Cheap & Easy DIY Overdriven NO Flourescents - Page 2 - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

Gomer · 09-29-2003, 07:45 PM

or instead of doubling, how about using (for example) a 36" fixture ballast on 24" tubes?

ecotank · 09-29-2003, 08:56 PM

I've never tried that but in theory it will work. if the 24" tube is rated at 18w and you put a 30w ballast on it, you should get 30w of light out of it. T8 bulbs are better to use of course in either application. The 18w bulb running on a 30w ballast will have a shorter life than if running on a 18w ballast, but the idea here is for more light cheaply!

AndyL · 10-05-2003, 01:31 AM

Just a note - 2x od'ing a 40w isn't actually 80w - its closer to 60w. There's a HUGE article on it on theplantedtank.net I think it is. Its explained there why doubling the input doesn't double the output.

Andy

ecotank · 10-05-2003, 02:58 AM

Ok, so it basically it is spitting the double effect and you get 60w out of what was a 40w light. That still means I can get 240w out of 4 bulbs, much better than before and done rather cheaply.

I'll check out the article...thanks.

RedTurquoise · 10-23-2003, 10:07 AM

Sorry I didnt see this post earlier! I have been doing this for also 2 years now.

Andy is right, the output does not increase by a factor of 2x, 3x or 4x.

Perhaps to explain this in a little more detail. Fluorescent lighting was introduced as an alternative to incandescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is much more efficient than incandescent because the ballast limits the power to the tube. Therefore, because this power is being limited, you increase efficiency and money.

Take note that on ballasts it states that the ambient temperature needs to be xF in order to start. The reason is that a cold tube, similar to a cold car for those who have winters the get below 0C, takes more power (effort) to start but if the ballast is limiting the power, the tube will not be able to start (not enough power to get the phorspurs 'excited' to start to glow).

Now, back to our overdriving. When using 2-4 lamp electronic ballasts connected only to 1 lamp, you are 'bypassing' the efficiency factor and allowing the tube to draw as much power as it is able to. Its as simple as that. The tube will not draw more power than that (simliar to a motor which also will not draw more power than it is designed for). So you dont have to worry about using a 4 lamp ballast exploding a tube or whatever because the tube can not draw more power (you can connect a 6 or 8 lamp ballast (if they made such things) if you want to and it still will not make a difference).

Btw, I have a couple of 4 lamp ballasts connected to 1 lamp with no problems.

I hope that makes sense!

Navyblue · 03-12-2004, 01:38 AM

Hi all,

I have a frame with 18 watts NO, if I would to use MAGNETIC BALLAST rated at 40 watts, will it be able to shine brighter without any form of risk? In fact I often seen light frame sold with a slightly overrated magnetic ballast.

What about PC tube?

Thanks for reading.

catfishmike · 03-12-2004, 04:01 AM

i think this only applys to electronic ballasts.not tar or magnetic.of course i could be wrong,but from everything i know electronic is needed to overdrive.

RedTurquoise · 03-12-2004, 09:08 AM

Mike is right, it only works on electronic ballasts not magentic. Believe me, I tried it and nothing happens.

ecotank · 03-12-2004, 09:39 PM

Yes Mike is correct, and actually there is fire danger when trying to overload lights with a magnetic ballast, and you don't even get more light!

Navyblue · 03-13-2004, 10:58 AM

Thanks guys...

09-29-2003, 07:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gomer Super Fish Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: So Calif. Posts: 1,118	or instead of doubling, how about using (for example) a 36" fixture ballast on 24" tubes? __________________ What are you..a cory or a loach?!

09-29-2003, 08:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
ecotank Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Palm Springs, Ca Posts: 1,379	I've never tried that but in theory it will work. if the 24" tube is rated at 18w and you put a 30w ballast on it, you should get 30w of light out of it. T8 bulbs are better to use of course in either application. The 18w bulb running on a 30w ballast will have a shorter life than if running on a 18w ballast, but the idea here is for more light cheaply! __________________ In an effort to eliminate spam, I have trained my robotic dog to bite the electronic mailman Our Fish Tanks Desert Fish Club My Fish Blog

10-05-2003, 01:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
AndyL Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 908	Just a note - 2x od'ing a 40w isn't actually 80w - its closer to 60w. There's a HUGE article on it on theplantedtank.net I think it is. Its explained there why doubling the input doesn't double the output. Andy __________________

10-05-2003, 02:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
ecotank Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Palm Springs, Ca Posts: 1,379	Ok, so it basically it is spitting the double effect and you get 60w out of what was a 40w light. That still means I can get 240w out of 4 bulbs, much better than before and done rather cheaply. I'll check out the article...thanks. __________________ In an effort to eliminate spam, I have trained my robotic dog to bite the electronic mailman Our Fish Tanks Desert Fish Club My Fish Blog

10-23-2003, 10:07 AM	#15 (permalink)
RedTurquoise Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton Posts: 985	Sorry I didnt see this post earlier! I have been doing this for also 2 years now. Andy is right, the output does not increase by a factor of 2x, 3x or 4x. Perhaps to explain this in a little more detail. Fluorescent lighting was introduced as an alternative to incandescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is much more efficient than incandescent because the ballast limits the power to the tube. Therefore, because this power is being limited, you increase efficiency and money. Take note that on ballasts it states that the ambient temperature needs to be xF in order to start. The reason is that a cold tube, similar to a cold car for those who have winters the get below 0C, takes more power (effort) to start but if the ballast is limiting the power, the tube will not be able to start (not enough power to get the phorspurs 'excited' to start to glow). Now, back to our overdriving. When using 2-4 lamp electronic ballasts connected only to 1 lamp, you are 'bypassing' the efficiency factor and allowing the tube to draw as much power as it is able to. Its as simple as that. The tube will not draw more power than that (simliar to a motor which also will not draw more power than it is designed for). So you dont have to worry about using a 4 lamp ballast exploding a tube or whatever because the tube can not draw more power (you can connect a 6 or 8 lamp ballast (if they made such things) if you want to and it still will not make a difference). Btw, I have a couple of 4 lamp ballasts connected to 1 lamp with no problems. I hope that makes sense! __________________ This hobby is addicting. I want more Discus!!!

03-12-2004, 01:38 AM	#16 (permalink)
Navyblue Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 63	Hi all, I have a frame with 18 watts NO, if I would to use MAGNETIC BALLAST rated at 40 watts, will it be able to shine brighter without any form of risk? In fact I often seen light frame sold with a slightly overrated magnetic ballast. What about PC tube? Thanks for reading. Last edited by Navyblue; 03-12-2004 at 01:43 AM..

03-12-2004, 04:01 AM	#17 (permalink)
catfishmike Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: orbiting the earth in a moble suit. Posts: 2,610	i think this only applys to electronic ballasts.not tar or magnetic.of course i could be wrong,but from everything i know electronic is needed to overdrive. __________________ i'm catfishmike and i approve this message(see now just look how dumb that sounds coming out of anyones mouth)

03-12-2004, 09:08 AM	#18 (permalink)
RedTurquoise Large Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton Posts: 985	Mike is right, it only works on electronic ballasts not magentic. Believe me, I tried it and nothing happens. __________________ This hobby is addicting. I want more Discus!!!

03-12-2004, 09:39 PM	#19 (permalink)
ecotank Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Palm Springs, Ca Posts: 1,379	Yes Mike is correct, and actually there is fire danger when trying to overload lights with a magnetic ballast, and you don't even get more light! __________________ In an effort to eliminate spam, I have trained my robotic dog to bite the electronic mailman Our Fish Tanks Desert Fish Club My Fish Blog

03-13-2004, 10:58 AM	#20 (permalink)
Navyblue Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 63	Thanks guys...