Everything you ever wanted to know about DIY lighting, but were afraid to ask

bigredspecial · 02-17-2006, 07:22 AM

Do you mean equal to 100w incandescent, or actually 100 watts? That would be nuts!

Love Fish: The 6 pack I bought were 15 watts. Keep in mind, all the prices I've listed are in Canadian dollars.

P.S.: I like BigDaddy's suggestion

love_fish · 02-23-2006, 05:28 PM

Yea so bigdaddy, were they 100 watt flourescent or incadescent? I just got the money to do this, so i might be able to go and get the supplies this weekend.

love_fish · 02-25-2006, 07:29 PM

OK, got all my supplies today, after my computer gets fixed from a virus, ill get some pics up of mine.

I bought 3 26 watt bulbs for $12.

love_fish · 02-26-2006, 07:11 PM

Ok, i finally completed it with a switch, and its bright lol. However, im having a hard time mounting it. What can i use? Tape? Any detailed pics of yours mounted bigred?

Oh, and is it ok if the bulb touches the tin foil, or does it have to be completely suspended?

bigredspecial · 02-27-2006, 10:26 AM

After my attempt with pipe clamps failed, I gave in and just siliconed the sockets in place. Looks ugly, but it will work untill I can find a more perminent solution.

The bulb touching the foil shouldn't be a problem.

love_fish · 02-27-2006, 01:09 PM

Thanks, but i found a good way of clamping it down. I drilled 2 holes on each side of the socket, and used one of those zip tie things. It holds really well too.

THanks for all the help bigred, great guide.

jefftaylor · 03-10-2006, 08:20 PM

DO NOT DO ANYTHING THIS GUY IS TELLING YOU TO DO IT IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR HOUSE

1. You are using speaker wire to carry electrical current
2. Do you know exactly what you are really doing with the sockets( they are supposed to be jumped do you know what that is)
3. The way the wires are connected is so wrong not even in a box THE WIRE IS IN A WET ENVIRONMENT USE YOUR HEAD
4. How many amps are going through the SPEAKER WIRE????
5. Do you know what an amp is??????

6. PLEASE NEVER GIVE ELECTRICAL INFORMATION OUT AGAIN HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU MISLEAD AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF STARTING A FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

jefftaylor · 03-10-2006, 08:29 PM

YOU ARE NUTS VOLTAGE HADS NO EFFECT ON THE WIRE, YOU ARE USING SPEAKER WIRE MADE FOR 24 VOLTS PUTTING 120 ON IT YOU DONT THINK YOU ARE STRESSING THE INSULATION OUT MAN USE YOUR HEAD. tHAT WOULD BE LIKE PUTTING 600 VOLTS ON ROMEX NO WRONG NOT ALLOWED

Brack-Man · 03-10-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefftaylor

tHAT WOULD BE LIKE PUTTING 600 VOLTS ON ROMEX NO WRONG NOT ALLOWED

Romex is rated for 600 volts therefore it will actually withstand about 25% more than that safely

Edit: AS for the speaker wire I do agree that it probably is not the best choice for the project, however, it can carry more than 24 volts safely, however it will probably heat up in the process. Speaker wire does not have the same strand count (# of copper strands inside insulation) as normal 12,14, 16 gauge stranded electrical wire, but all in all voltage is not the problem its amperage, the speaker wire could carry 600 volts as long as it wasnt high amps amps are what kill not volts.

jefftaylor · 03-11-2006, 12:52 AM

YOU ARE A COMPLETE IGNORANT MORON ROMEX IS ONLY RATED FOR 300 VOLTS MAX AND YES IT IS THE CURRENT WHICH WILL AFFECT THE INSULATION BUT YOU ARE USING SPEAKER WIRE AND YES IT IS MADE FOR 24 VOLTS I AM A LICENCED ELECTRICIAN SO DONT **** AROUND

02-17-2006, 07:22 AM	#41
bigredspecial Large Fish Join Date: May 2004 Location: St.John's, Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 731	Do you mean equal to 100w incandescent, or actually 100 watts? That would be nuts! Love Fish: The 6 pack I bought were 15 watts. Keep in mind, all the prices I've listed are in Canadian dollars. P.S.: I like BigDaddy's suggestion __________________ 29g: Featherfin synodontis, kuhli loaches, Cories, swordtail, Lemon tetras, Siamese Algae Eaters, tiger barbs; Java fern, Java moss, Compact swords, Rotala indica, Crinum calamistratum. 10g Nano: 14.5lbs LR, Clown Goby, various inverts, Zoanthids, palythoa, mushrooms and colt corals, plus one unidentified LPS.

02-23-2006, 05:28 PM	#42
love_fish Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, US Posts: 501	Yea so bigdaddy, were they 100 watt flourescent or incadescent? I just got the money to do this, so i might be able to go and get the supplies this weekend. __________________ [29 gal under construction]

02-25-2006, 07:29 PM	#43
love_fish Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, US Posts: 501	OK, got all my supplies today, after my computer gets fixed from a virus, ill get some pics up of mine. I bought 3 26 watt bulbs for $12. __________________ [29 gal under construction] Last edited by love_fish; 02-25-2006 at 09:22 PM..

02-26-2006, 07:11 PM	#44
love_fish Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, US Posts: 501	Ok, i finally completed it with a switch, and its bright lol. However, im having a hard time mounting it. What can i use? Tape? Any detailed pics of yours mounted bigred? Oh, and is it ok if the bulb touches the tin foil, or does it have to be completely suspended? __________________ [29 gal under construction] Last edited by love_fish; 02-26-2006 at 07:13 PM..

02-27-2006, 10:26 AM	#45
bigredspecial Large Fish Join Date: May 2004 Location: St.John's, Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 731	After my attempt with pipe clamps failed, I gave in and just siliconed the sockets in place. Looks ugly, but it will work untill I can find a more perminent solution. The bulb touching the foil shouldn't be a problem. __________________ 29g: Featherfin synodontis, kuhli loaches, Cories, swordtail, Lemon tetras, Siamese Algae Eaters, tiger barbs; Java fern, Java moss, Compact swords, Rotala indica, Crinum calamistratum. 10g Nano: 14.5lbs LR, Clown Goby, various inverts, Zoanthids, palythoa, mushrooms and colt corals, plus one unidentified LPS.

02-27-2006, 01:09 PM	#46
love_fish Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York, US Posts: 501	Thanks, but i found a good way of clamping it down. I drilled 2 holes on each side of the socket, and used one of those zip tie things. It holds really well too. THanks for all the help bigred, great guide. __________________ [29 gal under construction]

03-10-2006, 08:20 PM	#47
jefftaylor Little Fish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 153	BAD NEWS DO NOT DO ANYTHING THIS GUY IS TELLING YOU TO DO IT IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR HOUSE 1. You are using speaker wire to carry electrical current 2. Do you know exactly what you are really doing with the sockets( they are supposed to be jumped do you know what that is) 3. The way the wires are connected is so wrong not even in a box THE WIRE IS IN A WET ENVIRONMENT USE YOUR HEAD 4. How many amps are going through the SPEAKER WIRE???? 5. Do you know what an amp is?????? 6. PLEASE NEVER GIVE ELECTRICAL INFORMATION OUT AGAIN HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU MISLEAD AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF STARTING A FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

03-10-2006, 08:29 PM	#48
jefftaylor Little Fish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 153	YOU ARE NUTS VOLTAGE HADS NO EFFECT ON THE WIRE, YOU ARE USING SPEAKER WIRE MADE FOR 24 VOLTS PUTTING 120 ON IT YOU DONT THINK YOU ARE STRESSING THE INSULATION OUT MAN USE YOUR HEAD. tHAT WOULD BE LIKE PUTTING 600 VOLTS ON ROMEX NO WRONG NOT ALLOWED

03-11-2006, 12:52 AM	#50
jefftaylor Little Fish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 153	YOU ARE A COMPLETE IGNORANT MORON ROMEX IS ONLY RATED FOR 300 VOLTS MAX AND YES IT IS THE CURRENT WHICH WILL AFFECT THE INSULATION BUT YOU ARE USING SPEAKER WIRE AND YES IT IS MADE FOR 24 VOLTS I AM A LICENCED ELECTRICIAN SO DONT **** AROUND