Location of t-5 ballast????

[JRANG]

Hi,

I am new to the boards here at NJRC and was hoping that someone would have some advice on where I should mount my T-5 ballast.

I am installing an IceCap Retrofit 48" 4*54 T-5 kit on my 90 gallon tank. It is the 660 model. I am just wondering where people normally mount their ballasts in the canopy or under the tank?

I have room in my canopy but was concerned about how much heat the ballast will kick off. The ballast could fit right under one of the reflectors.

I will have a 30 gallon sump in my stand so was wondering if that is an issue as well.


Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Jim

 

[Edwardw771]

I screwed mine to the back side of the hood. One thing to remember is that you have to get the end caps very tight when you put them in. When the bulbs go in they have to push the end caps apart. If you don't get them tight enough they will spark and could cause a fire.

 

[JRANG]

Edward771,

Thanks for the quick response.

The back of my canopy is mostly open for ventilation but I do have a 1*4 that rests on the width of the tank. I think the heat sink is wider than 4 inches but it would work.

Are you saying that you should space the endcaps so the bulb is actually forcing them out a bit when installed? I actually had put a bulb into two endcaps and then I was going to screw them into the canopy. Is that a bad idea?

Jim

 

[Edwardw771]

I actually had put a bulb into two endcaps and then I was going to screw them into the canopy. Is that a bad idea?

That's how I did when I first started in the hobby. And it was not tight enough and Its sparked and burnt a bulb and one end cap. So from that point on I always screw one end in. Then put the bulb in place where I think it should go and move it a little closer so that when the bulb goes in it has to force the end caps apart. That way you get a really good conection. Hope that helps. If not I know the guys at Ice Cap if you want to ask them anything.

 

[JasonR]

Put it in the stand if you can
Run wire loom up to the hood to hide all the wires

Jason

 

[JohnS_323]

Hi Jim

to NJRC!

When we ran t-5's, we kept the ballast in the stand. IceCap sells a extension cable for something like $17 that will make your wiring harness long enough to get it there.

I didn't know that about the end caps, Ed. That's good info to have in case we re-use the t-5's.

 

[mikem]

John. Thats the same thing with VHO bulbs.

 

[JRANG]

I am going to go ahead and install the endcaps as suggested and see what I could do about the location of the ballast.

Edward771 - thanks for that bit of info on the possibility of fire. That is something that is really good to know!

Thanks for all of the suggestions.