DIY Icecap...its not what you think

[lifestudent]

Those Who Dare to Try:
I would start with 1x drive first and measure the power consumed by the ballast. Then, I would try 2x...then 3x and finally 4x. Since each ballast will be different, results may vary. Personally, I would limit overdriving to 90W or less.

In your leading comment of this thread, you mentioned that we shouldn't go over 90 watts. How can I determine how many watts I'm consuming at each level (1x, 2x, 3x...)? I do have access to a volt-ohm meter, but I don't think it'll be useful to determine wattage.

Thanks again,

Bob

 

[StirCrazy]

you need a multimeter that will measur curent. and you use it inline between the ballast andthe bulb to find out how much power you are sending to the bulb.. if you want to see total power put it inline from the wall plug to the ballast.

Steve

 

[GROSSR]

Next question - grounding this thing. Someone mentioned aluminum foil tape and grounding there. I think only the ballast needs to be grounded, not the bulbs?

thanks

 

[Canadian Man]

i only have my ballast grounded and it works well but i also have aluminum tape on bulb as a reflector.

 

[GROSSR]

I was planning on buying a reflector from Hellolights.com. I have an icecap with 4 VHO bulbs. When I get this setup, I will compare,with pics what everything looks like.

thanks

 

[ckrdkjr]

the main reason i like this is because i can get the wife to go along with a 21.00 light upgrade at 4 different times alot easier than i get her to go for 175.00 at one time.

chip

 

[Canadian Man]

so a question to all about wiring bulbs in series. my wife....yea my wife has been bitten by the reef bug ahhh i knew it would rub off on her some day. anyway we are in the process now of setting up a nano tank for her and how do you go about wiring bulbs in series?
would you wire it like you would a single bulb but off the last hole in the cheep end caps run a wire to another bulb's end cap? is that correct?
Thanks

 

[2hi4u2c]

Hey guys,
I don't remember, do you measure the amps you're ballast is pulling from the outlet, or the amps you're blubs are pulling from you're ballast to get watts(amps X volts= watts)

Canadian Man,
Here is a pic of the wireing for 2 bulbs in series..
Alan

 

[2hi4u2c]

O.K.
Maybe this time

 

[ckrdkjr]

on mine i just over powered by 2. i had a cheap shop light with two bulbs. I took out the old ballast and bought a electronic balast for four bulbs and wired it to two. On one bulb i put both the red wires in one side of the one end cap and one yellow to the other end cap on that bulb. On the second bulb i did the same with both blues at one end and a yellow at the other end. works great.

chip

 

[Canadian Man]

2hi4u2c
thanks now it makes sense. ohh i love setting up a new tank especially when the wife wants it too!

 

[jonboy]

F32T8

F32T8

I went by HD today and
decided to gather the parts for the OVERDRIVE SYSTEM.
They had a few different bulbs 2100k, 2500k,4100k
and the Alto bulb its listed as F32T8/TL741
Universal Hi vision bulb
Is this the same bulb as the 6500K?????????
price 2.75

If you have this bulb or the 6500k could you please post the
HD sku#
thanks,
jonathan

 

[StirCrazy]

F32T8/TL741
the 41 is usaly the color.. in your case 4100K
the one you want from home depot has a D as a color designation for daylight.

F32T8/D should be the number

Steve

 

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Yes, you are looking for the daylight version of the T8s (6500K). Call up a local industrial lighting shop and ask for a F32T8 6500K or daylight. In canada, they are $3.50.

- Victor.

 

[Canadian Man]

i got mine from LITEMOR they are a sylvania dealer. you should call and find out what light suppliers deal with sylvania lighting.
bulb info
FO32/765
Octron flourescent lamp 6500k
#21993

 

[StirCrazy]

Ok Back on page two of this post I have a therory on running two ballastes in parallel, DON"T DO IT unless you like buying ballasts
it would seam that the balasts are protected from feedback power throught there out put leads but not through there yellow wires. so when I flashed one up I fried the other.. then when I was playing with the other tring to figure out the problem I fried the first one.

so my recomendation is to stick to one ballast when overdriving bulbs hehe Oh well some one had to try it.. right

Steve

 

[Reefer33]

Just got my setup working, and it looks awesome! Dumped the PC's for this setup and it looks sooooooooo much better. Only overdriving 2* though but you can definitely tell the difference from that and 1*. Currently running two 36" T-12 bulbs over the 30 gal tank. Bulbs run so much cooler than the PC's, also I can actually grab onto to them with no problem. My anemone seems to love it since before when I was running the PC's it would reach up to the light, but now it stays completely flat against the rock content. I hope to add two more bulbs soon. Thanks for the great idea!

 

[jmwkmw]

Ok i've read,reread and read again.Wirering it up is pretty easy but what i need to know is how many watts is it really putting out? I have 6 t8 bulbs and 6 of the f32t8 x 4 ballasts is that 480 watts?

 

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

My setup used F32T8 with the 4x mode and I measure 80W each lamp. So you can do the same if you have the necessary equipment. You'll need a multimeter to do this and you need to measure the AC current that is going to your ballast.

OR...you can just use 80W per lamp.

Glad I could help, Reefer33. Got any pictures ?

Hope that helps.

- Victor.

 

[Fish_Freek]

can't find aluminum tape??

can't find aluminum tape??

Some mentioned the use of aluminum tape on top of there bulbs to act as reflectors. Where did you buy it, HD?

Thanks,