DIY Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Strip Light Retrofit

[thrak76]

Slightly different variation

Well i was definitely inspired by this thread.

I put one these fixtures together in a morning. I used single sockets because i was impatient. The wiring is a little sloppy.
The main difference is that i installed a LED moonlight fixture that i took out of a R2 Solutions moonlight fixture. The result i think is very, very cool. I was able to consolidate two fixtures into one.

Thanks a lot for the great idea!

Here's some pics:

detail of the LED install



on top of the tank:



and all lit up:


Now I'm going to scrap my whole aquascape, and start fresh with driftwood and real plants!
I'll post a new thread when i get that all worked out over the next few weeks.

thanks again, BoredAgain.

S

 

[Wycco]

AHA! Well I have one of my two hoods set up. Ended up scaling down from 3 26w bulbs to 3 20w bulbs. That will end up as 120w for my 55gallon- just over 2 wpg.

OMG what a difference... many thanks for all the help on this thread. Next weekend if nothing overheats and all still looks good I'll do the other side.

 

[drunkenmastera]

ok i have 29 galleon strip light.
I brought two of the sockets, that would be around 60 watts.
I have a simple ballast with two black lines.
There is is a switch button with two black lines.
Then there is the power line, one all black line and one white/black line.
Of course, there is also the two light sockets with 2 black/white.

I can't seem to get mine lit, anyone wanna give me tips on the diagram?
If you can, please post a diagram.

 

[Wycco]

ok i have 29 galleon strip light.
I brought two of the sockets, that would be around 60 watts.
I have a simple ballast with two black lines.
There is is a switch button with two black lines.
Then there is the power line, one all black line and one white/black line.
Of course, there is also the two light sockets with 2 black/white.

I can't seem to get mine lit, anyone wanna give me tips on the diagram?
If you can, please post a diagram.

I had similar- there are two wires from the plug- a black and a black/white wire.

The black attaches to the switch- and there is another black coming out of the swith. I bolted three single light sockets to the top of the hood.


I simply attached in pararllel all three black wires from my light sockets to the black wire coming out of the switch. All three white wires from my light sockets to the black/white wire coming into the hood.

 

[drunkenmastera]

I had similar- there are two wires from the plug- a black and a black/white wire.

The black attaches to the switch- and there is another black coming out of the swith. I bolted three single light sockets to the top of the hood.


I simply attached in pararllel all three black wires from my light sockets to the black wire coming out of the switch. All three white wires from my light sockets to the black/white wire coming into the hood.

im a little confuse,
u attached the 3 black wires to the black wire coming out of the switch,
what do you do with the other black wire that's coming out of the switch?

There is also another black wire from hood, wat do i do with that?
Also, there is still two black wire that is not hook to anything........

 

[BoredAgain]

All of the black (hot) wires attach to one wire on the switch, the other switch wire connects to the hot lamp wire. If that doesn't explain it, just ditch the switch and rely on a timer.

 

[Arkangel77]

I am going to do something like this when I set up my new 75G. I am going to make one from scratch so I guess I will be looking for some Gutter material from the HD

 

[Wycco]

im a little confuse,
u attached the 3 black wires to the black wire coming out of the switch,
what do you do with the other black wire that's coming out of the switch?

There is also another black wire from hood, wat do i do with that?
Also, there is still two black wire that is not hook to anything........

The other black wire from the switch connects to the black wire from the hood.


The power goes in a circuit... Power chord to switch to lamps back to power chord.

 

[Fresh250]

im currently working on an 8 bulb setup for my 240 out of some gutter and some 65w 6500k daylight bulbs. i have to say the wiring is very simple if you just put it down to a regular plug and then rely on a timer to shut them on and off, not to mention you dont have to worry about forgetting to turn them on/off

 

[Hornpipe2]

Any reason that you went with wire twist caps instead of solder + heat shrink (or electrical tape)? Is one any better than the other?