T5 Fittings

[Million]

Can anyone help me source some fittings for 2 pin T5 bulbs (11w type)? I'm thinking about making my own light hood and I can't find them anywhere online

 

[Colin_T]

try your local electronic store or lighting store. They should sell parts so you can DIY. SOme hardwares also sell bits and pieces.

 

[Million]

Bumpety bump, please help!

 

[Rooster]

Theres loads listed on google... "2 pin T5 endcaps"

Heres a link to a UK site...

Link to gear...

 

[Million]

I can't find ones for the small single turn bulbs, 11w T5, 2 pin. I need fittings for the short bulbs (ideally 3) not the long tube ones with fittings at either end, as the tank is only a foot square!
Maybe i'm being blind, but can anyone point some out to me? I wanted to make a light hood myself as it would potentially save a lot of money, but I can't find the fittings. Sorry if they're on your post Rooster, but I can't find them

 

[Rooster]

Got a pic of the actual lamp ?

 

[Million]

Got a pic of the actual lamp ?

http/images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...%3Dm2U%26sa%3DN

Best I could find, it's not identical, but the same fitting AFAIK

 

[Rooster]

Have a look here :

link to sockets

They dont seem that easy to find, maybe worth thinking direction ? And using an easier to find combo ?
Have a look at LFS or on ebay... sure ive seen these lamps with gear ?

 

[Rooster]

Found another site.... if these dont have it, it probably doesnt exist !

Visit My Website

 

[Million]

Have a look here :

link to sockets

They dont seem that easy to find, maybe worth thinking direction ? And using an easier to find combo ?
Have a look at LFS or on ebay... sure ive seen these lamps with gear ?

I think you have a point Rooster, I will reconsider. Perhaps you can advise me on a better choice of fitting?

What I want to do is make a lighting assembly for a 12 inch square footprint nano tank.
I want relatively high light to grow plants, say 20-30w or so.
I would like to make it myself to save a lot of money (a single 11w arc pod is £25!), but i'm not an electrical expert, more of an enthusiastic amateur DIYist.

Can you help with a bit of advice? I think I read somewhere that you make light hoods...

 

[Rooster]

Im sure those fittings in the last link will fit your lamp... but I am assuming you will also need the control gear ? (ie ballast) as I'm not sure if those lamps have it built in or not ( I would bet NOT !)
If this is the case, then you need to buy that too.... its starting to mount up now ! lol
I admire you for wanting to "give it a go" but if theres ANY doubt, I would maybe buy a commercial unit - water and mains electricity are not friends !

Quick trawl on ebay revealed this :
Ebay lamp
And another
Which seem to use a similar lamp, but is a complete easy option.

If it needs to look nice, those seem a good bet (ask them about lamp spec first - make sure you can source replacements... maybe yours will fit !)
When I setup an Endler breeding tank (planted) I knocked up a pendant fitting with a 'daylight' energy saving lamp, this just hung over the tank from a shelf above.... didnt look too pretty though ! ;-) and even with cover glass, the plants loved it.

Good luck with your project... happy to help if you need any more - theres NO such thing as a "daft question"

 

[Million]

Thanks for replying again.
What i'm currently using is two of these:
http/www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30018560
It uses the 11w T5 I was looking for the fittings for. They were reasonably cheap but don't seem to work that well - in fact one has ceased to function, and it's only been a couple of weeks at the most... replacement time, but that's a whole other thread!

My desire to make my own is, agreed, a bit half baked - It just seems silly when Ikea can make them for £9, including the adjustable arm and clamp and all, and all I want to do is rip off all the metal work and use the gubbinz inside to make something a bit neater!

 

[Kevstir]

the end cap you are looking for is a g23

i have the exact same bulbs in my little aqua one corner tank, i modified it by buying some desk lamps from Ikea that had the exact same bulb , the ballasts are built into the plug so was quite easy to setup. bit disappointed though as doubling the light of the tank has made no difference to the plants

Kev

 

[Rooster]

bit disappointed though as doubling the light of the tank has made no difference to the plants

Kev

I would guess the lamps are just "white" ....

 

[Million]

the end cap you are looking for is a g23
i have the exact same bulbs in my little aqua one corner tank, i modified it by buying some desk lamps from Ikea that had the exact same bulb , the ballasts are built into the plug so was quite easy to setup. bit disappointed though as doubling the light of the tank has made no difference to the plants

Thanks for your input Kev. When you say you modded it, does that pic show it with the added light? If not, how did you add it? Did you take apart the Ikea lamp?

I would guess the lamps are just "white" ....

Bulbs for this fitting are available in a number of spectrums including the same as is used by Arcadia in their arc pods, but yeah, you might have the wrong spectrum bulbs, or maybe just very demanding plants!

Useful to know that the ballast is in the plug unit - I should've known