Lights = FIRE

chatyak

chatyak

New member
Can someone who is more knowledgeable on the topic of heat dispensation chime in here please. I got this worklight to light my sump I am building (picture is old sump).

The worklight is a 65 watt fluorescent which is supposed to equal the output of 300 watts. It has a glass UV shield. It is this one here:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...scent%2BWork%2BLight%252C%2B65W.jsp?locale=en


My question is... is placing this lamp on a glass piece a fire hazard, can the lamp itself get too hot or the glass melt over time? There are only 4 little slits in the corner of this light, for heat to escape. The last thing I need is the house burning down.

I was playing with the idea of having it shoot light directly down, instead of standing on its stand. It is hot to the touch and would burn your hand if you left your fingers on the glass shield.


Here are some pictures:


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Thank you for your help!
 
Not anywhere near an expert on lighting or anything, but you said there is only four slits for heat to escape?

That would seriously worry me; the pictures don't look like there is a good way for heat to escape, either.
 
GhostCon1 said:
Not anywhere near an expert on lighting or anything, but you said there is only four slits for heat to escape?

That would seriously worry me; the pictures don't look like there is a good way for heat to escape, either.
Click to expand...

Hi Ghostcon,

Yes. You can't see them in the pictures, but there are just 4 slits for (what I'm assuming to be) heat to escape. They follow the curve of the corners.

That's all there is. This would be under what my wooden stand, so I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.

I always see people placing their lights overtop of the chaeto on sumps, but I'm not sure about this unit.
 
A little but of quality time with a drill can get quite a bit more heat out. A cheap $5 fan can go a long way as well.
 
I'm not sure of the light your using but the amount of watts it pulls is no were near enough heat to melt glass. The only thing that would worry me is the plastic enclosure. Just touch the back of the light housing and see how hot it gets.
 
The back wasn't too warm, but granted the light was only on for 15-20 minutes as I was taking these pictures. The frame is metal (not plastic - unless I was so tired to tell the difference :D ).


The drill is a decent idea, except if I want to return the item. However, if I drilled the back for heat to escape, the light would shine through, and give off UV?

I'm not sure why they have UV shield on this. I didn't know fluorescents gave off UV.
 
U will be fine heat wise but a fan wouldn't hurt. and uv glass??? For powercompacts?? They don't give off uv. I don't see why it would be needed and it will not get hot enough to burn, melt or set fire. And it takes aloooooot of heat to melt glass.

My 2 cents
 
Last edited:
" A 1993 study in the US found that UV exposure from sitting under fluorescent lights for eight hours is equivalent to only one minute of sun exposure."

Ok, doesn't worry me then.
 
If you look at the specs they probably say mount no closer than x inches from a surface.

You should definitely not have it sitting on the glass. When designers build fixtures like those they do thermal studies and testing. They expect heat loss and hence temperature reduction from the radiated, and convected heat leaving thru the cover glass. When you set that lamp face down on another piece of glass you block both of those cooling processes.

If it doesn't burn, (probably won't), it will still rapidly age the lamps, sockets, wires, and the ballast. Typically aging rates double for every 10 degree rise in temperature.

I'd mount it some way with air around it.
 
If you wanna return it just buy 1 of them clip on lights and CFL bulb. Then just clip it onto the sump , mine works great.
 
BrianOKC said:
If you wanna return it just buy 1 of them clip on lights and CFL bulb. Then just clip it onto the sump , mine works great.
Click to expand...

+1. Most of the people I have seen that use refugiums use a desktop lamp. Nothing fancy at all and it gives you that extra 'comfort zone' of not placing it on the glass since it clamps on. Plus, you can blow the fan at it (although I highly doubt that a desktop lamp would create enough heat to warrant a fan).
 
Now that I realize it was designed to sit on those feet and light a job site... Its cooling is all messed up when laying face down. I'd probably return it and use clip-ons too. They also let you mess with the color and total wattage where you can't with this one.
 
Melt glass? Heck no, given the melting point of glass is in the 2700* (f) range (depending on composition). I find it odd that the front glass even gets that hot??? I have yet to see a fluorescent bulb get that warm???

You might raise it up on some "legs" or ventilate it - but it ain't going to melt the glass.
 
melt the glass ..no but heat from bulbs can crack the glass,especiallyif the heat has no way to escape.. found this outthehard way as i set a work lamp on a glass shelf and forgot to turn it off..about 2 hours later i heard a loud pop and my glass helf was now 2 glass shelves..
 
troylee said:
why would you wanna run 300watts to light a sump??? a 14watt spiral compact is plenty to grow macro...;)
Click to expand...


LOL.. I'm gearing up to put 1360 watts (MH/T5) over my fuge/macro tank.... More power (in my best attempt at a Tim Allen impression) I figure mangroves grow on the beach in Fla, they must like sun. Besides I can't quite run my heat pump off the little dial in the electric meter yet.

Need the fixture out of my way anyway.
 
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