Unsafe MH Ballast?

[vittleking]

I recently bought this as part of a retrofit canopy in the sales section on MR. I was told everything works just fine. Well one of the halides has been nothing but problems, and I'm worried it's a fire hazard at this point. When I got everything home and unpacked the box with the ballasts, the cover on this ballast was open. I was told it was to vent the heat afterwards. I tightened the screws and set it up. Well it wouldn't start up, and it would shock you when you touched the switch. I was told it was a problem with my plug in my house. I am starting to think the copper wire just folded inside the ballast is the ground, and that's the source of the "shock". Anyways, it did work, you just had to shake the ballast to get it to go on. I was told it was used on a timer and I am having problems because I am using the switch, the previous owner never used the switch. So I put it on a timer and it still doesn't work. The DIY box that the socket is attached to has no top, and the hole that the wires go through does not house the protective sleeve correctly. There is also lots of electrical tape on several parts, and the switch just spins in the hole. Does this seem like a safe to use ballast to you guys? I am very new at this and I am feeling very unsure about this, and feel like I'm putting my families life in danger by using this thing. I took this one off today, because it doesn't work. The seller said to bring it to him and he will see if he can get it working again, but I don't think this is the safest set up. Any input would be much appreiciated! Thanks. Also, does this look like the right capacitor for a 175W halide? I was given a brand new one from LFS that looks much bigger than this one and is shaped different.



this shows how the switch just turns