PC Light Too Hot?

[Captain Hook]

Will my PC light be too hot to sit on the center brace of my tank? Unfortunately the only way the fixture fits well is right in the middle of the tank, where the plastic brace is. Will it melt it or cause any problems?

[Timmain42]

Heat and plastic do not mix well. Try making a couple of risers (for the ends of the light fixture) from 2x4s that would raise the fixture up a couple of inches.

[happychem]

How hot does it get? If it's hot enough to melt tank plastic, it may be hot enough to start a fire if it's resting on wood.

[Captain Hook]

The risers are a good idea.

I've been thinking about though and basically the whole fixture is plastic, including the white reflector. All I did was retrofit the light into an ordinary black tank fixture. So if it doesn't melt that it probably won't melt the brace.

[ChicoRaton]

I have 2x55w PC and the ballast in a regular 48" strip light.I made little feet that I put underneath each end to raise it up so there's a 1/2 inch gap under the light. keeps everything cool(relatively)

[Torf]

I have experienced melting when a PC light touches plastic. I stupidly set one hood face down on another hood with out turning it off. After a minute or so I replaced it and realized that the bulbs had started melting the other hood. Doh!

Bulb temperatures don't get very hot though. I would estimate that these bulbs don't exceed 150-180 degrees by too much. If you can touch them without getting burned, then they aren't pushing 200 degrees. Wood isn't going to burn at such low temperatures, but many plastics will soften.

[Captain Hook]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to see what I can do for small risers, or feet as Chico called them.