Electrician here...If you need advice or help

[King Nikon]

You cannot recess a Par38 bulb. It will overheat and cause it to malfunction. You do not require a reflector for them either.

 

[letsgofishin]

why?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recessed_light

 

[moonpod]

I think he means specifically the LED par 38 bulbs have a pretty elaborate heatsink system around the bulb that would not get good airflow if the bulb is countersunk in the recessed can like normal. However I plan to use extensions to "lower" the bulbs and keep the heatsinks exposed. They even make articulating extensions if I want to point the bulbs a different direction than straight down. I plan on having the cans tied to a timer installed as a wall switch. I think it's a pretty slick setup concept

 

[moonpod]

Thanks!!!!

 

[bigdaddystar]

You can recess any bulb....its the fixture that has to be rated for the intended use...but you are right heat is an issue...but not one to be so concerned with in this application

 

[bigdaddystar]

No problem........It looks great I wish you had the bulbs so I could see how it looked with them on....you will definateley have to post pics when you get it setup..I wanna see it!

Thanks!!!!

 

[moonpod]

It's pretty goddamn slick I gotta say. I am waiting for extenders so the bulbs will be a bit lower and more heatsink exposed. Pretty nice though. Thanks again!!!!

 

[moonpod]

With either 2 or 1 extender.

 

[bigdaddystar]

looks good.......definetely came out looking sweet....

How is the coverage on the tank...I know it harder to tell without water but it looks like its going to light it up nicely

 

[moonpod]

Still too cloudy. Trying to clear. I think it'll be good! it's only a 32"x32" square area, less with the eurobracing, so I think the 4 are perfect

 

[bigdaddystar]

cool cant wait......I am surpriseed someone has commented on it...I think its the first time I have seen it done.....

 

[bigdaddystar]

I just picked up a new tank myself a leemar 140 ish gallons 48x30x20 starphire all around not quite sure what that measures out too...but a very nice set-up

 

[MHG]

GFI and UPS/Generator

GFI and UPS/Generator

Well here is my electrical question...


I have a 3000 watt UPS semi hard wired into my recepticals and to my breaker sub panel. The sub panel will eventually be wired to a generator. I have GFI recepticals using MC cables all the way to my basement and plugged into my UPS via some service cord pig tails. Will those GFI's be effective on a UPS output? I hit the test button and they trip...


side question... I was reading about the ground probe... so what was the verdict yes or no and what does one use for the ground probe? is this something off the shelf or a DIY thing? If a DIY thing what metal does the probe need to be?

 

[bigdaddystar]

Yes those gfi will still operate normally.....the bigger concern is will they trip in the event power is lost and then restored via the ups...best thing to do and you probably all ready have many times is shut off the power and see what happens...does it keep going and then test the gfi by tripping them...if that test passes then all will be fine in a real outage

Secondly...the ground probe

I answered but I always like to put things so even a 2 year old would understand...No disrepect intedended...

The purpose of a grounfd probe is to remove any stray voltage that may occur in the system from pumps powerheads etc....

Now it does exist but the amount would really have to depend on how many things are drawing current and then leaking as a result...I like to think of it more as static electricity and thats basically what it is....but even with enough static electricity you can get quite a shock...not enough to kill us but certainly enough to do harm to a fish possibly....

There is no real answer in my opinion whether it is good or bad....but I will not use one simply because I see grounding are tanks to be more of a possible harm than good I.E. harm to us...not the tank...but honestly its a gray area....at the same time giving a path to ground instead of us would be beneficial but then again thats not whats its for....that is where a gcfi comes to save our life....not gorunding.

This might not help...but its a matter of preference...science and superstition

 

[moonpod]

I just picked up a new tank myself a leemar 140 ish gallons 48x30x20 starphire all around not quite sure what that measures out too...but a very nice set-up

Nice!

 

[bigdaddystar]

yeah I am happy...i will probably make my 180g a FOWLR tank with some softies (the ones already in there) and this will be a full blown SPS dominated tank with LPS corals too.

 

[bullitr]

How many tanks do you have now Paul?

 

[rich1p]

Wow, I wish i could of picked up that tank you just got.. Its gorgeous..

 

[letsgofishin]

question:

will a gfi trip if you arent using a ground probe, and if so, under what conditions? please list the possibilities, so that a 2 year old can understand,,, (referring to me of course)


thanks

 

[bigdaddystar]

Oh that ones not mine up there..


This is mine......so if you thought that was nice this is defenitely right up there