MH Components and Heat

[Xavier]

I'm building my MH retro from the components up. I have the transformer mounted in a fuse box away from the ignitor and the capacitor, but man does the transformer get hot. I'm afraid of the wires out of the trans possibly touching the metal around it and melting. Any suggestions on what to do to the wires to ensure they don't melt?

 

Has anyone ever attached heat sinks to the transformer to increase heat transfer?

 

Secondly, in my tests with the bulb (not over the tank), I set up the glass cover over it (about 2-3") with both sides open (no fan yet, just on a table with the glass supported on the sides). After running the bulb for awhile, I turned it off to find the glass had spider cracked from the center where the bulb was. I'm thinking it may have just been because I didn't use a fan, but I wasn't sure.