As most readers of this thread know, I have a working solid model of the setup as well as any changes I plan on making. The new lighting setup is no different.
Here is the design for the new light fixture over my tank:
The fixture consists of two parts.
A base:
And a top:
The base spans the width of the hood and has two acrylic sheets across the bottom. The top frame houses all the lights, the T5 ballasts, and the fans. The idea was to make the top frame removable so that I could easily change out the bulbs. Yesterday I figured out a way to make that significantly easier.
For several days now I have been in a bind. I have 9 items I want to control and only 8 outlets. I had two options, either combine things onto a socket extension or add another DC8. I already had a second DC8 (changed out because at least one outlet is damaged and I needed all eight) but I didn't know where to install it nor where a cable was to connect it to the other DC8. Mounting it to the inside of the hood wasn't an option because I had no room. Placing it in the stand would require threading the fixture wires behind the stand and I wanted to get away from that. Last night I came to a fortuitous realization that the DC8 fits on the end of the fixture base. Also, in an attempt to clear out the box of wires/cables/power supplies that I have accumulated over the years I came across a four wire phone cord which is what my AC3 Pro uses to talk between devices. HA, now we're getting somewhere.
The result is as follows: The BML strip has a disconnect between it and the ballast so I can break the connection there. The BML strip ballast will stay in the stand. The two new T5 ballasts and the fixture fan will now plug into the new DC8. By plugging those into the DC8 mounted to the fixture base, I can now unplug them, disconnect the BML strip and pull the entire fixture top out of the hood to change out the bulbs. All without having to fish wires behind the tank.
I love it when a plan comes together. Now it just has to survive contact with reality........Yeah, we will see how that plays out.