New light hood project

[BMW Rider]

I've been having issues with the heat in my current light hood causing my bulbs to fail way too soon. I'm running 2 x 250w MHs and 2 x 96w PC actinics. It is the actinics that are not lasting as they should. I have two fans running on the hood, one blowing in, the other pulling out, vented to the outside of the aquarium canopy cabinet. The hood is just a simple box I made of 1/2 plywood to hold the light kits that I got from J&L when I set up my reef tank. There is a 1/8 acrylic lens to protect the bulbs from water splashes

I decided that I needed to get rid of more heat, so I am building a new hood from aluminum. It will use the same two fans in the same configuration, but it will employ some passive cooling methods as well which I hope will reduce the internal temperatures of the hood. Basically, air will be able to circulate up from the lower edges of the hood and out throuugh vent holes in the top. Also, being aluminum, it should dissipate more heat then the wood.

I started with some 1/2" aluminum U channel. I cut V notches in the channels to form them into frames for the hood. There are three frames, one at each end and one in the center.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-02.jpg

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-03.jpg

To these, I then riveted on the backing pieces which will support the light sockets and the polished aluminum PFO reflector. There are aluminum channels riveted along the bottom that will accept the acrylic lens.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-04.jpg

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-06.jpg

I made the end panels and cut out the holes for the fans (I will drill the mounting holes when I install them) then riveted them onto the end frames.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-09.jpg

Next the skin is riveted onto the outside of the frames. The top skin has vent holes drilled in it to allow heat to escape. The frames create a space between the reflector and the outer skin for the air to move through.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-10.jpg

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-11.jpg

The electrical box on the top will accommodate all the cords and wire connections for the lights and fans.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-13.jpg

Now the hood itself is built, and a coat of paint is applied.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-15.jpg

I will be switching to VHOs from the PC, so the next step is to get the sockets, install and wire them. Then I will strip out the old hood and move the MHs and fans into the new one. Total investment so far, $50, or about the price of one PC bulb. I hope it works.

[muck]

That looks pretty slick so far Ed!
Hope it works well for ya.. :biggrin:

[Tangman]

VERY NICE!!
I liked the stainless steel look before you painted it, but hey, its yours and still very nice

[Ruth]

Well as soon as you get that finished if you could just pop up here as I have about 5689 projects that I really need a hand with cause neither one of mine seem to work very well when it comes to building or fixing stuff.
JK looks great and good job.

[Murminator]

WOW thats pretty sweet......almost looks like you knew what you were doing :razz:

[BMW Rider]

WOW thats pretty sweet......almost looks like you knew what you were doing :razz:

Well, I thought about it for a few minutes before getting started :lol: Actually, I spent more time planning than building.

I'll post more once I get to the wiring and such.

[Delphinus]

Wow. That's awesome.

What did you use to cut the circle cutouts for the fans?

How did you cut the pieces to have such straight edges? Do you have use a press or something like that?

[BMW Rider]

Wow. That's awesome.

What did you use to cut the circle cutouts for the fans?

How did you cut the pieces to have such straight edges? Do you have use a press or something like that?

I cut the circles with a router and a circle cutting jig. Aluminum is easy to rout with a carbide bit. I bought most of the pieces pre cut to size, the outer skin is just roof flashing that I had left over from years ago. I have a sheetmetal break that I used to make the nice straight bends.

[hawaiiguy]

wow... that looks nice! I wish I had metal working tools. All I got is woodworking stuff and that just won't cut it for making a hood.

[BMW Rider]

wow... that looks nice! I wish I had metal working tools. All I got is woodworking stuff and that just won't cut it for making a hood.

Other than the sheet metal break, not too many tools required beyond the pop riveter and a hacksaw. I used my router to cut the holes in the ends for the fans. The vent holes were drilled with a forstner bit. You could easily have the metal cut and bent for you at a metal shop, then just do the assembly part.

Perhaps I'll take orders once I'm done :mrgreen:

[golfbomber]

looks great!

[BMW Rider]

Got the VHO sockets enad of last week, so yesterday and today I finished the project.

this is the buisness side with everything installed

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-08.jpg

All the wiring junctions. I made all the cords equal lenght to the ballasts now (they were unequal lengths due to the socket locations and how I had routed them), and spliced the two fans onto a single cord instead of seperate.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-091.jpg

Here it is installed in the cabinet.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-12.jpg

And here is what I am replacing. I think this new one looks much improved.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-101.jpg

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/light-hood-111.jpg

[Delphinus]

That thing is sweet.

[niloc16]

that setup looks awesome, congrats. looks like alot of planning, but darn cheap by the sounds of it

[BMW Rider]

Not too bad for cost. The most expensive part is the VHO bulbs, but I needed 1 new PC anyway. Well under a hundred for the rest. Of course I all ready had all the really expensive parts; ballasts, fans, MH sockets and bulbs, etc.

[phreezee]

Very sweet! Can anyone tell me where to pick up a 120V fan like that? I've tried Radio Shack/Source in Northland mall and that's about it :p

[BMW Rider]

The fans came with my MH upgrade kit from J&L. The kit had the ballasts, reflector, sockets cords and fans. They do sell the fans seperately as well.

[phreezee]

Thanks, I'll check out J&L I was hoping Home Depot/Rona/CT might have em, dah well.

[fishmanty]

I got 2 4" 120v fans from Radioshack... here in calgary... they work great, good quality.

[BMW Rider]

I was just over at Princess Auto, and saw that they have the 4" 120v fans there too.

[phreezee]

Cool thanks guys! I'll try another Radioshack and Princess Auto (I love going there anyhow)
Sorry to jack your thread there BMW Rider! Back to the awesomeness of that lighting setup :)

[OCDP]

That's damn sweet Ed.