Removing canopy...

angnak · 02-10-2005, 02:20 PM

I am looking for something that I can put on the backside of my canopy so I can disconnect my lights from the ballast. A little clarification. I have my ballast in the attic and the wires running down the wall. I am in the process of building a new canopy and need to get it off the tank but the wires are fed through a hole in the back of the tank. Instead of pulling the wires back down the wall and gettin them back up the wall I was looking for a connector or something I can easily undo them from the ballst. I hope I am making sense. TIA. Oh yeah. I have three 400w MH Icecap and two 660 VHO IceCap Ballast.

mps9506 · 02-10-2005, 03:04 PM

You could do this for the ballast:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=VHOballast
That is just an extension that plugs into the end of your current wiring harness.

Or go to Radio shack and do it yourself with some molex connectors.

For the halides, mine are wired up with 220V extension cords that plug into each other.
You can use standard 120 volt extension cords also. Just cut the cords down to desirded length and they plug into each other like a quick disconnect. I like the 220V because it twists and locks in place.

HTH
I can post pics of the halide part if needed.

angnak · 02-10-2005, 03:30 PM

Thanks. Do you mind posting a picture of the MHs

Edit: just thought of something. I need something down by the tank. Maybe, just the white "Molex" pieces and I can cut the wires and put one piece on the light side and one piece on the ballast side.

mps9506 · 02-10-2005, 05:33 PM

I'll post a pic tonight. FWIW I don't care for the molex connectors only because they are hard to pull apart.They are the only thing I know to use for the wire harness's however used by the VHO's with more than three wires.
The halides I highly recomend using the extension cords...
Mike

DaveK · 02-10-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angnak

I am looking for something that I can put on the backside of my canopy so I can disconnect my lights from the ballast. ...

What you want for this are industrial grade power connectors. They are not inexpensive, but can be obtaind in easy to connect, heavy duty, moisture proof versions.

Here is one vendor and a possible group of connectors.

http://www.digikey.com/

http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T051/0245-0248.pdf

Note that you order the connectors and the pins to go in them separately. You also need to crimp or soldier the pins to the wire, so you may also need special tools. Also, make sure the pins can handle the voltage and current carried in the wires.

mps9506 · 02-10-2005, 10:51 PM

Here is what I use for my halides. I got this setup from JR in charllotte actually when he sold me a ballast setup a few years back.
You can go to Lowe's and buy a single cord and it will connect one ballast to one light bulb. It has three wires in it, connect your ground and power wires and you are set.

Basically what you do is go buy the cord, cut it in half or to whatever length you need. Wire up one side to your ballast. Wire the other section to your light bulb. Then you can plug them togther as seen above.

Reef Geek · 02-10-2005, 10:58 PM

Twist-locks ... THE standard for industrial, theater (or theatre, depending on which side of the pond you are on), and high-demand applications. The official designation is NEMA L5-15

02-10-2005, 02:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	Removing canopy... I am looking for something that I can put on the backside of my canopy so I can disconnect my lights from the ballast. A little clarification. I have my ballast in the attic and the wires running down the wall. I am in the process of building a new canopy and need to get it off the tank but the wires are fed through a hole in the back of the tank. Instead of pulling the wires back down the wall and gettin them back up the wall I was looking for a connector or something I can easily undo them from the ballst. I hope I am making sense. TIA. Oh yeah. I have three 400w MH Icecap and two 660 VHO IceCap Ballast. __________________ 210gal AGA SW tank. 3 250w MH 4 160w VHOs, 30 gal refuge, ASM Skimmer, Orange shoulder tang, Black tang, Naso tang, 2 orange percs, 2 black percs, 1 lawnmower blenny, a pair of scooter blennies, 5 cleaner shrimp, 5 peppermint shrimp, zebra crabs, halloween crabs, scarlett crabs, various other crabs and snails, 1 rock anemone, 2 colonies of button polyps, 3 colony of star polyps, 3 BTAs, monti cap, various acros

02-10-2005, 03:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	You could do this for the ballast: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=VHOballast That is just an extension that plugs into the end of your current wiring harness. Or go to Radio shack and do it yourself with some molex connectors. For the halides, mine are wired up with 220V extension cords that plug into each other. You can use standard 120 volt extension cords also. Just cut the cords down to desirded length and they plug into each other like a quick disconnect. I like the 220V because it twists and locks in place. HTH I can post pics of the halide part if needed. __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-10-2005, 03:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks. Do you mind posting a picture of the MHs Edit: just thought of something. I need something down by the tank. Maybe, just the white "Molex" pieces and I can cut the wires and put one piece on the light side and one piece on the ballast side. __________________ 210gal AGA SW tank. 3 250w MH 4 160w VHOs, 30 gal refuge, ASM Skimmer, Orange shoulder tang, Black tang, Naso tang, 2 orange percs, 2 black percs, 1 lawnmower blenny, a pair of scooter blennies, 5 cleaner shrimp, 5 peppermint shrimp, zebra crabs, halloween crabs, scarlett crabs, various other crabs and snails, 1 rock anemone, 2 colonies of button polyps, 3 colony of star polyps, 3 BTAs, monti cap, various acros

02-10-2005, 05:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'll post a pic tonight. FWIW I don't care for the molex connectors only because they are hard to pull apart.They are the only thing I know to use for the wire harness's however used by the VHO's with more than three wires. The halides I highly recomend using the extension cords... Mike __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-10-2005, 10:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here is what I use for my halides. I got this setup from JR in charllotte actually when he sold me a ballast setup a few years back. You can go to Lowe's and buy a single cord and it will connect one ballast to one light bulb. It has three wires in it, connect your ground and power wires and you are set. Basically what you do is go buy the cord, cut it in half or to whatever length you need. Wire up one side to your ballast. Wire the other section to your light bulb. Then you can plug them togther as seen above. __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-10-2005, 10:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Reef Geek Reefus Geekus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 325 View Gallery Karma Komment	Twist-locks ... THE standard for industrial, theater (or theatre, depending on which side of the pond you are on), and high-demand applications. The official designation is NEMA L5-15 __________________ Justin Stealth Reefer

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