Just modded my Nano light / new $4.00 ballast for 24 Watt Lights

funman1

Active member
Well I had read that you could take one of those swirl compact fluorescent lights and take the guts out and apply them to our tank CF lights.

It's an electronic ballast so it runs cooler, smaller unit, quieter, easier starts make bulbs last longer, etc...

Well IT WORKS!!
Here are the pics to prove it.

It's a 23 watt mini spiral, and the lamp is 24 watts,
so yes it's 1 watt off, but I can't see the difference, and don't think it matters.

So here's a 4 dollar DIY replacement ballast.

I'm now going to go buy another one and put two of these bulbs in my 12G nano.

whole.jpg


unit2.jpg


unit.jpg


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I will post pics when I get it installed, I'm waiting for clips to hold the new extra light.

Let me know what you guys think / any questions.

~Steve~
 
Thanks I did, I went there after the meeting on Friday...
:)

That's where I ordered the clips for adding another light.
 
That is flippen sweet Steve! Im gonna come trackin you down when Im ready break mine down and go retro with em. Stuff that saves you a buck in this hobby gets me excited, great job!. I still think you should capitalize on that DIY chiller you brought up at WMC that sounded like a great idea as well.

-Justin
 
Hmm, might be sooner than later. I just realized youve cheaply allowed me to add supplemental lighting to my 15g so I can have dusk/dawn now,SCHWEET!Thanks buddy :)

-Justin
 
These are the types of mods I like!!!!

Way to go!!!

Now, can you figure out how to retro a MH under one of those without cooking everything?
 
Hey Justin if you want me to pick you up a light and tear the guts out for you let me know. To be totally honest I don't even remember the chiller idea?? (refresh me)

Sacdots, Hahah If I could figure out how to do that without cooking everything I would be really rich!!! Like I said I can't take credit for the idea, but was really happy to replicate it.

Edwin, I was planing to go get a tiny project box from radio-shaft, and put two (ballasts) in there. I think I won't put it in the hood again, I plan to put it "remote" just near the side. This frees up more room for other stuff later.
 
The chiller had something to do with a 12v car battery, and I remember Anthony Calfo being very interested in it too.

-Justin
 
Ahhh yes I remember that.
It wasn't a chiller though, it was battery backups for our tanks.

I took a cheap $100 UPS APC 1000, took out the existing batteries, went to Walmart got two of the cheapest car batteries they sold (like $35 each) and then connected them to the UPS.

So my UPS's will last for days, not hours. and it's very cheap very effective, and quieter then a generator, and switches over power even when you're not home.
 
So does the car batteries charge by just being plugged in? And can I really run my whole tank for days?

The price is still a little high $170. The cheapest generator I've seen is $200 at Kragen, so if a cheaper substitute for the apc could be found, I think it'd be worth it.
 
MHs may tax the system faster but hey..
Yeah but with a generator you have to be home and switch everthing over manually. If you're at work you would never know about a power outage at your home

:)
 
hehehe
That's what Anthony Calfo wanted me to do too.
I would have to tear down where I have them housed, and then take apart the units and take pics.

Someday
:)
 
that is so dope. can you show me how to do the wiring for the ballast? someone at work told me i can make a chiller from a thermoelectric soda can chiller that plugs into your car. probably only strong enough for a nano but that's a start. has anyone seen one of these units anywhere?
 
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