Diy dimmable t5ho
- Thread starter tdtreefer
- Start date
formula409
New member
just buy a dimmable ballast, there are plenty of 0-10v controllable ones, i'm yet to see 5v pwm
Phillips Advanced is a good brand
Need to make sure it can do t5ho and is for the right tubes
buy they are really cheap on yanky ebay
Phillips Advanced is a good brand
Need to make sure it can do t5ho and is for the right tubes
buy they are really cheap on yanky ebay
+1 to just starting with the right equipment.
OP, don't make the same mistake of starting with the wrong stuff and trying to make it work. It costs more in this hobby when you try to save on equipment like lighting.
I have two HEP Dimmable ballasts I'll sell you, they were my backup ballasts from my old ATI Sunpower. I don't have that fixture and the ballasts are collecting dust in a box. Each ballast will run a pair of 24w or 36w bulbs.
(All ATI fixtures use exclusively HEP ballasts)
Shoot me a PM if you're interested.
(All ATI fixtures use exclusively HEP ballasts)
Shoot me a PM if you're interested.
jedimasterben
LED world domination!
Yes, any 24w/39w lamps will work, but you're going to kill them much faster by dimming them. Why do you want them to be dimmable?
I really only had plans to dim two or three of the 10000k bulbs. I want to be able to control my white while running blue actinic and violet all on regular ballast. Haven't really shopped around or made any serious plans yet. Currently running a 4 bulb and it's not enough coverage. So this is just an idea I'm throwing around in my head.
Dimming is great IMO. I ran dimmable VHO for a very long time until beginning to transition into LED. It was great for acclimating new coral and for replacing bulbs to let the coral adjust over several weeks with out shocking them to increased light levels. Also loved the dawn/dusk effect they allowed a decade and change before LED hit the market for reef lighting. Dimming was murder on bulbs and ballasts though back then.
That's mainly what I was looking to do was sunset sunrise. I love the look of it. Being able to ramp the whites up for two hours run for another two at 100 them back down to zero for another two then the actinic and other bills turning off two hours later? Total 10 hrs lit
It may be worth considering a simple DIY LED strip for the sunrise/sunset effect if that's the main reason for wanting the dimming t5. If you already have a reef controller with dimming ports it would be a very simple build and offer more flexibility and better control over the dimming level. T5 only dim so far and it's often not very smooth at the lower levels.
The main advantage I still see with a fully dimmable t5 rig is the acclimation of corals if the t5 will be your main lighting source. The sunrise/sunset effect from LED is much better IMHO if that's the main reason for wanting to go dimmable.
Just my thoughts.
The main advantage I still see with a fully dimmable t5 rig is the acclimation of corals if the t5 will be your main lighting source. The sunrise/sunset effect from LED is much better IMHO if that's the main reason for wanting to go dimmable.
Just my thoughts.
formula409
New member
This is what I plan to use
http://www.hepgroup.net/proimages/Product_spec/dimmable_ballast/SD218-40_UNI.pdf
Have a look through their other products
NB: I'm only choosing this through lack of choices in aus
http://www.hepgroup.net/proimages/Product_spec/dimmable_ballast/SD218-40_UNI.pdf
Have a look through their other products
NB: I'm only choosing this through lack of choices in aus
