Building an MH Lighting fixture

bigdjp

bigdjp

Member
I cut the green wire from the power cord that went to the Mogal socket. There is only 2 wires coming off the Mogal socket. The wire that connects to the bottom of the bulb and the one that connects to the side of the bulb. Both outlets by the tank that I use are GFCI outlets.
I didn't use anything for UV shielding because most MH bulbs have a coating on the outter glass that has UV shielding.
Hope everyone find this useful
 
bigdjp

bigdjp

Member
Not sure about your local Home Depot but I was unable to get the ballasts from them. I had to go to an Electrical Supply shop called Blazer Electrics. They mainly sell to contractors but a little finesse and I walked out with what I needed.
 
nc2tarheel

nc2tarheel

Member
ok, I have two questions. I've rounded up most the parts EXCEPT the "capaciter bracket". I went by my electrical store and radio shack both and neither know what this is. Do you have a pic?? They know what the capaciter is but not the bracket. Anyway, that's question number one. Number two is, did you run a fan to this box that your ballast is in?? Do I need to purchase a fan to mount in the "box" to cool the ballast. Thanks in advance...
Keith
 
bigdjp

bigdjp

Member
The boxes I used were old microscope light sourse boxes and they already had fans built into them. As far as the Cap brackets go you can kinda see in the picture labeled Plug to Ballast. All it is is a circle bracket that goes around the Cap and then has little tabs that get screwed down.
If you can't find them I can send you some. I can get them for like $0.75 a piece and they don't weigh much so shipping wouldn't be much at all. Let me know if you want me to get you some.
 
nc2tarheel

nc2tarheel

Member
ok, I haven't mounted anything but I wired everything up and BADABOOM, we have light . My only question is, How do I wire the fan up? I'm going to purchase one in the next hour or so. Thanks in advance.
Keith
 
bigdjp

bigdjp

Member
You can do it a couple of ways. If your going to run the ballasts on a timer you can wire the fan to the Black and White wires that connect to the ballast. If your not going to run the ballasts on a timer then you want to connect the Positive wire of the fan to the OUT side if the switch and the Negative wire of the fan to the White wire that you connected to the Yellow COMMON on the ballast. Connected this way the fan will only come on when the switch is ON and the lights are on.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Capacitor bracket...oops forgot to send that. That is simply a metal "strap" that bolts down on both sides of the capacitors to hold them in place.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
Hope yall dont mind but I am taking notes I am coping and pasting to save in word pad I have saved your pics also. Also if anyone needs some of thoughs boxes would you send them?
 
T

tizzo

Guest

Originally posted by Snipe
Also if anyone needs some of thoughs boxes would you send them?

:notsure: Huh??:notsure:
 
bigdjp

bigdjp

Member
Not sure if we have anymore of them at work or not but I can check. The ones I used were broken and it was cheaper to replace than fix. How many would you need?
 
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