ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Hi Guys This is my first run at my attempt to show you how to put a 70w MH into your Nanocube DX. This is a First Edition canopy with the intermediate bulkhead removed. It flows better, but the real issue is radiation.. There is so much radiative emission caused by the arc that things heat up very quickly.. Couple that with the effort to convect away lots of air, and there are lots of technical challenges that lie ahead.. In preliminary testing I have been impressed with results, but fear that the high color temp (20000K), the lux meter I have may not have the right frequency sensitivity to detect its luminosity correctly.. So far tho, here are the specs Nanocube DX First Edition w/ Revised Intermediate Bulkhead 70w Aqualine 20000K Metal Halide Fulham Highhorse 70 Electronic HID Ballast 2 x 60mm Fans / 12v DC Performance 5400 lux @ 1 ft (vs 4500 lux @ 1 ft Stock) - note above... Temps ---- > 158F... The canopy itself is not too hot, just areas that are subject to direct exposure to the radiation coming from the bulb... Here are some pics. Bear in mind guys, this is a very very preliminary prototype. Chris Link to comment
richmondreefer Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 lets see some full tank shots, and where you from? I worked with a guy with your name. Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Not going to put it on a tank yet. Still got lots of stuff to work out, hence the 126w I made earlier. I prefer to test on one of my test cubes, instead of messing with my corals. When I feel things are hunky dory, I put the new lighting upgrade on.. Im from the South Bay in Los Angeles.. You?? Chris Jung Link to comment
richmondreefer Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 richmond near san fran, you never worked up here in the bay area, if not theres another guy around here with your name haha Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Will post full tank shots when I actually get it onver a tank... Thanks Chris Link to comment
Withers Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 how's the heat factor with that thing? seems like since it's packed in so tightly with the case around it that it would melt everything. i assume you've already thought of this, but does that piece of glass protect everything from UV rays? Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Heat is my biggest issue. The air temps are ok, but the sheer amount of radiation so much, that the name of the game becomes trying to cool down whatever else gets heated up.. I got the glass from a Home Depot 300w Security Light. Its tempered, so that was my first concern. Im assuming its got some uv blocking abilty, but not too sure.. This is an early run and I expect to do much more before anything gets near my tank.. Chris Link to comment
Withers Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Sounds like a good start. It's too bad you can't just add a couple of fans, but that would ruin the bulb. Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 yep.. its about "lettin it run hot" and then dealing with it.. I'm impressed, but theres lots left. It is alot of fun to watch these babys warm up.. Like revving a motorcycle!!!! Chris Link to comment
Sergeant-G Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I am a newbie and I dont want to sound stupid but how would adding fans ruin the bulb? Link to comment
nuubenanoboy Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I think that if you cool the surrounding area too well you can cause stress from thermal fatigue and eventually crack the bulb.. Im not 100% sure tho Sergeant, so I think Vic should tackle this one.. Link to comment
jmt Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 With DE bulbs, you do not want fans directly cooling them. I'll find the articles for you to read later. As for UV, the areas where light comes through need to be shielded with a UV blocking material (glass, lexan, ...). Any small UV leak can destroy your corals and your eyes. Link to comment
jmt Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 If I was you, I'd space the reflector off the plastic with some ceramic spacers. As far as you can get it. 1/4"? Then, block the holes in the reflector and fan cool the backside of the reflector with the small air gap you created with the ceramic spacers. Link to comment
jmt Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Of course, I have a million and one ways floating around in my head for doing this, Guess I should go pick up a Nano-Cube. Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Thanks jmt... Appreciate the information.. Thanks for pushin me.. I've had guys pushing me for a long time.. If you dont mind, can I pick your brain? 1. I'm not getting that great of lux readings (mid 5000s at 1 ft). My PC upgrades were in the 6500 with just the 2 cheap T-5s. Is this due to the bandwidth of my meter? 2. UV material.. Does basically anything with an index of refraction greater than air "filter" the uv material? or is a specific coating needed.. 3. Do you see any benefit to placing the bulbs longitudinally vs Transverse, ie - vs | ? Thanks jmt.. Chris Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Im actually planning on enclosing the bulb in its own extruded aluminum housing, then convection cooling that unit via side mount fans and the rear fans. When I use a series II hood, the airflow characteristics will be much better.. Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 For now, i bought some aluminum 1/4 spacers to use mounting the bulb holder. I plan to use lots of kevlar on the backside of the heatshield and wherever theres a junction between heatshield and plastic... Since this is my own baby, i will spare no expense.. I also plan on throwing in some Actinics or Daylights depending on the final bulb configuration.. Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Ive even considered using a water to air heat exchanger or using some pelts to keep the temps down.. Marketable, hell NO... Link to comment
B16A2NR Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Not to thread jack but I thought everyone would be happy to know there is finally another group buy for the 20k 70w bulbs through ocean encounter. http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...&threadid=46387 Link to comment
ccjung Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 Ok guys. I'm going to JBJ to move get some SEs. I love this discussion because its something thats exciting.. I know cramming PCs got old, but I had to learn how to cool this thing down.. If anyone wants to talk MH, ill be on the 405. 310-770-2153 Chris Link to comment
jmt Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 The plastic that the hood is made from has a high flashpoint. So, it can withstand some heat. The best thing I could think of would be to space the reflector/unit off the hood with ceramic spacers. Leave the holes in the reflector and run 2 fans to circulate air. For the bulb, I would take the tempered glass you have, and build/find an aluminum box that is small enough to fit in the hood and has the same open dimensions that are the same as the glass. Mount the endcaps and a reflector inside of the aluminum box and close it off with the glass. Cut a square hole out of the original plastic splashguard so that it is not touching the tempered glass. The fans should circulate through the hood, between the air gap created by the ceramic spacers, down into the reflector and around the metal box housing the DE bulb. I know that's probably not that clear. So, sorry for that. I guess I can try and draw it out, but you know. ANyone have a spare NC hood lying around? Link to comment
jmt Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 This drawing is pretty elementary, but I hope it illustrates at least some of what I am talking about. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.