Diy Lighting

[dannywrc]

Im currently in the process of gathering all of the equipment ready for converting my tank to marine. im finding the lighting side of things quite expensive so have been looking at my options. i found this on ebay and the seller can make them as 2x28w t5 which is what i would need to fit my hood (jewel rio 125).

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220636330883#ht_781wt_930

the seller agreed a price of £30 posted but thats not with waterproof endcaps. id need to but them separate. is this a good price or is there a better alternative.

also does anyone know of a good tube retailer as the tubes look like they can get quite expensive too. the wife wont have a MH one hanging over the tank so its T5's & T8's for now

 

[Defiance]

Hiya,

For me i'd go with the new ebay setup, you obviously get a good set of consumer rights

A good price as i've not long paid £28 a piece for a pair of those higher wattage ballasts (80w to be precise) (then to find a week later they went down a fiver a piece lol, good old yen exchange rates i guess)

Link does say though to add £13 for the ip67 waterproof end caps (again, not a bad price)

The ip67's do bump the cost up but well worth it (though my large tropical tank just utilises water resistant caps which are cheaper, and in my tank environment work safely)

Food for thought, google for T5 ballasts/ip67 caps/terry clips/T5 tubes, the ballasts have wiring diagrams on them so not really difficult to wire, the ip67 end caps should arrive with pre fitted wires, all you will need is some 3 core flex cable + 13amp plug/s and some screws/self tappers and very basic tooling eg: screwdriver/knife/pliers-wire cutters

I only have tropical lighting but i got a pack of 6 T5's for around £28 delivered (6500k or 8000k offhand without looking) (had to pay i think £7.50 of that cost as required insurance, and it came in handy as initial tubes were all busted thanks to a postie treading on the box lol)

To give you an idea, i got 2 double 80w ballasts/end caps/3 core flex/terry clips/6 tubes/screws/plugs etc to make a hood for my 6x2x2 and it cost just a gnatts doodahh over a ton

Maybe others that have marine lit by T5's can advise better, but thought i'd give my two penneth

Tony

 

[dannywrc]

Hiya,

For me i'd go with the new ebay setup, you obviously get a good set of consumer rights

A good price as i've not long paid £28 a piece for a pair of those higher wattage ballasts (80w to be precise) (then to find a week later they went down a fiver a piece lol, good old yen exchange rates i guess)

Link does say though to add £13 for the ip67 waterproof end caps (again, not a bad price)

The ip67's do bump the cost up but well worth it (though my large tropical tank just utilises water resistant caps which are cheaper, and in my tank environment work safely)

Food for thought, google for T5 ballasts/ip67 caps/terry clips/T5 tubes, the ballasts have wiring diagrams on them so not really difficult to wire, the ip67 end caps should arrive with pre fitted wires, all you will need is some 3 core flex cable + 13amp plug/s and some screws/self tappers and very basic tooling eg: screwdriver/knife/pliers-wire cutters

I only have tropical lighting but i got a pack of 6 T5's for around £28 delivered (6500k or 8000k offhand without looking) (had to pay i think £7.50 of that cost as required insurance, and it came in handy as initial tubes were all busted thanks to a postie treading on the box lol)

To give you an idea, i got 2 double 80w ballasts/end caps/3 core flex/terry clips/6 tubes/screws/plugs etc to make a hood for my 6x2x2 and it cost just a gnatts doodahh over a ton

Maybe others that have marine lit by T5's can advise better, but thought i'd give my two penneth

Tony

thanks tony, it did look like a good price compared to the other stuff you can buy.

is there different bulb fitments as im under the impression juwel make theirs differently to the other brands so that you have to buy their brand

 

[OldMan47]

It looks to me like that kit is not much more than a simple ballast if you will be buying the end caps separately. Why not just check the price of a T-5 HO electronic ballast in the capacity that you want. That way you don't end up paying for the end caps and cap mounts they have in that kit. You will not be using them anyway.

 

[Defiance]

About Juwel tubes

They have them made to non standard lengths !!

That way you have to pay juwels rrp lol or you can get them slightly cheaper from zooplus etc

OM47 hit the nail on the head ....

For an eg: Hagen GLO T5 54watt Aquarium Light Starting Gear/ballast (quickest one i could search lol, but you get the idea)

Maybe look for something like that, plug n play really

Tony

 

[dannywrc]

just messaged someone to see if they sell the ballast on its own. the hagen glo looks like a good option.

think im gonna steer clear of the juwel bulbs as i dont really agree with their forceful sales tactics.

 

[dannywrc]

think iv decided what im going to do just not sure if there would be too much light. gonna buy the 54w hagen glo kit and mount the t5 tubes beside the t8's with some custom brackets. ill use the t5's for the daylight and the t8's for nightlight. the t8's will be 18w and the t5's 24w. does this sound ok or would you use a different combination?

 

[Defiance]

Hiya,

Try it and see is all i can suggest

I do like to give all my tanks a complete black-out interval though, but that's just me

Another item i would consider, Argos sell them (argoose lol) they do a triple pack digital lcd timers, these i have on all my tanks lighting, £14.99 for the pack

( http/www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9822911/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CGarden+and+DIY%7C14418702/c_2/3%7C14418702%7CHome+security%7C14418707/c_3/4%7Ccat_14418707%7CTimers%7C14418710.htm )

That way you get accurate times for lighting swapovers etc, and only work out a fiver a pop

Tony

 

[SuperColey1]

Be careful using digital timers with fluorescent lighting. There can be some issues. It is suggested that mechanical timers should be used with flourescents:

A quick link:
http/home-owner-tips.suite101.com/article.cfm/digital_versus_analog_electrical_timer_switches

A snippet from another forum:
Digital timers, given their non-mechanical design, often use electronic switching of the device (cheaper than a relay). However, the electronic switch usually used is called a TRIAC and to cut a long story short they can easily be damaged by voltage spikes - and given the ballast of a fluorescent tube makes for a good inductor this is exactly what happens when you turn it off...

The 'solution' is to either use a mechanical timer, of course, or to find a digital (electronic) timer that is designed to switch inductive loads - they are likely to be rarer and more expensive. In all cases the packaging should clearly state if it is not suitable for such loads (and fluorescents in particular).

Thats not to say that digital timer+flourescent lighting will have problems. It seems to be a bit hit and miss but it is far from being a rare issue. There seem to be just as many reports of failures as there are those saying 'Mine work'. Seems to be a case of hit or miss.

AC