I found a great deal at my local Lowes store! They had 2 x 40 watt shop lights with electronic ballasts for only $14.00!
So I bought 2 shoplights and only 2 bulbs instead of 4, then took everything apart!
Using the "power end" of both units on the stainless reflector, then soldering the wires so that one bulb is driven per ballast instead of 2 bulbs!
Essentially we now have 2 x 80 watts in the same space of 2 x 40 watts
The life expectancy of the bulbs will be a little shorter, not much, but at $3.00 a bulb who cares.
The light produced is fantastic...Not bad to get 160 watts of light for under 35 bucks!!!
I'm going to have to rig the same thing up for the big tank when it's built
So I bought 2 shoplights and only 2 bulbs instead of 4, then took everything apart!
Using the "power end" of both units on the stainless reflector, then soldering the wires so that one bulb is driven per ballast instead of 2 bulbs!
Essentially we now have 2 x 80 watts in the same space of 2 x 40 watts
The life expectancy of the bulbs will be a little shorter, not much, but at $3.00 a bulb who cares.
The light produced is fantastic...Not bad to get 160 watts of light for under 35 bucks!!!
I'm going to have to rig the same thing up for the big tank when it's built