car inspired DIY light project

[Lauren]

I need more lighting in both of my tanks. I'm a little strapped for cash right now, so buying new canopies is not an option. A few months ago, I got clear parking lights, side markers, and tail lights, which all came with amber bulbs. So now I have a whole bunch of working 21 watt clear blinker bulbs, which I'll never use. I want to drill holes into my existing canopies, and wire up a bulb or two. Seeing that these bulbs are meant to stay on at all times (they come on with the headlights) I can foresee them lasting for a long time. Even if they don’t, replacements are 2 dollars.

I know someone did something similar to this with blue ricer lights to create a night time effect. Could someone let me know what I would need to wire up these lights?

 

[Hound]

Interesting idea there. I believe you'd need some sort of power converter to convert your ac power into dc. If I'm thinking right you could probably find some sockets that will fit your lights. From there it would be a matter of wiring the sockets together. I don't think they'd really provide much light, but I could be wrong. One thing I wonder about is how hot they would burn.

 

[Bruno]

I wired up a moonlight system, I dont know if I am the person you are referring to, but I found that lights get hot. I am also a part time mechanic, and I would reccomend not using car light bulbs, unless you suspend them at least 1 foot above a glass canopy. A better suggestion is to go to your hardware store and just get a kitchen flurescent light fixture, normall comes with a bulb. At Canadian Tire (in Canada) I saw these for like $17.99 so they are cheap, just dont place the light directly on the canopy.

Tyler