t5 lighting - Page 2

froggsong · #11 (**permalink**) 01-19-2009, 01:03 AM

lol... what is mylar again? I'm sure I know, but my brain is fogged with ... well, it's just foggy.

Gold3nku5h · #12 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 01:51 AM

its a highly reflective material used in grow rooms and stuff, for covering walls. It looks like a mirror pretty much, but the kind im gettings is pixelated, not that it matters with floruescents but with a HID lamp, it would make all the difference. The reason its pixelated is to diffuse the centered light source of the HID. If it were a straight mirror, it would have a center point as a lightsource, giving the plant a sunburn. This causes it to be scattered and helps to not do that. I like it cause it looks cooler, and it wont matter in my case, it will just reflect better than anything purchasable now.

froggsong · #13 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 02:19 AM

Ah, I see. Thanks.

That's the stuff they make foil balloons out of, isn't it?

Gold3nku5h · #14 (**permalink**) 01-20-2009, 11:46 PM

So i got it nailed together and put the sockets in without screwing them down.

This shows pretty much the overall look

This gives you an idea of the thickness of the whole thing. Its about an inch and a half thick.

Thats just a close up of the fixtures and how the woodwork looks in detail.

This is the back/top with the loose wires. I am planning on painting this white or something for a
little more visual appeal when i open the top.

This whole lighting fixture is going to be inclosed in a custom built top. I havn't figured out the color
or type of wood yet, but i dont need to till im ready. Im also planning on either mounting it with a pully
system, or on some hinges to give me more access to the tank when i open it. The base of the light
fixture will sit about 3 inches above the glass top of my terrarium. i plan on having fans running inside the
custom hood helping to exhaust the heated air.

Hope you guys like, and next time i'll give a more indepth construction log or make an actuall one later when
i get into the rest of the construction (tank wise)

UPDATE: And heres the newest. I nailed the centers on, and half, installed the lights, they arn't wires still,
waiting till about next tuesday to get mylar. then i can really get to it again. After that, all i need is the
right kind of foam for making fake rocks, and the grout or whatever im going to use to make the actual faux
rock. Anyone have suggestions of brands? i've looked all over the internet, but no specific names of brands.

Gold3nku5h · #15 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 12:17 AM

Ok, i got my mylar sometime this week, so i painted the whole thing. You'll see. I also just put the mylar on what needs to have a good reflective surface. I started to wire it up, but sadly realized i have to wait till tomorrow to get some new nuts, bolts, washers, some black wire. I have enough in white, but since i'll be twistin em up, i thought i'd just wait and think it over, while also getting the stuff at work. Anyways this is what i leave till i get my shit together tomorrow.

This is the back painted black. Im going to have switches to turn each ballast on if needed. Also i have a dimmer for the LED's that will be my moonlighting shortly.

DAS IT!!! without the lights to give a visual of the reflective angles.

Then with the lights in oh so close to being blinding bright light.

I wrote that cause i didn't have to say it, but type it. I guess i said it in my head, and yeah it was hard.

thercman · #16 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 12:46 AM

Really nice job! I was a bit skeptical about the reflection but you made a believer out of me.... LOL So when are you coming over to install mine? I think the best thing is its low profile.....

Gold3nku5h · #17 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 12:54 AM

Yeah, i wish i could show you guys what i have planned, but theres so much little things crammed into it, i will just slowly reveal it all. Plus i have to really design it and build it. Im going to have a housing for that, and it will be nicer looking still. I have cool switches and will have that thing raise and lower inside the hood so i can have easy access to the tank.. I havn't figured out exactly but it will probably be some kind of a vertical drawer so to speak.

Hhaha, yeah, i told my dad we could probably pump these things out every week, and make like 200 dollars off it with everything installed. He said no

it was and is really fun to build though, and its gotten me to want to build alot more things with my dad, so thats a major plus. It just sucks i've waited till i was 21 to do that.