This is a "How To" on building a 150w MH Pendant. Materials List: - 150w DE MH Bulb - 150w MH Ballast - 500w Regent Halogen Light Fixture - Steel Wire - Clamp Kit for Wire - Cieling Screw w/ Eye - 8ft. 3-Prong Wire - Junction Box www.petsupplyliquidator.com . Step 1: 500w Halogen Fixture -> 150w MH Pendant Take the Regent fixture apart by removing the glass, then the reflector, and then the end caps. Now, take the end caps outside and drill a hole in the space between the existing mounting hole and the curve towards the middle of the bracket. Make sure the drilled hole is large enough for the mounting screw to fit through. Do this on both sides. Take some v-cut pliers or a dremel and remove most of the ceramic from around the bulb contacts on the endcaps. Almost half of it has to be removed. I would suggest cutting off all of the excess ceramic used to shield the halogen bulb. Take the endcaps and cut them in half (again, I used v-cut pliers) in the middle, through the hole where the reflector once mounted. Now remount them inside of the fixture. There should be about an inch gap between the bracket. Loop the steel cable through the hole used for attachting the mounting bracket and secure it with the clamp kit. Now feed the 8ft. powercord through the hole and down into the fixture where the old wires were run. Use the green to ground the fixture, and the black and white to connect the endcaps. Replace the reflector (it will stay on by itself). Now install the bulb and be sure to wipe it down with an alcohol soaked cloth. Put the glass back on. Wiring diagram. Key: OG Color -> Representation Black -> Teal Green -> Green White -> Grey Yellow -> Yellow (Sometimes red). Step 2 Wire it up! Measure about 1 - 2' from the plug on the powercord, and cut it in half. Now strip back the wires on both sides exposing the white, black, and green wires. Feed the wires from the ballast and either end of the powercord into the junction box. Wiring should be done accoring to your ballast specifications. Remember that you will wire from the wall, into the ballast. Then from the ballast, into the fixture. Green will ALWAYS be ground. After everything is buttoned up, plug in the ballast to check and make sure everything is working properly. If so, go on to step 3. If not, go back and check your connections and wiring. Make sure that the reflector is now touching the back of the endcaps, causing them to ground out! Step 3: Hanging the Pendant Have someone hold the pendant over the tank to make sure it is where you want it. Then, install the eye bolt by twisting it into the cieling. Measure off the wire where the pendant has a height of about 6" off the surface of the water. Install the second part of the wire clamp kit by making a loop. Now hang it form the cieling mount aND NOW SIT BACK AND ENJOYa
$120 total i just made mine it works great the link for the parts is in 1st post the regent fixture is from wallmart or homedepot or lowes! bulbs from aquatraders.com i got my balast from ebay i will post some pic's soon! The Regent is the EQ500WL. The bulb would be any 150w DE MH bulb. The Balast is a M102 ballast Hear is a list of bulbs that will work 1.xM 2.Ushio 3.Catalina 4.BLV 5.AB 6.Iwasaki 7.Coralife/CoralValue The catalina bulbs can be found at www.petsupplyliquidator.com
That is a great diy project. I wish that I had know how to do this before I purchased my Aqualight. I really wanted to do a diy but I really wanted HQI halides and there are very few retrofit kits for HQI bulbs and the ones that were out there were all for 150 watt bulbs and I was wanting 250 watt bulbs. I have purchased another clam tank from scubadog that I will definitely use your project on - thank for the detailed instructions. I will probably have lots of questions when I get started on it.
clomon iv done this before and it works good Just one suggestion. You need to drill some small holes in the back to let out some heat. As Thea can get awful hot and can shorten your lamp life.
Good to hear from you Jerry C. I understand about the overtime, I work more than my share of the stuff. Been awhyle since I seen ya, I guess its beed at least two years. Im finally going to be able to make a meeting, can you believe Ill actually have a weekend off for a change.
Hay Roy' Yes work is :twisted: But it pays for the reef LOL I have been talking to our Keepersofthereef about trying to make the event if i can get off. Your old tank will be Reade to go up soon just need to get time to put the finishing tuneup to the stand and canapé.
