Electrical Q: Fluorescent Mod

[J. Montgomery]

I have three fluorescent light fixtures (the 18W bulb kind that typically come with acquariums). I'd like to use them on my 10 gallon QT tank, incorporated into a small canopy. My question is, can I wire all three together to share one plug? If I do, what type of plug do I need to use (they have two pronged cords). Thanks for any input.

 

[jdieck]

In theory you can. Do you have three ballasts one for each bulb? If so just connect the three inputs together. Three white wires of the ballasts to the white wire of a three prong cord. Three black wires to the black wire of a three prong cord. Connect the green wire from the three prong cord to the body of each one of the ballasts (Use the screw that supports the ballast) and to the reflector if it is metal.

 

[J. Montgomery]

Yes, each of the fluorescent fixtures has its own ballast (they're the cylinder-shaped plastic ballasts that kind of look like a battery). So I can probably attach the ground wire to it.

Unfortunately, the wires aren't colored. But one wire does go to a switch, so I assume thats the power/black wire.

The "reflector"/housing is plastic.

 

[jdieck]

If you have switches for each ballast it will be nice that you keep them independent.
I was thinking that at least one bulb can remain independent, if you use that bulb for your actinic then you can simulate dusk and down by turning on the actinic before the other two (half hour earlier) and turn it off later (Half hour later).