General Light Ballast For Aquarium Use?

[Shred]

Is it possible to use one of these: http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIGITAL-LIGHTING-BALLAST-TRIDONIC-ATCO-T8-PRO-PC-1-18-/130406276869?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item1e5cd1df05 for an aquarium? Does anyone have any experience with how to wire one up so I can just "plug and play" it?

 

[SuperColey1]

You can use that. It is for an 18W T8 (24") tube.

It is basically already plug and play.

Get a piece of 2 core wire (live/neutral) and put a plug on it. If you have any old electric item that doesn't work just cut the cable off. Then you need some end caps which can be bought for a fiver or so on ebay. (Must be T8 ones for the ballast you show)

Then to wire it......daunting??? Not at all. There will be a diagram printed on the ballast. 1 end connects to the power cord, the other to the 2 end caps. Job done and your 18W tube will be more efficient and last much longer than on the old magnetic ballasts that come as stock on most T8 aquarium lighting units.

Takes quite liteally minutes to put together. the time consuming part is fitting the end cap holders to the hood/lid and fitting the ballast somewhere etc

There is a sticky in this section somewhere I think on 'replacing the ballast in a Juwel I bar' which should lead you through the process.

AC

 

[Shred]

Brilliant just what I wanted, thanks for you help.

 

[OldMan47]

I think that almost any ballast can be used on a tank's lighting system. I mount ballasts on the back of the light strip, rather than inside like the original would be. That means that even a ballast that is not designed for high humidity locations will continue to work fine for years. The light strip itself requires the bulbs be located inside the light strip but does not care a bit about the ballast location. The ballasts mounted outside the light strip also tend to run cooler than one inside with typical ventilation. That means they will last longer, without replacement, than the original equipment ballast would have.

 

[dannywrc]

sorry to hijack but just looking at this sellers other items i found these. will these power 28w t5's? is it just a case of wiring them with 3 gauge, a plug and the t5 caps? thanks, danny

 

[Shred]

No problem with you hijacking (I've found what I wanted to hear!), but I think you forgot to link it?

 

[dannywrc]

No problem with you hijacking (I've found what I wanted to hear!), but I think you forgot to link it?

oops heres the link

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIGITAL-LIGHTING-BALLAST-TRIDONIC-ATCO-T5-PRO-PC-2-/130402596840?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item1e5c99b7e8#ht_483wt_1489

 

[SuperColey1]

is it just a case of wiring them with 3 gauge

More likely to be 2 gauge

Can't tell you whether this unit is suitable for the lighting you ask about because the seller hasn't put what ballast it is!!! He has put the 2/14-21-28-35 number there but all that tells you is that it runs 2 tubes from the 2 at the beginning.

It may be suitable for all the figures mentioned (14,21,28,35) but normally they would have printed on the ballast specific info on the wattage and number of tubes. i.e. 2x28W T5.



AC