DIY Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Strip Light Retrofit

[BoCoMo]

BoredAgain- I'm so glad for this thread! I got a cheap 30 long and have been trying to figure out how not to spend 3X what I paid for it on a light.

I don't have an old strip light but I do have some old metal (aluminum??) guttering piled up out behind the shed- I'm thinking of cutting a piece 36" and put on endcaps to use as my light strip "shell". I can paint the outside black & the inside white.

Not sure how many fixtures will fit in there but I ordered 3. I am thinking of skipping the switch and just plugging into a lamp timer.

Sound do-able?

ΦBK,

I think it's a great idea, certainly worth a try...

Be sure to upload pics to this thread if you do decide to do that build!

 

[phi_betta_kappa]

I certainly will! Have to wait on the fixtures to really get started but that gives me time to get that guttering cleaned up & painted.

 

[BoredAgain]

Sounds like a great idea. Pics would be nice.

 

[phi_betta_kappa]

Will probably get started either tomorrow or Friday. Also have to reseal the 30 long!

 

[Paladinpress]

Does anyone know what color/temp the CPF lights are that you get for the DIY CPF light kit? I am still waiting for the 2-lamp units to come in. Also, can you buy different temperatures than what the standard incandescent ----> CPF bulbs come in?

 

[phi_betta_kappa]

I found some CFLs @ Lowe's- they are 60w replacements running @ 15w actual. The brand name is "Bright Effects" they labeled "Daylight" and are 6500 deg K. They also had 40w, 75w, & 100w replacements- sorry I don't remember actual wattage for those. I also found some "Daylight" bulbs at Walmart that are 6500 deg K. They had them in a few different sizes. I got some to put in an old incandescent hood I already had and they are nice and bright with no yellowish look. 6500 deg K is the highest I have found in a store so far. You can probably get higher deg K online but I haven't really looked. "Soft White" is a lot lower deg K and looks terrible installed in a tank! Some manufacturers label the deg K on the package and some don't- I wouldn't buy any that didn't list it. No telling what you'd actually be getting- lol.

 

[BoredAgain]

What was the cost of the ones at Lowe's? I've yet to find a store that can compare to the cost at Home Depot.

 

[BoCoMo]

What was the cost of the ones at Lowe's? I've yet to find a store that can compare to the cost at Home Depot.

I would make sure that they are full spectrum lights. Like the ones Wal-Mart carries under the "Lights of America" brand in a Daylight 5500K.

 

[BoredAgain]

I would make sure that they are full spectrum lights. Like the ones Wal-Mart carries under the "Lights of America" brand in a Daylight 5500K.

??? That has nothing to do with my question. You must have quoted the wrong post.

 

[BoCoMo]

Does anyone know what color/temp the CPF lights are that you get for the DIY CPF light kit? I am still waiting for the 2-lamp units to come in. Also, can you buy different temperatures than what the standard incandescent ----> CPF bulbs come in?

Here is the right quote. I probably pressed quote instead of just reply.