Author Topic: need help with DIY exposure unit.  (Read 1104 times)

Offline nuunlv

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need help with DIY exposure unit.
« on: March 27, 2012, 02:54:31 AM »
Hello.

I`m building exposure unit, but im not an electric so i need help with fluorescent tube wiring.
I have 6x40w tubes: http://www.ecat.lighting.philips.com/l/special-lighting/insect-trap/actinic-bl-tl-tl-d-t5/928004101029_eu/
and 12x36w ballasts: http://www.helvar.com/default.asp?path=3386,3400,3470,3486&lan=EN

one lamp needs 2 ballasts

also i have starters and all the necessary things. But i dont know how to wire it all preferably in chain to have only two ends to connect to electricity.

i would appreciate if you could help me and draw some diagram noob could understand.

Thank you :)


Offline Itsa Little CrOoked

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Re: need help with DIY exposure unit.
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2012, 08:38:52 AM »
"One lamp needs two ballasts"

Really? Why....

I read a post in a garden forum once about souped-up fluorescents running off of two ballasts for DIY grow lights, but they were T-8's instead of T-12's or T-5's and didn't last very long running off of two ballasts. (FYI, the T-number refers to diameter of bulb in eights of an inch. ex. T-5 means the bulb is a nominal 5/8" in outside diameter)

But google is your friend here, the answer is out there.  The answer probably will make sense once you understand "series" and "parallel" wiring schemes.

Good luck!

Stan

Offline IntegrityShirts

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Re: need help with DIY exposure unit.
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2012, 09:11:04 AM »
Yeah I think you have that backwards.  ONE ballasts feeds TWO lamps.  You can "pigtail" all of the wires together in a junction box and run power through a switch to feed the junction box.  So, white to white, black to black, ground to ground in the junction box to all ballasts.