DIY T-5 HO Lighting

[chselee]

Hi

Planing to DIY T5 Lighting as attached.

Any comment on what material to Use??

Front_45deg_Top_View.doc

[chselee]

More

Dimension of the light fixture.

[jesperlam]

Aluminum???

[amteo]

Planing to DIY T5 Lighting as attached.

Keep us informed!! I'm also thinking of DIYing a set as my present light (2X36W PL) is not working that well.

[dr evil]

alluminium is the best. but u need to plan for ur endcaps. and not to forget, the reflectors.

also, a place to house the eballast. if u need help, do let me know.....

[chselee]

Hi,

Anyone know what is the cost of doing such

fixture using alluminium?

Please do PM me.

[chselee]

Hi,

Can I build the fixture with Arcylics?

Anyone knoe, Alluminium & Arcylics which is cheaper to build

the fixture?

<$300 to DIY it ?

[Dazza]

keep me informed buddy. I am also thinking of doing it .

[FuEl]

I mount my end caps in cheap pvc cable trunking. Works well enough. Easy to make the holes too.

[Oceandeep]

I also did my DIY T5 hood using PVC cable trunking. But I add in small fan to blow on the eballast. Being using for 9months liao..

[chselee]

Hi Reefez,

Presently I'm using a simple fixture made of plywood.

Would like to improve the look, that why looking into Arcylic.

Will be more presentable i think .

Attached is how my lighting fixture look like.

[chselee]

alluminium is the best. but u need to plan for ur endcaps. and not to forget, the reflectors.

also, a place to house the eballast. if u need help, do let me know.....

Hi Dr Evil,

the the tips & noted the point.

I'm looking into retrofit a portal fixture using Arcylic. (Transparent / Black)

As a whole it will just look like a conopy too.

It will look something like the pic posted above.

Happy Reef Keeping.

[supremo]

is there a difference between EBallast 39W NO and HO? If they both can fire 39W, do I need to buy the HO type eballast?

[chselee]

is there a difference between EBallast 39W NO and HO? If they both can fire 39W, do I need to buy the HO type eballast?

Hi Bro,

Not really sure on the e-ballast type.

IMHO- It should be no diffrence for "HO & NO" e-ballast. (Both are 39watts)

The diffrence is on the tube. HO will have better lux i guess, which is brighter

as compare to "NO"

Any GURU can advise.

[Clownfish]

i dun tink u can find any NO eballast which rates 39W....

HO eballasts, e.g Osram quicktronic has a preheat time on firing the tubes.... normal eballast on the other hand do not hav that... thus shortening ur t5 tubes life span drastically or u can observe them to be much dimmer after some time....

[supremo]

The reason I asked is that I found 2 shops, called them on the phone and

give 2 different price. 1 sells for $60 for a 2x39W T5HO Eballast. Then I called

another shop says they sell it for $20.00. because of the big difference I insisted

if it's HO then they say it's NO that's why cheaper. But sure can be used for

T5HO because rated for 2x39W also.

[dr evil]

normal eballast can be used but it will shortern the life span of the t5 tubes. the true t5 eballast will have a "pre heat" capability which will prolong the life of the t5 tubes.

if u looking at osram, the prices are very exp......the other alternative is using Vossloh. the eballast is from germany n being used by geissman pendant etc.

well, the eballast is @ sgd40. or maybe lesser if we can bulk order. i maybe be able to help if u guys need them....

[schema]

VOSSLOH! Good brand, Dupla used them in their light fixtures.

Regarding price diff, not surprise. I have been to a shop at SLS, boss and worker quote difference of $10 for the same e-ballast! omigosh! Of course bought the cheaper one.

Don't believe seller who tells u PLL eballast can be use for T5 tube, PLL eballast instant-start while T5 eballast warm-starts. Use the proper ballast.

39W T5 eballast should be able to be used be 39W HO or NO tube.

[chselee]

Hi,

Proto Type of my DIY T-5 light with black arcylic fixture to share.

[chselee]

Another full view frm front.

[Nic a Jon]

hi

Something to share with u guys regarding osram T5 e-ballast.

my 2x24 w quicktronic spoilt last month after using for about half a year.

I took it back to sinter today. the salesman took alook at it and said that

e-ballast seldom spoil and there is some guarantee on that and

he will send it back to osram to get it replaced for me.

I must say sinter has got good after sales service.

[ahkit81]

chselee. may i know what type of eballast ur using i notice ur ballast are able to power up 4 tube at once...is that possible?

[chselee]

chselee. may i know what type of eballast ur using i notice ur ballast are able to power up 4 tube at once...is that possible?

Hi,

I'm using 2 set of E-ballast.

1 2x24W for the 2x Actinic blue tube & another 1 for the 2x of Blue pro tube.

ON the AB then Blue Pro.

Lucky, I'm using Elbiru e-ballast.

Rgds,

WIL

[aStRoBo|]

well.. ppl, can a 2ft tank use 2x39w T5? or must stick with 2x24w?

[lightningstrike]

well.. ppl, can a 2ft tank use 2x39w T5? or must stick with 2x24w?

well, it's all up to the individual bro. but dun u find 3ft lightings sticking out its ends on a 2ft tank a little unsightly?

juz me 2 cents.