diy t-5 lighting planning stage

[cl0wn]

thinking of doing the above. planning 6 tube set up 36" luminar. below is material list.

3 x 54watt double ballasts. just like the ati's - using 54w ballast to drive 39w tube.
end caps.
2 or 3 pc fans either end of luminar 1 end blowing in 1 end blowing out.

luminar will be made out of coloured acrylic insulated on the roof to protect from heat. clear acrylic to cover.

was thinking of dimmable t-5's but they're over 3x the cost for the ballasts. (would be nice tho').

decent reflectors.

do these plans seem ok???

[treeboa]

why do you want to overdrive the tubes, what tubes are you thinking of using, gull wing reflectors should give you better results

[cl0wn]

want ati performance without paying ati prices. gull wing was prolly what i was thinking, i have a couple spare.

[treeboa]

look at using the d&d aquablue plus tubes, my worry with using the blues though would be overdriving would kick the spectrum and wave length out, possibly negating the effect your looking for

do ati actually use 54 watts on 39 watt tubes or do they have other resistances in the line to lower it a bit, say to 49 watts ??

[cl0wn]

trying to find out what gubbins are in an ATI unit.

[treeboa]

be something simple, but well hidden no doubt, or it could be a specialised ballast built for them, hence the price

shame your not working with bigger tubes, i could have donated you a couple of 80watt d&d tubes to play with

[treeboa]

old stuff but worth a read pete

http://www.zeovit.com/forums/archive...hp/t-8481.html

[cl0wn]

how wierd just read that thread :)

states on there that the 39w tubes are driven by a 54w ballast. thought that was what the cooling was for. reduces the tube life tho'. perhaps the issue in the thread has caused them to add a resistor to slightly lower the drive.

[treeboa]

could also be they are using the icecap electronic ballasts, dont think they available in the uk, marine lighting may be able to supply but i doubt it, biggest problem with a resistor in the line is that also produces heat, you may have to use a ceramic type and heat sink them

whos cutting your acrylic ??

[cl0wn]

was thinking of getting the net for the acrylic cut by a firm in hull that has previously been linked on here. perhaps even the preformed luminare. depends on price.