Wiring Dimmable Light Fixture?

[onemisterchristian]

Hey guys, I've decided to build a new hood for my 60 gal. tank because I'm sick of crappy barebones fixtures. I want about 120 watts max and also want to hook up a dimmer switch. So here's a couple of questions.

1. Do I have to use dimmable bulbs(like the ones linked), or just regular flourescent bulbs? If neither, what would I need for bulbs.
2. I'm not an electrical genius and was wondering if someone could help me with wiring. Explain it like I'm a complete idiot.
3. Any suggestions would be quite helpful. Please let me know if I'm going about this all wrong.

Thanks in advance for the help. Bulbs

 

[blue_ram]

Hey guys, I've decided to build a new hood for my 60 gal. tank because I'm sick of crappy barebones fixtures. I want about 120 watts max and also want to hook up a dimmer switch. So here's a couple of questions.

1. Do I have to use dimmable bulbs(like the ones linked), or just regular flourescent bulbs? If neither, what would I need for bulbs.

Are you talking about the screw in compact fluorescent bulb? 'Cause, that's the only dimmable FL I see in the link you've provided. That bulb is a complete bulb/ballast setup. You just screw into an incandescent socket. But if you're talking about dimmable T5/T6/T8/T12, then it's a whole different story. You need both dimmable ballast AND lamp. They also have to be of same type (i.e. T5HO ballast with T5HO bulb).

2. I'm not an electrical genius and was wondering if someone could help me with wiring. Explain it like I'm a complete idiot.

There's no real standard wiring scheme. There's the GE version and there's Sylvania version. Some smaller manufacturers may have their own wiring scheme. Just follow the wiring diagram printed on the ballast. That's the easiest/safest way to do it. As for the bulb, it shouldn't matter as long as it's the correct type. (i.e. dimmable T8 bulb with dimmable T8 ballast)

3. Any suggestions would be quite helpful. Please let me know if I'm going about this all wrong.

Thanks in advance for the help. Bulbs

Here's a link to one of the manufacturer of dimmable ballast, hope this answers some of your questions.

 

[onemisterchristian]

Thanks a bunch for the help, I was talking about the compact bulb. So i just get the incandescent socket and mount it in the hood and I was going to do several, so would they daisy chain and hook up to the same dimmer switch or just their own individual dimmers for each one?

 

[Rooster]

If you DO use incandescent... ie bulbs have filaments, and NOT flourescent then any dimmer would run several (check ratings on the dimmer....) just parallel the lot, but be aware that incandescent lamps produce far more heat than light ! You may overheat the tank and/or hood.

 

[blue_ram]

Thanks a bunch for the help, I was talking about the compact bulb. So i just get the incandescent socket and mount it in the hood and I was going to do several, so would they daisy chain and hook up to the same dimmer switch or just their own individual dimmers for each one?

You would hook them up in parallel to a single dimmer. Just make sure that the sum of power rating of the fluorescent lamps are less than that of the dimmer. Unfortunately there's a limit to how many you can hook them up in parallel. This depends on how good (or bad) the ballast is.

You could also hook the bulbs up to their own individual dimmers, if you want to.

 

[onemisterchristian]

I went to lowe's and I was so overwhelmed talking to their buffoonish help that i couldn't even deal. so I just bought a reg. ballast and some t8's maybe i'll do a post of a complete, idiot's guide to do a diy hood and lighting fixture buy an idiot himself. Ha