Cold Cathode (Scanner) Light
- Thread starter Luc
- Start date
Are you sure your going to need that many? I mean judging from the pics they are plenty bright. I had the same notion on LEDs, but decided to scale back on account of them being so bright.
Scaling down will be easy to do. Just a testbed for now and I'll put some switches in to test different qty's of lamps and different spacing with 3 on-3 off-3 on...etc.
Aside from the light being good for plant-grow, my main question is: How deep do I get?
My main tank is 50cm high, so that's what I would need. (10cm Gravel and 10cm spacing between light and water).
Aside from the light being good for plant-grow, my main question is: How deep do I get?
My main tank is 50cm high, so that's what I would need. (10cm Gravel and 10cm spacing between light and water).
Tried to connect 6 lamps yesterday. Ran into some trouble there. Hope somebody can help me a bit.
Setup:
6 Power units, (PU)
1 Power Supply, (PS)
Connected 3 PU's on + and - contact point, the other 3 PU's on another + and - contact point. Bridged both + and - points with wires and ran a cable to the PS.
The problem:
1. A high pitch sound from one of the PU's.
2. After removing 1 set of 3 PU's, the sound stopped but I found that the bridge was 'leaking' somehow to the 3 disconnected lamps???? Believe it or not, but there where 6 lamps glowing (less but still) and only 3 PU's where getting juice.
I don't have a meter to test anything, (thinking more and more to get one) but my idea is to put diodes on each of the + lines to the PU's to prevent this leaking and to supply correct voltage to each of the PU's.
Any other idea's or advise on type of diodes to be used?
The PS gives 12V, rated at 250W and 14A at the 12V line...
Setup:
6 Power units, (PU)
1 Power Supply, (PS)
Connected 3 PU's on + and - contact point, the other 3 PU's on another + and - contact point. Bridged both + and - points with wires and ran a cable to the PS.
The problem:
1. A high pitch sound from one of the PU's.
2. After removing 1 set of 3 PU's, the sound stopped but I found that the bridge was 'leaking' somehow to the 3 disconnected lamps???? Believe it or not, but there where 6 lamps glowing (less but still) and only 3 PU's where getting juice.
I don't have a meter to test anything, (thinking more and more to get one) but my idea is to put diodes on each of the + lines to the PU's to prevent this leaking and to supply correct voltage to each of the PU's.
Any other idea's or advise on type of diodes to be used?
The PS gives 12V, rated at 250W and 14A at the 12V line...
Without a wiring diagram, it'll be very difficult to determine what's going on here.
However, it's worth noting that you can light(albeit partially) a fluorescent tube via proximity to an electromagnetic field. Perhaps that's the problem. If they're not sharing wiring, that's probably the only way it could happen.
As for stopping that, well, you're on your own :/
However, it's worth noting that you can light(albeit partially) a fluorescent tube via proximity to an electromagnetic field. Perhaps that's the problem. If they're not sharing wiring, that's probably the only way it could happen.
As for stopping that, well, you're on your own :/
Working Test-Bed
Finally, got an evening to play with it. Made some pictures as well, attached below.
My initial problems with the PU's leaking and 'singing' have left.
Guess it was a matter of very tight spacing of the units, causing interference between them.
All PU's connected to + and - terminals and from there to my 'home'-build power-supply. My Discus' are quite curious on what's going on.
Had the time to wire 5 lamps yesterday, all bright and shining.
Mind the green and dirty tank, will clean it out on Sunday and continue to add more lights.
Did some testing on the temperature. Pictures included. As said earlier, these lamps are cold...compare that to the T8-18W fixtures I have in my main tank, beats them by 4'C where the main tank has 3 fans running to cool them off!
So this weekend: Clean the small tank, put in some proper plants, get the hood covered and start it up.
Finally, got an evening to play with it. Made some pictures as well, attached below.
My initial problems with the PU's leaking and 'singing' have left.
Guess it was a matter of very tight spacing of the units, causing interference between them.
All PU's connected to + and - terminals and from there to my 'home'-build power-supply. My Discus' are quite curious on what's going on.
Had the time to wire 5 lamps yesterday, all bright and shining.
Mind the green and dirty tank, will clean it out on Sunday and continue to add more lights.
Did some testing on the temperature. Pictures included. As said earlier, these lamps are cold...compare that to the T8-18W fixtures I have in my main tank, beats them by 4'C where the main tank has 3 fans running to cool them off!
So this weekend: Clean the small tank, put in some proper plants, get the hood covered and start it up.
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With the 5 lamps installed it gives a big bang of light. Tried it on a big tank that will undergo major construction soon. (150x50x50cm) So don't hammer me on that one...it looks awful and will change soon. Will become a nice tread on construction, plumbing, setup, etc..
Waiting for Kingearwig to post updates on plant-grow. From only seeing it, the light is quite warm in color.
No problems with reaching the bottom of the tank.
Planning on putting 4 or 5 of these boards with 8 lamps each on this tank. If the Wattage rule holds, then that would be around 400 Watt in CC-lights on 12V power with very little heat...
As mentioned earlier, trying the 10 gallon first this Sunday. Pictures will follow in due course....
Waiting for Kingearwig to post updates on plant-grow. From only seeing it, the light is quite warm in color.
No problems with reaching the bottom of the tank.
Planning on putting 4 or 5 of these boards with 8 lamps each on this tank. If the Wattage rule holds, then that would be around 400 Watt in CC-lights on 12V power with very little heat...
As mentioned earlier, trying the 10 gallon first this Sunday. Pictures will follow in due course....
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