breakaway Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 As in title pretty much. Need one to power a 24W PC so I can retrofit it into my AR380. Already installed some cooling fans in there 8) Bulb looks like this: Can I get electronic ballast to do this (I heard that electronic ballasts produce less heat than magnetic ballasts) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 I am wanting to know the same thing What you planning to put in the ar380? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 specialist electrical supplier try find an osram QT-ECO 1x18-24 230/240 s this is an easy to wire electronic ballast that can run 18 or 24w pl tubes. the s on the end is important it stands for short rather than long which is twice the size. you will also need an end cap for the tube. i have one of these so simple to wire and very compact also dosent get that hot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Ditch the lid and hang a MH pendant over it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 I am wanting to know the same thing What you planning to put in the ar380? Just plants. 24w isn't enough for anything marine in a tall tank I don't think, unless its a FOWLR setup which I'm not really interested in Where did you get yours from Spoon? How hot does the lamp get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Ditch the lid and hang a MH pendant over it Don't need/want that much light, also can't handle ridiculous amounts of light leaking out which is a problem with pretty much all MH luminaries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 um i actually salvaged mine from a old shop fitting i use mine on a marine in combination with a 36w pl. the tube itself dosent get that hot you can touch it with your hand it wont burn i have also used this fitting inside a all in one tank with not much room in the plastic hood good as gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 find an osram QT-ECO 1x18-24 230/240 s this is an easy to wire electronic ballast that can run 18 or 24w pl tubes. the s on the end is important it stands for short rather than long which is twice the size. Just priced up these ballasts from Rexel in Penrose, Auckland. They are $81.70 for the L version, and $78.73 for the S version (excluding GST). Definitely more expensive than I'd thought. Looks like this is pretty much the only place you can get them from though from my google searching. Importing is an option also but with this ballast I can have my lighting running next weekend! I'm not sure if I need the S or the L versions (I want it to fit neatly inside the AR380 hood if possible;) so I got the guy to bring em both in, will give them a call tomorrow and see if I can go down and compare the sizes of the ballast with my hood and then buy the appropriate one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 it can be run with a normal magnetic ballast however these get hot and good electrical knowledge is needed to know how to wire it up . the electronic ballast is the clean simple way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 That looks like one of those ADA lights I saw while I was browsing their site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I just found this http://www.guppysaquariumproducts.com.a ... d_485.html Apparently this is a pretty reputable online store. Spoon - can you take a look at this and tell me if this ballast is sufficient to power the 24W PC? It says that this ballast is for "1 x 24W T5", but the product image clearly shows that it's the same ballast (1x18-24) that you're using. And, its only 26AUD. Are T5s and PCs run by the same type of ballasts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Another smarter course of action would be to buy one of these http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 253627.htm And then gut the whole thing and retrofit into the AR380. Much more cost effective than buying a ballast for $80 + a bulb for $20 + fittings and reflectors costing another $20. Total cost of "DIY" light = $120. Total cost of readymade unit that has pretty much all I need = $149. Hmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I just found this http://www.guppysaquariumproducts.com.a ... d_485.html Apparently this is a pretty reputable online store. Spoon - can you take a look at this and tell me if this ballast is sufficient to power the 24W PC? It says that this ballast is for "1 x 24W T5", but the product image clearly shows that it's the same ballast (1x18-24) that you're using. And, its only 26AUD. Are T5s and PCs run by the same type of ballasts? yep thats identical to the one i have all you need is a power cord and four short bits of wire and you're away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Will any ballast that can run a Single 24W T5 work for my application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 electronic ballast yes magnetic ballast with correct choke will as wellbut more complicated wiring and knowledge of ac theory and power factor is needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 I just picked up another AR380 aquarium light hood with working magnetic ballast, and lamp. Now I'm thinking about fitting it into my hood (so I have 2 x 11W) - Is there a limit on how long the wires between the ballast and lamp can be? I want to house the ballast away from the hood because 1. There is no space, and 2. They get very warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 i would say about 50cm max as thats what ive seen on lighting units(flouro) with external ballasts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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