Help Wire My MH

OK most ballasts have two connections.

1) the live wire from your power supply (normally brown) is connected to the first terminal of the ballast/coil.
2)The other terminal on the ballast is wired to connected to the "B" connection of the ignitor.
3) The N terminal on the ignitor is wired to the blue wire from your power source and the N terminal of the globe.
4) the LP terminal of the ignite is wired to the L side of the globe.
5) the capacitor is wired across the L terminal of the ballast and the N terminal of the igniter.
 
Nemos Janitor said:
OK most ballasts have two connections.

1) the live wire from your power supply (normally brown) is connected to the first terminal of the ballast/coil.
2)The other terminal on the ballast is wired to connected to the "B" connection of the ignitor.
3) The N terminal on the ignitor is wired to the blue wire from your power source and the N terminal of the globe.
4) the LP terminal of the ignite is wired to the L side of the globe.
5) the capacitor is wired across the L terminal of the ballast and the N terminal of the igniter.
Click to expand...

All sounds good. My ballast has the terminals side by side, so I take it then that if I read left to right the left hand side one will be 1st and right hand side 2nd.
Does that make sense?
 
Yup it does not matter. The ballast is a "choke/coil" And the capacitor also does not matter which way round You connect. It is AC. "Alternating current".
 
On most of the single ended Mogul E40 fittings they are marked N & L. Some of the double ended Fc2 fittings are also marked. But dont worry about it. It makes no difference. I just used the reference to avoid confusion.
 
Nemos Janitor said:
On most of the single ended Mogul E40 fittings they are marked N & L. Some of the double ended Fc2 fittings are also marked. But dont worry about it. It makes no difference. I just used the reference to avoid confusion.
Click to expand...

Thanks again. I've followed your advise and some pics, does my wiring look right and is the spacing between the ignitor, ballast & capacitor ok? I'm not sure if there will be any electrical or magnetic interference. Can't wait to fire them up!!!!


11094ad85ccba8f8d.jpg
11094ad85cf8a17b7.jpg
 
@pads sorry for the delay. i saw your post but could not get to respond. Anyway the wiring is correct however the wire is far to thin. You need to use wire that is the same or thicker than the white wires on the globe holder. The wires to the globes should be silicone wire. they handle the heat better and do not make them longer than 1.5 meters. The other wires should also be min .75mm.

If you try and start it up like it is it most likely wont ignite the globe and a fire could happen.
 
Nemos Janitor said:
@pads sorry for the delay. i saw your post but could not get to respond. Anyway the wiring is correct however the wire is far to thin. You need to use wire that is the same or thicker than the white wires on the globe holder. The wires to the globes should be silicone wire. they handle the heat better and do not make them longer than 1.5 meters. The other wires should also be min .75mm.

If you try and start it up like it is it most likely wont ignite the globe and a fire could happen.
Click to expand...

No worries. I just could hold on any longer. I reviewed the steps you gave and a pic from Inflames(Greg) and connected up the 220V. SUCCESS. Man, it makes my T5's look like 5 candle power. I'll do as you say and go get some thicker wire from Builders 2mo. The L /N wire I was using was 300V Copper wire I cut off a dead powerhead. I thought it would be ok. But some nice thick stuff can't hurt.

Thanks again for the help!!! Shotto:slayer:
 
davidfr7 said:
Pads what globes have got
Click to expand...

Hey Dave, I've got 3 70Watt. 2 x 14k 1 x 20k. I'm planning on supplimenting them with 2 or 4 x 54watt 10k t5's. I still need to see what colour I get in the tank as to whether I add actinics instead of 10k. I'd prefer the lumens of the 10k compared the the actinics.

Just finished all the wiring for the MH ballasts. Busy painting my top pane of the hood so I can mount the steel sheet with the ballasts on. Next week I should have time to go get some Alanod Aluminium to make up my reflectors. But for now I'll have a beer :1: or two
 
That cost less than 1/2 of one light fitting well done and i hope that lighting gives your corals great growth and fantastic colour.

BIG WELL DONE PADS :thumbup:
 
davidfr7 said:
That cost less than 1/2 of one light fitting well done and i hope that lighting gives your corals great growth and fantastic colour.

BIG WELL DONE PADS :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Cheers Dave, Ja I'm hoping the lumens will be enough for my corals, I don't plan on having many SPS, mainly LPS and softies. I can see already that the colour will be awesome. Gotta love the satisfaction of a successful DIY :biggrin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom