Experience upgrading a pfo hood

B

BrianC

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[Does anyone have experience upgrading a PFO hood. I bought a used one it has two PC the guy seeling it kept the PC ballast...but the wiring harness are still with it. I would rather convert to VHO or NO the clips will hold it...I just need to know how to switch out the harness without destroying anything!]
 
[Brian,

What kind of ballast are you wanting to use with the VHO/NO's? I believe IceCap used to sell just the wiring harness. You could possibly rewire what you have into the replacement IceCap harness, if that's what you are going to use. This would then be a perfect match for the business end of the IceCap ballast.

You might drop Andy at IceCap an email and ask him.]
 
[I might not have explained that very well. I have the setup where there are 2 powercompacts 1 in front 1 in back. There are 2- 250 watt MH middle both to the outside (It is an acrolight). The 250 MH are perfect but... the gentleman whom sold me the hood, kept the PC ballast...which is OK, because I do not like PC... I prefer VHO. I have the icecap 660 ballast and bulbs already. My question is there some way to remove the internals of the PC portion and replace it with the VHO set up without destroying the hood?]
 
[Sorry, I misunderstood. I was just thinking canopy for some reason. I'm not really sure how to do that without looking at it. I know you don't like PC's, but I'd think you could wire that IC 660 up to them easily enough until you figure out how to do the other.]
 
[Hi Brian,

1) You would need to buy VHO endcaps unless you can reuse your current ones, most outlets such Premium Aquatics sell them.

2) Identify which cables in the PFO cable loom you want to modify. Cut of the PFO plugs at the ballast end so you can wire them to your existing ballast. At the other end you will need to cut off the PC endcaps. You will probably find 4 wires feeding each socket but these are really two pairs, same as a VHO has 4 pins which are two pairs. I think (no guarantee !) that green/white are one pair and red/black are the other pair. Now the hard(er) work - because a PC has all connections at one end and VHO has one at each end, you'll need to splice in some extra heat resistant wire to run a wire to the other end of the hood. The wiring diagram is shown here: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchan....ompacts

Alternatively why not just use your IceCap to drive the PCs as Duane suggested. Why don't you like PCs by the way ?

The 660 wiring diagram for PCs is here:

http://www.icecapinc.com/biax660-2.htm

in case you didn't have it. The PFO loom is set for CSL PCs.

Andrew]
 
[Andrew I like power compact I just prefer VHO. I already have 6 VHO bulbs. I believe I will take your advise and just use the 660 ballast for power compacts!]
 
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