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| DIY 70W Metal Halide pendant |
 Sep 20 2006, 03:16 AM
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#1
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 Reef naked...It keeps your clothes dry! Posts: 881 Joined: 31-January 05 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 12,802  |
I know that this has been done before, I just thought that I'd share my DIY attempts to further illustrate the process...
First off, The first time I tried this, I bought a regent 500w flood from home depot. I found out that the reflector in my particular model was designed to throw light forward, and not down... That didn't work  Went to OSH between classes and picked up this for $12.99  Here is the fixture as it comes from the box...  My cat Lilyana inspecting the project:  First step is to open up the junction box on the back for some rewiring. This lamp originally had a low and a high setting...Notice the DPST push-button switch with the resistor in line with the hot lead(the big black lump under the heat shrink)  The switch was only rated up to 250v and goodness knows what would happen to that resistor if exposed to the starting voltages of a halide... Best to just remove both doubtful components...   ...and join the two wires directly.  I drilled a few vent holes in the top and rear of the fixture so that as hot air rises out the top holes, cooler air should be drawn in the bottom holes, cooling the fixture somewhat. I know that these are meant to handle high heat from the halogens, but i don't know if they were meant to sustain it for 12 hours solid... better to run the bulb a little cooler anyway right?  
This post has been edited by Xytrix01: Sep 20 2006, 03:40 AM -------------------- "Dang!!! I got saltwater on my pajamas!" -Me Click to view:   |
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Sep 20 2006, 03:44 AM
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#2
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Reef naked...It keeps your clothes dry! Posts: 881 Joined: 31-January 05 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 12,802 |
Next up we open the fixture and remove the halogen bulb from the lamp.
 I bought the Ushio 70w 14K de HQI bulb.   The 70W HQI halide bulbs are the exact same length as the 500w halogens, so it is as easy as just snapping the bulb into place. With some fixtures you may have to trim the ceramic end caps to get the bulb to fit. This fixture required only minor trimming of one end cap.  All buttoned up   As for the wiring, the fixture came with 18gauge wire preinstalled, so I decided to just use that cord, and the female end of an extension cord to make a "quick disconnect" if I ever have to separate the pendant from the ballast for some reason.  With the ballast in view.  I'm going to get a metal project box to enclose the ballast and probably put a cooling fan in it to keep the ballast cool. Time to fire it up!   I havn't worked out the suspension system as of yet, but here's a shot of the light set on top of my tank. When I hang it, it will sit about 6" above the tank and give a much better spread. [img]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g31/xytrix1/70W%20Halide/70WHalide18.jpg[/img] That's it!!!! Hope you enjoyed the pics. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to answer. This post has been edited by Xytrix01: Sep 20 2006, 03:44 AM -------------------- "Dang!!! I got saltwater on my pajamas!" -Me Click to view: |
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Sep 20 2006, 04:16 AM
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#3
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 Nano Reefer Posts: 110 Joined: 8-July 06 Member No.: 21,261 |
Hi,
I've read where it's a fire hazard to use those lights with aquariums and that it doesn't give the same benefits as other fixtures. Maybe these people were feeding me crap, but can you really use those lights like that? -------------------- 40 gallon breeder AGA, Closed Loop Sequence Snapper, Quiet One 3,000 return, 25 gallon sump/refugium, 100 pounds of live sand, 66 pounds of FIJI, BM150 skimmer, American DJ power switch controller, Aqualight Pro, Typhoon III RO DI, Visitherm heaters, Coralife Thermometer.
11 years freshwater experience. Planted 150 gallon AGA with various fish. ;-) |
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Sep 20 2006, 06:59 AM
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#4
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 Nano Reefer Posts: 2,572 Joined: 22-May 06 From: Central Virginia Member No.: 20,531 |
QUOTE(NanoReefer411 @ Sep 20 2006, 05:16 AM)  Hi, I've read where it's a fire hazard to use those lights with aquariums and that it doesn't give the same benefits as other fixtures. Maybe these people were feeding me crap, but can you really use those lights like that? What's a fire hazard? All you're doing is gutting out the fixture and retrofitting it to run a mh bulb. It's ceramic and metal, you're not going to start any fires. -------------------- ==========
My name is Legion... for we are many. If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on... you see devils tearing your life away; if you've made your peace then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth. Deep inside the silence staring out upon the sea the waves are washing over half forgotten memories... In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. |
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Sep 20 2006, 02:54 PM
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#5
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 Nano Reefer Posts: 254 Joined: 24-September 05 Member No.: 16,531 |
QUOTE(wav3form @ Sep 20 2006, 11:59 AM) What's a fire hazard? All you're doing is gutting out the fixture and retrofitting it to run a mh bulb. It's ceramic and metal, you're not going to start any fires. is that bulb 70 or 150??? Never mind I read your subject line. Duh! Cool, does it cover more of your tank if pull up away from top edge of AQ?? This post has been edited by Abysswater: Sep 20 2006, 02:57 PM -------------------- Too Much! Too Fast! Too Soon! Will leave you nothing!
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Sep 21 2006, 04:06 PM
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#6
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Reef naked...It keeps your clothes dry! Posts: 881 Joined: 31-January 05 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 12,802 |
yeah it does, if I raise it to about 6" it covers the whole tak... I'm working on a motorized suspension system so I can raise and lower the lights as I please with the touch of a button...Muahhhahahhahha
... and yes I am a dork! -------------------- "Dang!!! I got saltwater on my pajamas!" -Me Click to view: |
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Sep 21 2006, 10:59 PM
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#7
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 Nano Reefer Posts: 898 Joined: 18-February 06 From: City of Angels Member No.: 18,845 |
Is the glass that it came w/ already UV flitered? Maybe I missed that somewhere?
-------------------- "Expecting the World to treat you well because you are a nice person is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are vegetarian"
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Sep 21 2006, 11:10 PM
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#8
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Acropora....suhweeeet! Posts: 2,202 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Member No.: 19,252 |
It is UV filtered.
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Sep 23 2006, 12:04 AM
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#9
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Nano Reefer Posts: 2,572 Joined: 22-May 06 From: Central Virginia Member No.: 20,531 |
QUOTE(ReefApprentice @ Sep 22 2006, 12:10 AM) It is UV filtered. The diy fixtures work great. I did the regent setup with a 70w MH bulb and ballast for my 10 gallon. I'm retrofitting it into a 20L canopy with PC and Actinics for supplement lightning so I don't have to upgrade to a higher watt mh. This post has been edited by wav3form: Sep 23 2006, 12:04 AM -------------------- ==========
My name is Legion... for we are many. If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on... you see devils tearing your life away; if you've made your peace then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth. Deep inside the silence staring out upon the sea the waves are washing over half forgotten memories... In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. |
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Sep 23 2006, 07:41 PM
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#10
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Nano Reefer Posts: 898 Joined: 18-February 06 From: City of Angels Member No.: 18,845 |
OK so Im guessing that it is UV filtered even thought it doesnt point it out anywhere? W/ the reagent I just bought it does not specify that it is UV filtered anywhere.
Sorry if its a dumd question but Id rather find out now then when Im staring at a bunch of dead corals. -------------------- "Expecting the World to treat you well because you are a nice person is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are vegetarian"
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Sep 25 2006, 04:04 PM
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#11
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 Traveling Tank Nomad Posts: 807 Joined: 1-November 05 From: Homer Glen, IL Member No.: 17,131 |
Yes it is UV Filtered. There is glass in front of the bulb (that is your standard UV protection. About the fire hazard, it is safe as any Halide Fixture you will buy (O-Rings on the wiring section as well as the glass in front). It is actually much safer to run a 70watt halide in there than a 500watt halogen, much less heat=common sense).
--------------------  My 5.5 Custom Pico SystemKonieczny=Cone-ee-etch-knee Yeah....I've stopped using forum lingo......... |
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Sep 26 2006, 12:14 PM
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#12
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Reef naked...It keeps your clothes dry! Posts: 881 Joined: 31-January 05 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 12,802 |
Still haven't hung the pendant. grumble grumble
Anyways, I'll post pix when I hang it up, school and work are just getting in the way right now! This post has been edited by Xytrix01: Sep 26 2006, 12:15 PM -------------------- "Dang!!! I got saltwater on my pajamas!" -Me Click to view: |
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Sep 26 2006, 12:58 PM
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#13
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Reef naked...It keeps your clothes dry! Posts: 881 Joined: 31-January 05 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 12,802 |
Ok, I couldn't stand to have the thing sit on the bench anymore.
what to do? what to do? I got it! Time to bust out the gheto engenering!  and yes, they are empty... Here's the light spread that it puts out at that hight: 
-------------------- "Dang!!! I got saltwater on my pajamas!" -Me Click to view: |
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Oct 6 2006, 08:15 PM
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#14
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Nano Reefer Posts: 423 Joined: 5-June 06 From: Santa Barbara, CA Member No.: 20,759 |
which ballast did you use? Where did you get it?
Thanks, Chris |
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Oct 6 2006, 08:25 PM
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#15
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 Nano Reefer Posts: 109 Joined: 23-July 06 Member No.: 21,490 |
Hey, looking spiffy. The auto-light-elevator sounds mighty futuristic... you watch star-trek?
 How much did this setup cost? I see the fixture is dirt cheap, how much is the ballast? I guess that's about the only other part you bought, besides the bulb and whatever it took to wire the sucker. The cans don't look too bad, just don't let your cat walk on your tank and knock it over! -------------------- I sipped a bit of single malt scotch and decided to make this thread my sig.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33464 |
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Oct 6 2006, 08:28 PM
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#16
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Nano Reefer Posts: 423 Joined: 5-June 06 From: Santa Barbara, CA Member No.: 20,759 |
QUOTE(yomamaphat @ Oct 6 2006, 06:25 PM) How much did this setup cost? I see the fixture is dirt cheap, how much is the ballast? Also, how much were the four cans of soda? |
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Oct 6 2006, 08:32 PM
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#17
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Nano Reefer Posts: 109 Joined: 23-July 06 Member No.: 21,490 |
QUOTE(chrisstankevitz @ Oct 6 2006, 07:28 PM) Also, how much were the four cans of soda? And what kind of soda is that? I might have to try that
-------------------- I sipped a bit of single malt scotch and decided to make this thread my sig.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33464 |
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Oct 7 2006, 04:03 AM
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#18
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Reef naked...It keeps your clothes dry! Posts: 881 Joined: 31-January 05 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 12,802 |
The ballast is made by Advance(d?) transformers.... I got it on ebay for like $37 shipped. The bulb cost me $67 and the fixture was $12 at orchard supply. I had the wirenuts laying around...
The soda turns out to be like 25 cents a can, so add a dollar to the cost, and as for what kind, it's just Safeway brand cola, but they have redone their labels. 
-------------------- "Dang!!! I got saltwater on my pajamas!" -Me Click to view: |
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Oct 8 2006, 10:40 PM
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#19
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Nano Reefer Posts: 565 Joined: 16-October 03 Member No.: 5,124 |
Do you have a part number for the ballast, or will any 70W MH ballast work?
-------------------- Tank Set-up: 10G, Blasto/Ric/Acan/Softie tank 70W MH. 29G SPS/LPS tank 250W MH.
Prop tank with cuttings from all.... My Ebay Feedback the_krusty_coral - I only keep hardy and exotic corals |
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Oct 8 2006, 10:58 PM
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#20
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Nano Reefer Posts: 898 Joined: 18-February 06 From: City of Angels Member No.: 18,845 |
QUOTE(zzpw3x @ Oct 8 2006, 08:40 PM) Do you have a part number for the ballast, or will any 70W MH ballast work? Any 70W MH ballast will work. -------------------- "Expecting the World to treat you well because you are a nice person is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are vegetarian"
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