daddyfish
Fish Fanatic
Recently I "POSTED" asking advice on "HOW TO" retrofit a Standard "Perfecto" Incadescent Hood, to a "Fluorescent Hood".
First let me Thank Everyone for all of the suggestions.
With Special Thanks to {Tolak} for his advice and Pictures, which helped to get me on the right Track.
As well as my Dad who has always been there to Help me and lend His "VERY" Knowledgeable Ideas.
Without Everyones HELP And "GOD'S" Special Blessings and Guiding Hand, This COMPLETED DIY would not be Possiable.
You'll Need the Following.
#1. A standard 2' Fluorescent Fixture, Avaliable at your LHS. (One with either an FS2 Condenser or Rapid Start Ballast}
{Above is a Personal Preference}
#2. A 24" T12 Fluorescent Tube. "Aquarium Grade" {Suited to YOUR Fishes NEEDS}
#3. 2 Suitable Lengths of Electrical Cord. (Suited to Your Needs)
#4. 1- 3 Prong Plug and 1- 2 Prong Plug {Optional} Depending on type of Timer you use also {Optional}
#5. A Suitable in Line Switch: If you Choose not to use a Timer.
#6. A Number of Sheet Metal Screws, Length Suited to Your Needs.
#7. 2 or 3 Wire Nuts.
#8. A Number of Tie Wraps. [To Bundle Electrical Cords when Finished]
#9. A Conduit Nut for "Securing Wire to finished Fixture."
Here is What I did to "Retro Fit" The Hood.
#1. Remove the Incadescent Fixture, as well as the Reflectors.
#2. Put Masking Tape over the Top of the Light Strip, for Marking out Where You will be Cutting out the Slots, for Insertion of Fluorescent Tube Sockets.
#3. Mark Center of Hood on the Masking Tape, then Measure the "OUTSIDE" distance between the Fluorescent Sockets.
And then measure from Center Mark, too the distance of each Sockets Outside Edge.
#4. Measure in a little more then the thickness of Sockets, Mine was cut to 3/4" WIDE.
#5. Then Measure and Mark Out the width of the Sockets as Well, making sure to make them a little bigger as well.
#6. Take a Drill with a 1/4" bit, Drill 2- HOLES just inside the "END MARKS" of each slot.
#7. Take a Jig Saw with a "FINE TOOTH" Metal Blade and (CAREFULLY) Cut out the Slots.
#8. Then using a "FINE TOOTH" File, file the inside and outside Edges of Slots to Smooth out the edges.
#9. If you are using a Fixture with an FS2 Condenser, Take the Cover Plate of Fixture, Break Out the Condenser Hole, Lay it
between the Slots and MARK OUT where the Condenser will come through.
#10. Take a Small Drill Bit to drill a Pilot Hole in the Center of Marked Hole, Then take a 1" Hole Saw and Drill a Hole for the
Condenser. "Also take File to Clean Edges of this Hole as Well."
#11. Take off Old Masking Tape, And Put on New Tape across the Top as before, for the Marking of Holes for Mounting of
Fixture Cover to Light Strip.
#12. Next take Suitable Size Drill Bit, after Removing Cover from Fixture, and Mark where you will be drilling Mounting
Holes, on Fixture Cover. [After Drilling Holes.]
#13. Take Fixture Cover and Place it on the Masking Tape, and Mark your Holes for Drilling on the Light Strip "Itself".
Drill the "SAME" Size Holes in Light Strip.
#14. Then Take Off the Masking Tape, Place Fixture Cover on Light Strip, and then Begin using your Screws Mounting the
Fixture Cover to Light Strip. {It's Best to put Screws Up through the Fixture Cover from the Bottom of Light Strip.}
#15. Then take the Fixture Base, Break Out where your Wire will be Inserted into Fixture and Place Conduit Nut in the Hole
and tighten into Place, Open up CLAMP.
#16. Insert 3 Prong Wire through Nut, Strip off Casing around Outside of Wire, Leave Ground Wire, but Cut off other two.
Then Secure Grounding Wire to Ground Screw in Fixture.
#17. Insert 2 Prong Wire through Nut, once again Strip Off outside casing, on this One cut the Ground Wire, leaving the
White and Black wire intact.
#18. Next Strip Off Black and White Wires Casing, Wrap Black to Black Wire together, Secure with Proper Size Wire Nut,
then Wrap White to White Wire as before and Secure with Wire Nut.
(NOTE) After cutting of Uneeded Wire of 2 and 3 Prong, I wrapped Electrical Tape around the ends of Wire to Cover the
unused wire end, as added Protection against Shorts. this is {Optional However}
Light Fixture {MUST} Be Grounded to Insure Safe as well as Proper Operation of Fixture.
The 3 Prong Wire is to be Plugged into a 3 Prong Slot in Electrical Socket for Proper Grounding of Fixture.
The 2 Prong Wire is for Plugging into your Timer.
{Also Note} if timer is 3 Pronged or You Choose to Use an In Line "SWITCH" 2 Prong wire is not Needed.
Just Use 3 Prong Wire, Hook Ground up to Grounding Screw, Black to Black, White to White.
#19. Secure Wire into Place by Tightening Conduit Nut Screws.
#20. Snap Fixture onto Fixture Cover.
#21. Insert Bulb into Sockets, and Plug In.
{Note} Additional Mods "MAYBE" Needed for proper Bulb Placement.
#22. Now Secure Wires together "IF NEEDED" {For Neater Placement}
Your Finished PRODUCT Should Look Something Like This...
Below is a Link to my Website, Where you will be able to view the Completed RetroFit Project.
As well as be able to see Pictures of My other "BELOVED" Pets.
http
/home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dl...view=thumbs&ck=
Cost Approx: 15-20 Bucks.
ENJOY and HAVE FUN.
Remember Fish Keeping isn't JUST a HOBBY, It's an OBSESSION...
First let me Thank Everyone for all of the suggestions.
With Special Thanks to {Tolak} for his advice and Pictures, which helped to get me on the right Track.
As well as my Dad who has always been there to Help me and lend His "VERY" Knowledgeable Ideas.
Without Everyones HELP And "GOD'S" Special Blessings and Guiding Hand, This COMPLETED DIY would not be Possiable.
You'll Need the Following.
#1. A standard 2' Fluorescent Fixture, Avaliable at your LHS. (One with either an FS2 Condenser or Rapid Start Ballast}
{Above is a Personal Preference}
#2. A 24" T12 Fluorescent Tube. "Aquarium Grade" {Suited to YOUR Fishes NEEDS}
#3. 2 Suitable Lengths of Electrical Cord. (Suited to Your Needs)
#4. 1- 3 Prong Plug and 1- 2 Prong Plug {Optional} Depending on type of Timer you use also {Optional}
#5. A Suitable in Line Switch: If you Choose not to use a Timer.
#6. A Number of Sheet Metal Screws, Length Suited to Your Needs.
#7. 2 or 3 Wire Nuts.
#8. A Number of Tie Wraps. [To Bundle Electrical Cords when Finished]
#9. A Conduit Nut for "Securing Wire to finished Fixture."
Here is What I did to "Retro Fit" The Hood.
#1. Remove the Incadescent Fixture, as well as the Reflectors.
#2. Put Masking Tape over the Top of the Light Strip, for Marking out Where You will be Cutting out the Slots, for Insertion of Fluorescent Tube Sockets.
#3. Mark Center of Hood on the Masking Tape, then Measure the "OUTSIDE" distance between the Fluorescent Sockets.
And then measure from Center Mark, too the distance of each Sockets Outside Edge.
#4. Measure in a little more then the thickness of Sockets, Mine was cut to 3/4" WIDE.
#5. Then Measure and Mark Out the width of the Sockets as Well, making sure to make them a little bigger as well.
#6. Take a Drill with a 1/4" bit, Drill 2- HOLES just inside the "END MARKS" of each slot.
#7. Take a Jig Saw with a "FINE TOOTH" Metal Blade and (CAREFULLY) Cut out the Slots.
#8. Then using a "FINE TOOTH" File, file the inside and outside Edges of Slots to Smooth out the edges.
#9. If you are using a Fixture with an FS2 Condenser, Take the Cover Plate of Fixture, Break Out the Condenser Hole, Lay it
between the Slots and MARK OUT where the Condenser will come through.
#10. Take a Small Drill Bit to drill a Pilot Hole in the Center of Marked Hole, Then take a 1" Hole Saw and Drill a Hole for the
Condenser. "Also take File to Clean Edges of this Hole as Well."
#11. Take off Old Masking Tape, And Put on New Tape across the Top as before, for the Marking of Holes for Mounting of
Fixture Cover to Light Strip.
#12. Next take Suitable Size Drill Bit, after Removing Cover from Fixture, and Mark where you will be drilling Mounting
Holes, on Fixture Cover. [After Drilling Holes.]
#13. Take Fixture Cover and Place it on the Masking Tape, and Mark your Holes for Drilling on the Light Strip "Itself".
Drill the "SAME" Size Holes in Light Strip.
#14. Then Take Off the Masking Tape, Place Fixture Cover on Light Strip, and then Begin using your Screws Mounting the
Fixture Cover to Light Strip. {It's Best to put Screws Up through the Fixture Cover from the Bottom of Light Strip.}
#15. Then take the Fixture Base, Break Out where your Wire will be Inserted into Fixture and Place Conduit Nut in the Hole
and tighten into Place, Open up CLAMP.
#16. Insert 3 Prong Wire through Nut, Strip off Casing around Outside of Wire, Leave Ground Wire, but Cut off other two.
Then Secure Grounding Wire to Ground Screw in Fixture.
#17. Insert 2 Prong Wire through Nut, once again Strip Off outside casing, on this One cut the Ground Wire, leaving the
White and Black wire intact.
#18. Next Strip Off Black and White Wires Casing, Wrap Black to Black Wire together, Secure with Proper Size Wire Nut,
then Wrap White to White Wire as before and Secure with Wire Nut.
(NOTE) After cutting of Uneeded Wire of 2 and 3 Prong, I wrapped Electrical Tape around the ends of Wire to Cover the
unused wire end, as added Protection against Shorts. this is {Optional However}
Light Fixture {MUST} Be Grounded to Insure Safe as well as Proper Operation of Fixture.
The 3 Prong Wire is to be Plugged into a 3 Prong Slot in Electrical Socket for Proper Grounding of Fixture.
The 2 Prong Wire is for Plugging into your Timer.
{Also Note} if timer is 3 Pronged or You Choose to Use an In Line "SWITCH" 2 Prong wire is not Needed.
Just Use 3 Prong Wire, Hook Ground up to Grounding Screw, Black to Black, White to White.
#19. Secure Wire into Place by Tightening Conduit Nut Screws.
#20. Snap Fixture onto Fixture Cover.
#21. Insert Bulb into Sockets, and Plug In.
{Note} Additional Mods "MAYBE" Needed for proper Bulb Placement.
#22. Now Secure Wires together "IF NEEDED" {For Neater Placement}
Your Finished PRODUCT Should Look Something Like This...
Below is a Link to my Website, Where you will be able to view the Completed RetroFit Project.
As well as be able to see Pictures of My other "BELOVED" Pets.
http
/home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dl...view=thumbs&ck=Cost Approx: 15-20 Bucks.
ENJOY and HAVE FUN.
Remember Fish Keeping isn't JUST a HOBBY, It's an OBSESSION...
