tiffrobbins
New member
I had a question about this sort of lighting. How do you plug it in. I don't know much about electronics. This light looks perfect for something I have in mind; but I don't want to get it if it will be difficult to wire.
0.7 Gallon Pico Cube Experiment.
- Thread starter reefin'aggie
- Start date
They're ment for computers so they need 12Volts. Easiest thing to do is buy a 12 volt wall adapter cut off the ends on the light and connect. Let us know how the lights do, i've been wondering what cold cathodes would be equal to in aquarium lighting defintly MUCH cheaper.
bascerballer4
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9791882#post9791882 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefin'aggie
Here's another CCFL called a Hyperlight that I will use as the primary source of light b/c it is very directional and extremely intense. They also put out absolutely no heat.
The one shown is a light blue Hyperlight similiar to a 14k halide. There is also a bright 6500k white Hyperlight available.
These things are only about 2.5 inches square.
Jacob
Looks good. I like the fact that the CCFL is shaped in a nice flat surface with a wide area of 2.5 inches square. Looks pretty bright to me. Do you know how many lumen output this CCFL will put out and what spectrum of the light it will give out?
HecticDialectic
New member
just felt like adding that this is the coolest tank I've seen in awhile... incredible work!
reefin'aggie
New member
Thanx everyone for following along. A couple months ago when I was researching these lights, I found that the white Hyperlight has a temperature rating of 6500k and had a pretty high lumen rating. I don't recall what it was...I'm trying to find the location where I found the info still.
The best way I have found is to use a cheap computer powersupply and use the 4 pin molex connectors. I have tried cutting the ends and splicing with a 12v wall adaptor, but it just doesn't supply a strong enough current...especially when daisy-chaining them.
I have not actually used these CCFLs over a tank, so I cannot even begin to vouch for there effectiveness. I was going to experiment with them, then let everybody know how they work.
Thanx again for the comments,
Jacob
The best way I have found is to use a cheap computer powersupply and use the 4 pin molex connectors. I have tried cutting the ends and splicing with a 12v wall adaptor, but it just doesn't supply a strong enough current...especially when daisy-chaining them.
I have not actually used these CCFLs over a tank, so I cannot even begin to vouch for there effectiveness. I was going to experiment with them, then let everybody know how they work.
Thanx again for the comments,
Jacob
reefin'aggie
New member
Oh and to try some out for yourself, check out www.frozencpu.com or I think www.Newegg.com has them also.
Just about any computer parts retailer should have them.
Jacob
Just about any computer parts retailer should have them.
Jacob
reefin'aggie
New member
Alright, according to Sunbeams tech website. A single CCFL produces 28,000-30,000 cd/m^2 and has an estimated lifetime of 30,000 hours.
Some wholesale CCFL websites I have seen actually have the lifetime rated at 100,000 hours.
I could not find any info on output rating for the Hyperlight. If anyone wants to contact Sunbeam to find out it would be much appreciated.
Jacob
Some wholesale CCFL websites I have seen actually have the lifetime rated at 100,000 hours.
I could not find any info on output rating for the Hyperlight. If anyone wants to contact Sunbeam to find out it would be much appreciated.
Jacob
pledosophy
Active member
nice work!
jski711
Moved On
just bought some
just bought some
well i just bought some from this site. man they are cheap. i bought 1 dual white and 1 dual blue. im going to take apart an old power compact fixture and retro the bulbs in there. i will definatly post some pics when im done!!! hopefully this will start a new trend, a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the new led solaris fixtures if your trying to cut back on heat. thanks for all the info and i don't mean to hijack your thread!!
just bought some
well i just bought some from this site. man they are cheap. i bought 1 dual white and 1 dual blue. im going to take apart an old power compact fixture and retro the bulbs in there. i will definatly post some pics when im done!!! hopefully this will start a new trend, a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the new led solaris fixtures if your trying to cut back on heat. thanks for all the info and i don't mean to hijack your thread!!
reefin'aggie
New member
That's ok, don't worry about it. I just wanted to build this tank and start this thread so that we can all start thinking outside the box.
Let us know how they do.
Jacob
Let us know how they do.
Jacob
Redstratplayer
New member
Nice!
cschwaj
New member
I love the reasearch on the alternative lighting options. LEDs have come a long way in just a couple years.
I have been doing some research on the CCFLs to understand them better. They do come in 6500K, 7100K, 8000K and 8100K, but I don't think the computer case ones are those colors (there are other, less desirable colors that seem to be more common). The spectrums I have been able to find for the whites seem to indicate a broad strength of many colors, not the intense spikes in focused areas of a typical aquarium bulb.
The colors are produced by using a phosphorus coating on the tube. I don't believe that filtering the spectrum in this way will produce the type of light we are looking for.
The term "cold" in cold cathode means that the cathode is not intentionally heated as a means to initially excite the electrons (as in traditional applications). The cathode does get very hot, though, in normal operation. The endcaps on these have the potential to be quite warm.
It seems that CCFLs may have a place in aquarium lighting, but that the product needs to be geared for the purpose with additional development.
I definately don't want to discourage experimentation, but did want to share what I learned with a hour's worth of research. I am a EE by degree, but am not terribly fluent in lighting.
I look forward, with optimism, to seeing if you can make these work. I am especially stoked about the little hyperlight and the 4" CCFL options. Go Picos!
I have been doing some research on the CCFLs to understand them better. They do come in 6500K, 7100K, 8000K and 8100K, but I don't think the computer case ones are those colors (there are other, less desirable colors that seem to be more common). The spectrums I have been able to find for the whites seem to indicate a broad strength of many colors, not the intense spikes in focused areas of a typical aquarium bulb.
The colors are produced by using a phosphorus coating on the tube. I don't believe that filtering the spectrum in this way will produce the type of light we are looking for.
The term "cold" in cold cathode means that the cathode is not intentionally heated as a means to initially excite the electrons (as in traditional applications). The cathode does get very hot, though, in normal operation. The endcaps on these have the potential to be quite warm.
It seems that CCFLs may have a place in aquarium lighting, but that the product needs to be geared for the purpose with additional development.
I definately don't want to discourage experimentation, but did want to share what I learned with a hour's worth of research. I am a EE by degree, but am not terribly fluent in lighting.
I look forward, with optimism, to seeing if you can make these work. I am especially stoked about the little hyperlight and the 4" CCFL options. Go Picos!
reefin'aggie
New member
I am actually leaning toward doing some Luxeon Stars now or some of the new Luxeon Rebel LEDs. They each put out about 145 lumens at 700 mA and are only 3mmx4.5mm.
http://www.luxeonstar.com/
Jacob
http://www.luxeonstar.com/
Jacob
Rosseau
New member
This may be of interest.
http://www.nanocustoms.com/index.php?cPath=17
LED light fixtures being sold as "fuge" lighting.
http://www.nanocustoms.com/index.php?cPath=17
LED light fixtures being sold as "fuge" lighting.
reefin'aggie
New member
Also, I'm trying to find time to do a little work on the tank, but I have been swamped at work. So updates may take a little while.
Plus, the main thing I am waiting on right now are my mini 40mm DC fans to come in. Somehow there was a shipping error and they don't even know where they are yet.
Jacob
Plus, the main thing I am waiting on right now are my mini 40mm DC fans to come in. Somehow there was a shipping error and they don't even know where they are yet.
Jacob
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