Retrofit

bradlyallen1 · #1 12/19/2007, 04:26 PM

I would like to put 2 x150MH and 4 x 96watt PC into a canopy that measures 36"x18"x12" (LxWxH). Should I just mount the lights and PC ballasts to the wood in a well ventilated part of the canopy? Do all the lights need to be wired to a common ground on the hood even if they have individual grounds from their own power cords? Any one who has experience with this sort of thing please let me know.

surfnvb7 · #2 12/19/2007, 04:39 PM

why are you going with 150w DE's instead of 175w SE's?

bradlyallen1 · #3 12/19/2007, 05:00 PM

Thats what is coming out of the Coralife aqualight pro that doesn't fit in the canopy.

surfnvb7 · #4 12/19/2007, 05:06 PM

gotcha......not sure about the ground wires....but i'd mount the ballast on the outside of the canopy....JMO

J. Montgomery · #5 12/19/2007, 05:18 PM

I can't answer the electrical questions, but . . . I can show some pictures of my canopy. I actively "ventilate" my canopy with four 4" fans (two shown in the pictures) that are controlled by my AquaController Jr. to keep the water temperature down. The back is totally open and the top is open as well. I have two 175W and one 250W MH SE bulbs mounted in the canopy (two shown in pictures).

bradlyallen1 · #6 12/19/2007, 06:08 PM

That looks about like what I was thinking Josh. You don't have any problems with heat conduction where your light is mounted to the wood? I doubt it could become hot enough to ignite but the idea of a heat source on wood concerns me a little bit. That is rather smart how you mounted the lights to a hinged board to allow easy access.

J. Montgomery · #7 12/19/2007, 07:19 PM

Many people recommend using some type of spacer between the lights and wood.

TammyLiz · #8 12/19/2007, 07:23 PM

How do you access the front of the tank? I'm having a hard time telling from the pictures. I always like to see new ideas for building canopies.

J. Montgomery · #9 12/19/2007, 08:58 PM

The whole front is on a hinge. You can see the piano hinge in the view from the back of the canopy. The whole front piece opens up like the doors on a Delorean.

TammyLiz · #10 12/19/2007, 09:16 PM

I like that a lot!

J. Montgomery · #11 12/19/2007, 09:21 PM

Four fans work MUCH better than two . . .

twon8 · #12 12/19/2007, 09:26 PM

have you got all 4 fans blowing in?

J. Montgomery · #13 12/19/2007, 09:34 PM

Yep, all four fans are blowing in. I've heard bad things about fans pulling "salty" air. Also, there's a wall/window <10" behind those fans, so there wouldn't be a lot of room for the air to dissipate, and the back and top of the canopy are open to keep the air movement unidirectional.

And very importantly, they're all connected to one variable voltage power transformer (1300 mA max) so they only take up a single power outlet.

bradlyallen1 · #14 12/22/2007, 10:39 AM

After much Gorilla glue and many zip ties here is the finished prodcut, 2x 150 MH and 4x 96watt PC. I used small wooden blocks to elevate the PC ballasts off the wood of the canopy so they should get enough air flow to dissipate the heat they generate. I wasn't sure about the electrical grounds so I grounded everything to the metal frame holding the halides. I only had 1 fan on hand so I may need to add more if heat is a problem.

bradlyallen1 · #15 12/22/2007, 10:42 AM

Another pic.

Hopeful Reefer · #16 12/22/2007, 11:05 AM

I've heard bad things about having the ballast inside the hood where it is subjected to salt spray and moisture and such...

Otherwise, looks good...

bradlyallen1 · #17 12/22/2007, 11:14 AM

They are up high in the canopy so I am hopefull...but if I see any signs of salt deposit or adverse effects from humidity I suppose I will have to move them.

xxtriggermanxx · #18 12/22/2007, 03:12 PM

looks to me you did a great job!