Diy T-5?!?!

[drex]

so yesterday as i had to go pick up some cable and what not for my job...i get all my stuff at an electric store only a few min away from work..i look up and they have T5's running all the way through their store. would it be possible to buy a hood like they have? its like 12-14 inches wide and buy ballasts and what not, buy good reflectors and have a decent setup? or is that just not going to work im no electrician so im just curious..i can get a good deal on them through our work account so i just wasnt sure..any help is appreciated. he can also get deals for me on halide stuff so any suggestions on what to buy if its worth it at all?

 

[scsinet]

It should...
T5 HO is catching on for commercial lighting because they are so much more efficient than standard linear fluorescent, so that's probably what type of fixtures they are.

 

[michaeltx]

as long as they are HO or VHO t-5s youll be fine if they are normal outpur t-5 then it wont do you much good.
Mike

 

[drex]

how will i know they are HO? go by the wattage? if they are 54 watts then just buy my bulbs/reflectors online and run it off those ballasts?

 

[wangotango]

T5ho wattages:
24" = 24w
36" = 39w
48" = 54w
60" = 80w
My only concern would be that the "housing" would rust from the moisture. Other than that if you're using waterproof endcaps, a spec ballast, and individual reflectors you should be good to go.
-Justin

 

[saltn00b]

i dont think they make VHO T5 ??

 

[michaeltx]

I have seen it advertised in a few places on the net but really havent looked close at them to see if they are another name as the HO versions. something I would have to look at again.
Mike

 

[wangotango]

I'm pretty sure the bulbs themselves only come in HO. VHO is just what they call overdriving them. So if you're running them off an Icecap ballast then they'd be called T5-VHO.
Could be wrong though.
-Justin

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2577313
.
Could be wrong though.
-Justin

But you're not. UV Lighting beefed up the electrodes in their lamps to better hold up to overdriving on an Ice Cap ballast. They label them VHO.

 

[drex]

well i checked with them and the ballasts are 54 watts for each bulb..one guy said one ballast MAY be able to do 6 bulbs, but he knows for sure 54 to 4 bulbs per ballast. so im going to have the fixture powder coated, they do have individual reflectors but theyare big i will buy new ones and try and get 8-10 bulbs in there. ill have to see how it goes...i would love to get alot of colors in there

 

[drex]

sooo..i went in there today and the 8 bulb fixture they can order is 24 inches wide..to wide for my 90..however, they had one come back with a bad ballast and gave me the entire thing for nothing. so i have one ballast, 8 reflectors, etc...im just going to buy the smaller fixture to put it all in, the reflectors have like 6-8 bends in them and they bend quite a bit so i think i can use it all to make a fixture that is pretty decent!im just going to buy all nice bulbs and hopefully this works out fairly well..the fixtures are just painted stainless so im going to have that powder coated, and get a piece of lexan or something cut to prevent water/salt creep from getting in there.i have the 24 wide fixture, i wish there was a way to trim it down or something but i wil lsee what i can do. it is pretty much shaped like a sunblaze fixture. im looking how i can wire in switches and what not, but so far it should be a killer light for what ill have into it for sure.

 

[rotarygeek]

So how much are looking at total? For an 8 bulb set up average is around $400 i believe, but if you can do it yourself for like $150 that would be an awesome write up to help everbody out on lighting expense. I know i would really appreciate a good write up on it.

 

[drex]

well to order this light straight up brand new, a 48 inch 6 bulb complete fixture with NO bulbs is $180. BUT from what i am seeing you can order individual reflectors and stuff fairly cheap now, i will get it done cheap because i got the 8 bulb 24 inch fixture handed to me with a bad ballast. if anyone wants a 24 fixture to build off of let me know because i wont be using it, there is no way for me to make that fit my 90. i may not even need the reflectors, im going to see what i can come up with..anything that comes back bad ever they are going to hand my way. i will do my best once i get things rolling on what i am going to do here..the reflectors are wide but they have the bends and what not just like the teks etc. but then AFTER the bends its just flat for the long ways..you could easily cut those flat parts and fit many more in without effecting the bends not even close.