Compact Flourescent Cautions?

[PikeLee]

Hey guys,

I just set up and installed my 96W Bright Kit from AH Supply. “That thing is bright!” I got the 5000k bulb and was able to fit it onto my 3-foot light strip from AGA. It slipped in perfectly.

I’ve heard that these things get hot. But you guys weren’t kidding. This thing gets really HOT. Are there any precautions that I should be aware of, or has anyone had any bad experiences with this thing? I have mine on a time for about 11 hours. 4 of those hours, I will not be around. I would hate to come home one day with my house and fish burnt to ashes.

Just thought I would play it on the safe side and ask if there is anything I should be aware of. Thanks.

[125gJoe]

Does it need one of those accessory fans??

[gcvt]

I've got the same exact kit running on one of my tanks. As long as you have decent air flow/air space around the ballast, you'll be fine. Bulb heat shouldn't be a concern either. AH uses top-shelf ballasts and they have a great reputation; they do run warm, but I'm sure you'll be happy with your kit.

[superstein61]

Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate.

I disagee that bulb heat will not be a problem. I have a 48" AGA retrofitted AHSupply 110W strip that sat on my glass hood - the ballast is mounted outside the hood - so that stays cool. But the heat from the bulbs was enough to crack the glass in my hood.

So make sure you not only have some vents in your housing (I had 2 that came with it plus 2 extra) - but also make sure you have about 1/2 inch of between the light and the glass - so air can flow freely. The bulbs do need airflow to cool as well - especially underneath.

[Skittyfish]

I have two 55 watt bulbs end to end, I put those little foam disk that are for furniture on each corner of my fixture, they raise it enought to let air flow under, but not enough that the escaping light is a nuisance. Mine also raises my water temp about 1-2 degree during the day.

[PikeLee]

I’m thinking that my light may need a fan. But I really have no place for it. Therefore, I’m going to try just lifting the light above a half-inch as suggested above.

I don’t have a problem with heat from the ballast at all. I have an iron stand. I placed the ballast on the lower shelf next to my 20g and since there’s a lot of airflow, it stays at a good temp. I also have 2 long vents on top of the housing so hopefully that’ll help also.

Hopefully raising the light a bit will be sufficient and the more light that emits from me raising it isn’t too much. If so, at least my floor plants around my tanks will have some additional light.

Thanks for the replies.

Cheers.

[nvision]

hi,

along the same line (i think), would you think it's possible to stick a 32w bulb into a fixture that came with a 28w bulb? i have the coralife 20" fixture, and sometimes looking for a 28w bulb is a bit of a challenge, especially online. i wish i can get a peek into the enclosed ballast, but i can't get to it without disassembling the whole thing.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by PikeLee
I’m thinking that my light may need a fan. But I really have no place for it. ..... Go to your local Radio Shack and get a small CPU fan. Cut a hole in the fixture, plug it in. No prob...

[fishfreek]

Originally posted by 80gJoe
Go to your local Radio Shack and get a small CPU fan. Cut a hole in the fixture, plug it in. No prob...

CPU fans operate at 12V DC current where as your ballast is running at 120V AC. You will either need a converter to knock down and convert the current or you will need to make sure you get the 120V AC version of the 3" or 4" fans.

ALso, I have had no problems with these bulbs in my setups but I do not use them in a plastic hood siting on a glass top. I have them mounted in a wooden canopy and they are above the water surface with 6" or more airspace between them and the water.

[TwoTankAmin]

I have a retrofirred 36 in. twin tube perfecto strip holding 2x36w cf with the ballast mounted on the back outside. I drilled several small holes at each end on the back and have never had a heat problem.

[PikeLee]

I’m going to look into the CPU fans. But right now, I don’t think I need one. I was reading somewhere that someone had their ballast located on top of their glass canopy right behind their light. So that’s what I did. That’s when I realized things were getting too hot.

I later moved the ballast to the lower part of my tank stand. It has a lot of airflow around it and the heat from the ballast is not a problem. Since I relocated the ballast I don’t have any issues with my light being a problem. It gets hot, but nowhere as hot as before, where I felt it was an issue of caution. I guess it was a combonation of the ballast and the lights.

Thanks again, and I’m going to keep the CPU fans in mind. I have a 90g to re-work now, and most likely I’m going to have to pay a visit to AHSupply.com again.

[Fishiebusiness]

Compact flourescents run best at a certain temperature and cooling them over much results in less than optimum results.