Lighting Install

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DeanneL

Membership Expired
Normally, I'm a pretty good DIY'er. But, I cannot figure out how to install the lighting in my canopy. I purchased a 4-39W T5 retrofit kit with reflectors. It came with some instructions but no pictures. Does anyone know where I can view more detailed instructions (online). I tried to search at RC but the search feature would not work.

Or, if anyone wants to come help a newbie, I would gladly furnish the beer or sodas! :D
 
Have you tried doing a google search with the manufacturer's name etc.?
 
It's a Sunlight Supply Tek light. I was able to do 1 search at RC but I'm still unsure where I'm supposed to mount the ballasts on my canopy.
 
Well I looked around on the internet for your setup, and the one I found came with two Triad T5 electronic ballasts. The picture of them was not that great but from the looks of it in that picture the ballasts did not seem to be that big.

First and utmost I wouldn't mount them anywhere....where water can splash/and or get on them. I would mount them obviously some where, where its asthetically pleasing to the eye and somewhere where they can disapate heat. A pic of the hood with the ballast laying near by would help allot. Keep in mind you do not have to mount them in the hood.
 
I saw a really neat post on RC where a guy used those army/military ammo cases to put his ballast inside. He really did a number on it, including mounting switches, a light, cooling fan - pure DIY genius.
 
Okay, it is becoming clearer but I wanted to verify something before I start cutting wires.

I have 2 ballasts and there will be two lamps wired to each ballast. So, 4 lamps total. I was going to put the bulbs in the following order from front to back:

BluePlus
AquaBlue
Sun
BluePlus

Should I wire the first and third lamp to one ballast and the second and fourth lamp to the other so I can do the dawn/dusk effect? On my current light (a hood), the blue lights come on before the rest of them and then they go off an hour later in the evening.
 
Sounds like you have a plan. Its strickly preferance of how you want your lights to come on...Allot of people have the florescent blues come on first then gradually to the white light. Some people put each bulb on a timer and dimer switch simulating the sun coming up and going down. The best thing about the DIY setup that you have.....If you dont like your decission, it shouldn't be too hard to change it unlike prefab lights. A great present for yourself for the holidays. Merry XMAS
 
@DeanneL wrote:
I did it! Pretty good for for a chick (as extinguishfire would say). said:
Hey Hey Hey. It looks real nice and you did a good job. I bet it is a bright bright light coming through the front windows now.
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