Light Fittings

[chrisrm]

i got thees lights the tubes apperently work but the fittings look roughpic#1pic#2, im no electician but im not convinced about the wiring or casing!

my question is where could i get and how much would it cost for the new fittings?

the tube length is 91 cm

 

[chrisrm]

anyone know anywhere?

 

[OldMan47]

I wish I could help Chris but I need a new fitting myself and have about given up searching for one.

 

[chrisrm]

B U M P

 

[atuin]

Uk wise for example:
http/www.screwfix.com/cats/A454530/Lighting-Lamps/Commercial-Industrial/Fluorescent-Lighting/Batten-Fittings

generaly you look for places with supplies for trade - but personaly I would avoid B&Q (mainly due to prices there)

generaly if you put in google "batten fitting" or simply "T5 fitting" / "t8 fitting" it should give you nice list of places wher you can get those

 

[OldMan47]

Thanks for trying to help Atuin. The ones that I need are for some compact fluorescents with the 4 in line pins on one end. I can find the simple fixtures like I would use in typical home or office lighting almost anywhere. Unfortunately, compact fluorescents with 4 pin linear attachments are not at all common around here so the local places just don't have any.

 

[atuin]

So you are probbably after PLL type light fitting

There are few in-line 4-pin types of fittings - any chance of pic of ending part of lamp and if possible markings on the lamp (manufacturer, model and power). Usually they are used in 600x600 modular ceiling lights and easiest way would be get cheapest one of those with matching connectors and cannibalise bits from it

Parts wise you would need ballast and end caps mounting
one of those should be ok if you have lights i think you have
Ballast:
http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Fittings/PLL-Ballasts
Mounting:
http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Fittings/Lamp-Holders/LH-2G11

that shop is example - check if thers nothing local to you or cheaper

But generaly you should be able to get set for less than 50£ including spare bulb, leads and postage


Strange lights are part of my job

edit:
just noticed that you live on the other side of "big pond"
because google is stuborn about showing me UK suppliers, wont be able to find you local supplier but you can serach for "PLL ballast" and "2G11 holder" (that last one im not sure as they can have difrent marking)

 

[chrisrm]

Uk wise for example:
http/www.screwfix.com/cats/A454530/Lighting-Lamps/Commercial-Industrial/Fluorescent-Lighting/Batten-Fittings

generaly you look for places with supplies for trade - but personaly I would avoid B&Q (mainly due to prices there)

generaly if you put in google "batten fitting" or simply "T5 fitting" / "t8 fitting" it should give you nice list of places wher you can get those

thanks for the help. would theese be safe to use in a tank with condensation ect?

 

[OldMan47]

Thanks for the 2G11 hint. It has opened up a lot of search possibilities for me. I have already found several possible sources, which I never found without that code. The sites that give an actual set of dimensions for the 2G11 seem to match what I have right now. Obviously I use a different ballast than in the UK but the 11 mm spacing of the pins is a great match with what I measure on my own bulb. I am still going through the available holders with that spec looking for one that is semi-water proof for use over an aquarium. Mine were a specialty end cap potted in a semi-flexible rubbery material that unfortunately had poor pin alignment in the originally supplied caps. The idea of being somewhat resistant to water intrusion may have made sense to the manufacturer of my kit, but the poor quality of the caps means they failed in fairly short order. I have been seeking resolution for quite some time for a poorly performing fixture and your hint may have bailed me out of my predicament.

 

[atuin]

Uk wise for example:
http/www.screwfix.com/cats/A454530/Lighting-Lamps/Commercial-Industrial/Fluorescent-Lighting/Batten-Fittings

generaly you look for places with supplies for trade - but personaly I would avoid B&Q (mainly due to prices there)

generaly if you put in google "batten fitting" or simply "T5 fitting" / "t8 fitting" it should give you nice list of places wher you can get those

thanks for the help. would theese be safe to use in a tank with condensation ect?

Officialy - you shouldn't
Those fittings are not IP rated - they are not water/moisture sealed.
Practicaly - Why not
Possibility of using those depends on your hood construction. If its solid hood where there is no chance of light dropping into tank, you use glass covers and there is air flow between lights and tank to avoid hight condensation - then there shouldn't be problems. But you would have to remember that you are using light fitting outside recommended environment and you are doing that on your own risk.

If you want to go Safe route and your tubes are reasonably new T8 (they look like at least T8)
then you could get T8 ballast and matching IP rated holders/leads.
http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/aquarium-lighting-28/lighting-accessories-186/arcadia-ultra-seal-t5-t8-lamp-leads-7054.html
all together shouldn't cost too much and have advantage of IP rated lamp holders and new ballast which can be placed outside hood so there is no condensation issue.

If your tubes are old T8 or T12 then i would personaly scrap whole lot and get T5 ballast and tube holders (see above) with some nice T5 tubes.

 

[chrisrm]

Uk wise for example:
http/www.screwfix.com/cats/A454530/Lighting-Lamps/Commercial-Industrial/Fluorescent-Lighting/Batten-Fittings

generaly you look for places with supplies for trade - but personaly I would avoid B&Q (mainly due to prices there)

generaly if you put in google "batten fitting" or simply "T5 fitting" / "t8 fitting" it should give you nice list of places wher you can get those

thanks for the help. would theese be safe to use in a tank with condensation ect?

Officialy - you shouldn't
Those fittings are not IP rated - they are not water/moisture sealed.
Practicaly - Why not
Possibility of using those depends on your hood construction. If its solid hood where there is no chance of light dropping into tank, you use glass covers and there is air flow between lights and tank to avoid hight condensation - then there shouldn't be problems. But you would have to remember that you are using light fitting outside recommended environment and you are doing that on your own risk.

If you want to go Safe route and your tubes are reasonably new T8 (they look like at least T8)
then you could get T8 ballast and matching IP rated holders/leads.
http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/aquarium-lighting-28/lighting-accessories-186/arcadia-ultra-seal-t5-t8-lamp-leads-7054.html
all together shouldn't cost too much and have advantage of IP rated lamp holders and new ballast which can be placed outside hood so there is no condensation issue.

If your tubes are old T8 or T12 then i would personaly scrap whole lot and get T5 ballast and tube holders (see above) with some nice T5 tubes.

thanks for that
am i right in thinking theese plug into either end of the tube into a starter unit then into the wall, or am i thinking of something else?

they are t8s btw