separately acouple of feet of to the side? That would get them (barely) high enough.
Knowing the little I do about these beasts, it wouldn't surprise me if the extra wire between lamp and ballast interfered with the starting ... or something. Or, would a couple of feet of 12ga in flex not be an issue?

Power to the units will be romex.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Sometimes FREE is too expensive.

 

[Norcal]

Sometimes FREE is too expensive.

While highbay fixtures with remote ballasts are made, a site cobbled solution is not proper and considering that MH lighting is somewhat obsolete the OP is better off using another light source like LED. This truly is a case of free being too expensive.

 

[cybrdyke]

Yeah. Pitch those.

But, to answer your question...
It's not likely that you can separate the ballast housing from the socket brackets very easily. If you can, you'll still not have a way to hang the sockets, which get EXTREMELY HOT. Then the domed reflector wont have anywhere to mount either.
IF it's a Pulse Start Metal Halide ballast, you wont be able to remote it more than 2 or 3 feet. You can tell if it's PSMH by the wattage on the lamp. It'll be 320w. Another way you can tell is by the label on the ballast.
If it's regular old metal halide, you can remote to longer distances. If you go really far, you might need to upsize your wires.
But all that you're going to accomplish is to have blisteringly bright lights at eye level and they really wont be able to see anything else in the area.
Way too bright, Way too low.
Pitch those things.
Good luck,
CD

 

[Bert_]

Those hibays are for 20' plus mounting height.

You could convert to remote ballast but it still the wrong fixture.

I have a bunch of RLM reflector fixtures that were made for 500w incandescent. Someday I wouldn't mind converting them to 250 or 400w metal halide with remote ballasts. It would still retain most of the look of a classic incandescent.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The other issue you may have is not having the proper voltage rating.

 

[Norcal]

The other issue you may have is not having the proper voltage rating.

The problem besides being wrong for the use, is the listing will be voided by the site modifications / handy hacks.