DIY Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Strip Light Retrofit

[shadow_cruiser]

If you can keep it, do it. All of mine had a cheap white plastic reflector, and they had to go.

Thanks for letting me know. I ended up using the existing reflector. Will definitely post pictures soon. Great write up by the way

Does anyone know the color temperature of these bulbs?.http://www.onebillionbulbs.com/cfl-bulbs/FLE13HT3/2/SW-Mini-Spiral/1529/US. They are on sale and quite cheap in my area

 

[BoredAgain]

Does anyone know the color temperature of these bulbs?.http://www.onebillionbulbs.com/cfl-bulbs/FLE13HT3/2/SW-Mini-Spiral/1529/US. They are on sale and quite cheap in my area

That bulb is 2700K, but GE does make a daylight 6500K, most places that carry GE bulbs will have it.

 

[bored4]

I just made one out of aluminum gutter. 48" for a 75g, i used 8 single sockets because i got them for $1.60 each from Home Depot. I can't believe how hot it gets. you seriously can't leave your hand there to long. I don't have vent holes and i think i should put some some where, But im not sure where to put the vent holes. I don't want light bleeding out and light up the room. Any one got suggestions on where vent holes should be placed?

 

[Krilorn]

I just made one out of aluminum gutter. 48" for a 75g, i used 8 single sockets because i got them for $1.60 each from Home Depot. I can't believe how hot it gets. you seriously can't leave your hand there to long. I don't have vent holes and i think i should put some some where, But im not sure where to put the vent holes. I don't want light bleeding out and light up the room. Any one got suggestions on where vent holes should be placed?

You could always just rig up a couple of computer fans to either end of the hood. After reading this thread i did a retro fit to my old hood. Seeing mine a friend that just got back into fish keeping redid his hood as well, he was having heat issues as well and just wired in the comp fans and now it gets warm but never hot.

 

[bored4]

I put like 100, 1/8th inch vent hole all along the top. Didn't help
Looks like I'm going to have to try some fans.
I've looked through this whole thread and i don't think there's any pictures of any retrofits using fans. Anyone got some?

 

[Bonne46]

Go to radioshack and get yourself computer fans, also pick up a AC adapter 12v. Splice the wires on both the fan and A/C adapter, match the colors, use some wire nuts, or you can soder, screw the fan onto your fixture, plug it in and TADA!

What I would do is probably put 2 fans. One blowing cool air in, the other sucking the heat out and the other end.

 

[bored4]

What do you guys think is an acceptable temperature for the hood to get up too?

I'm getting up to 126 dF over one of my 26watt bulbs.

 

[WeedCali]

Stopped by Lowes to pick up a 50gal tote and some mulch for the tortoise and also picked up a 4-pack of 18w 6500k CFLs. I am INCHING slowly towards completing this project. apparently my dad has a crate in the garage full of light sockets so ill have to dig that out and see what i can find.

lol slowly but surely this retrofit will happen :grinno:

 

[sean6911]

I added my single computer fan when i noticed that one of the vent areas on my hood was deforming a little bit.

I did find a good 9v ac adaptor at Walmart! I found it in the toy area. Made for a Vtech video game. It works great, and it was under $10.

 

[vequalsir]

You definately need to get some air moving around the cfl's. Most have a warning about running them in enclosed fixtures. The heat can cause them to fail prematurely.