wire for vho's

kinghokus420 · 03-19-2008, 12:23 AM

what size wire do i need to hook up a 2 light 110w vho retro setup? i have the ballast and endcaps. the less than helpful gentleman at the hardware store irritated me so i left without a definitive answer. he was pushing solid copper wire and/or romex due to high startup voltage. was he right and im being stubborn by insisting its way too much overkill? or can i get away with something a bit easier to work with?

BoomerD · 03-19-2008, 01:49 AM

Josh, you should be able to get the solid-core wire at a Radio Shack. I suppose stranded wire would work, but I figure that if the manufacturers felt that solid core wire was the thing to use, so should I...otherwise, why wouldn't THEY use stranded wire?

your color choices are probably going to be severely limited, but that's what colored tape is for...

AQTCJAK · 03-19-2008, 03:11 AM

I agree

NATIVEVAMAN · 03-19-2008, 06:07 AM

The end caps have spring loaded clips (at least most do) that you put the wire in, no screws.They require solid wire or that braided wire be soldered.I have never wired t-12 vho but CF and t-5 use 18 guage wire from ballast to bulb.If you bought a hardware store ballast it may be made with 12 guage wire from ballast to bulb.I do hope you have a wiring diagram.Most ballasts have them on the ballast.

kinghokus420 · 03-19-2008, 10:35 AM

i guess i was wrong. i have a roll of romex in the garage leftover from wiring the tank..
i dont understand why such heavy gauge wire is used for 2 flouro bulbs? i have the same size wire running my tank,and for that matter running through my house.
im not very electrically savvy so forgive my ignorance. im just confused.

NATIVEVAMAN · 03-19-2008, 12:03 PM

18 guage wire is very small,some people have been know to use it as phone wire in pinch.

kinghokus420 · 03-19-2008, 12:10 PM

it was certainly larger that 18 that he was pushing. i would guess in the 12-14 range.Thats where my big confusion was. i can work with 18 in my mind and my lights much easier.

NATIVEVAMAN · 03-19-2008, 12:22 PM

How many pairs of wires do you have going from ballast to bulb?My guess is you have an Advance ballast (thats what most hardware stores sell).

kinghokus420 · 03-19-2008, 12:35 PM

the ballast is from my old set of lights. im scavenging the ballast to do a retro setup for my new lights.

i think im going to just cut a small piece of the wire off and tell the hardware store guy to give me a roll of it.

NATIVEVAMAN · 03-19-2008, 06:22 PM

The wire matching idea sounds like a plan.I have looked at that picture for 20 minutes trying to find a max wattage.Can you see that marked anywhere?

PEMfish · 03-19-2008, 06:32 PM

Solid copper. Just make it easy on your self and use the right thing. 18AWG is good. Solid 18g is not equal to stranded 18g.

sasquatch · 03-19-2008, 07:15 PM

I was sure it had something to do with the heat rating of the wire cover?

kinghokus420 · 03-19-2008, 07:22 PM

solid 18g is what i was looking for. thank you.

PEMfish · 03-19-2008, 07:53 PM

Look at local electric stores for the Solid copper 18AWG, thats where I got mine.

BoomerD · 03-19-2008, 08:05 PM

Josh...sent ya a PM.

03-19-2008, 12:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
kinghokus420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise ca.(northern) Posts: 431 View Gallery Karma Komment	wire for vho's what size wire do i need to hook up a 2 light 110w vho retro setup? i have the ballast and endcaps. the less than helpful gentleman at the hardware store irritated me so i left without a definitive answer. he was pushing solid copper wire and/or romex due to high startup voltage. was he right and im being stubborn by insisting its way too much overkill? or can i get away with something a bit easier to work with? __________________ josh Chico Reef Club chicoreefclub.org

03-19-2008, 01:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,633 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's Josh, you should be able to get the solid-core wire at a Radio Shack. I suppose stranded wire would work, but I figure that if the manufacturers felt that solid core wire was the thing to use, so should I...otherwise, why wouldn't THEY use stranded wire? your color choices are probably going to be severely limited, but that's what colored tape is for... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

03-19-2008, 03:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,937 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: wire for vho's I agree __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

03-19-2008, 06:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
NATIVEVAMAN Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond va Posts: 209 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's The end caps have spring loaded clips (at least most do) that you put the wire in, no screws.They require solid wire or that braided wire be soldered.I have never wired t-12 vho but CF and t-5 use 18 guage wire from ballast to bulb.If you bought a hardware store ballast it may be made with 12 guage wire from ballast to bulb.I do hope you have a wiring diagram.Most ballasts have them on the ballast.

03-19-2008, 10:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
kinghokus420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise ca.(northern) Posts: 431 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's i guess i was wrong. i have a roll of romex in the garage leftover from wiring the tank.. i dont understand why such heavy gauge wire is used for 2 flouro bulbs? i have the same size wire running my tank,and for that matter running through my house. im not very electrically savvy so forgive my ignorance. im just confused. __________________ josh Chico Reef Club chicoreefclub.org

03-19-2008, 12:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
NATIVEVAMAN Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond va Posts: 209 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's 18 guage wire is very small,some people have been know to use it as phone wire in pinch.

03-19-2008, 12:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
kinghokus420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise ca.(northern) Posts: 431 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's it was certainly larger that 18 that he was pushing. i would guess in the 12-14 range.Thats where my big confusion was. i can work with 18 in my mind and my lights much easier. __________________ josh Chico Reef Club chicoreefclub.org

03-19-2008, 12:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
NATIVEVAMAN Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond va Posts: 209 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's How many pairs of wires do you have going from ballast to bulb?My guess is you have an Advance ballast (thats what most hardware stores sell).

03-19-2008, 12:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
kinghokus420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise ca.(northern) Posts: 431 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's the ballast is from my old set of lights. im scavenging the ballast to do a retro setup for my new lights. i think im going to just cut a small piece of the wire off and tell the hardware store guy to give me a roll of it. __________________ josh Chico Reef Club chicoreefclub.org

03-19-2008, 06:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
NATIVEVAMAN Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond va Posts: 209 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's The wire matching idea sounds like a plan.I have looked at that picture for 20 minutes trying to find a max wattage.Can you see that marked anywhere?

03-19-2008, 06:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
PEMfish Golden Moray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 2,097 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: wire for vho's Solid copper. Just make it easy on your self and use the right thing. 18AWG is good. Solid 18g is not equal to stranded 18g. __________________ Paul `EM See how it all came to be;http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...g-catchup.html My new tank; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-opciones.html Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

03-19-2008, 07:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: wire for vho's I was sure it had something to do with the heat rating of the wire cover?

03-19-2008, 07:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
kinghokus420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise ca.(northern) Posts: 431 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's solid 18g is what i was looking for. thank you. __________________ josh Chico Reef Club chicoreefclub.org

03-19-2008, 07:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
PEMfish Golden Moray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 2,097 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: wire for vho's Look at local electric stores for the Solid copper 18AWG, thats where I got mine. __________________ Paul `EM See how it all came to be;http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...g-catchup.html My new tank; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-opciones.html Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

03-19-2008, 08:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,633 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: wire for vho's Josh...sent ya a PM. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

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