I just completed my new light fixture for my 28 gallon bowfront aquarium, so I figured I would show how I did it and maybe this will help someone down the road.
Items needed:
(2) shoplights from Home Depot. (part# 732-334. comes in a grey and white box)
(4) 24" aquarium blubs. (purchased at home depot and lowes)
(1) sheet of 3/8" plywood or whatever you want to use.
(1) roll of 10" x 10' flashing.
nails and paint.
Tools needed:
tape measure, circular saw, sander, and hammer.
This project took two days to complete and cost me around 50 bucks.
(2) shoplights: 16 dollars.
(4) 24" light bulbs: 24 dollars. (hopefully you can find them cheaper)
(1) 3/8" small sheet of plywood: 5 dollars
(1) roll of 10" x 10' flashing: 6 dollars
As you can see the most expensive purchase was the light bulbs themselves. It really only cost me 26 dollars to build this whole fixture minus the lights.
The wiring is completed as show on the ballast itself. No major electric work needed. Just push the correct wire into the correct socket and that's it. I wired both ballasts to run off of one plug, you can wire it to run off of two if you wish.
I did not include the dimensions used for this fixture as it would change to suit your needs.
(If you have any questions or feel that I need to add more info, just PM me.)
EDIT: this fixture does not have an on/off switch. I run all my lights off of timers, so I have no need for one.
Two shotlights, Flashing, bulbs, and wood from Home Depot. This is the whole light fixture minus some nails and paint.
These are the Sunpark SL-15 ballasts I removed from the shoplights. Just 3 screws and they come right out.
Items needed:
(2) shoplights from Home Depot. (part# 732-334. comes in a grey and white box)
(4) 24" aquarium blubs. (purchased at home depot and lowes)
(1) sheet of 3/8" plywood or whatever you want to use.
(1) roll of 10" x 10' flashing.
nails and paint.
Tools needed:
tape measure, circular saw, sander, and hammer.
This project took two days to complete and cost me around 50 bucks.
(2) shoplights: 16 dollars.
(4) 24" light bulbs: 24 dollars. (hopefully you can find them cheaper)
(1) 3/8" small sheet of plywood: 5 dollars
(1) roll of 10" x 10' flashing: 6 dollars
As you can see the most expensive purchase was the light bulbs themselves. It really only cost me 26 dollars to build this whole fixture minus the lights.
The wiring is completed as show on the ballast itself. No major electric work needed. Just push the correct wire into the correct socket and that's it. I wired both ballasts to run off of one plug, you can wire it to run off of two if you wish.
I did not include the dimensions used for this fixture as it would change to suit your needs.
(If you have any questions or feel that I need to add more info, just PM me.)
EDIT: this fixture does not have an on/off switch. I run all my lights off of timers, so I have no need for one.
Two shotlights, Flashing, bulbs, and wood from Home Depot. This is the whole light fixture minus some nails and paint.
These are the Sunpark SL-15 ballasts I removed from the shoplights. Just 3 screws and they come right out.