Home made DS hood and ballasts

[mitsu1]

Here's some pic's of a home made Dual Specrum Hood. The ballasts are from a kit. One 400 watt MH and one 400 watt HPS. The hood measures 27"x24". Has two 5kv sockets that are adjustable. It has felt lined ledges for the tempered glass to slide on and to help seal it. It's air cooled,two 4" ducts one at each end. This hood wiil take 2-400's or 1-600 +1-400 or 1-1000. Depending on the type of 1k bulb used I could also get 1-400 and 1-1000.

 

[RuralRoute420]

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so you made the reflector?

are you going to share how? or was this just a show & tell?

how much did it cost?

 

[mitsu1]

Yea I made it. I'm trying to find pic's of the construction..It was made using sheet metal and a "Brake". If you have access to these you can bend one up.The sockets come with the ballast kits. The rest of the electrical stuff came from Home Depot. Cost....I got the metal free..Sheet metal is cheap..The German aluminum reflector was free..You could leave it white or get a piece of flashing from Home Depot...The electrical stuff was also cheap..I used extention cords for like $5 each. a couple of ceiling fan electrical boxes .47 cents each..wirenuts a buck..box connectors $2..sheet metal screws a buck...one can primer and one can paint..I used Rust Oleum professional..The glass I ordered was $50 bucks..I don't know the exact cost but I know it's a lot less than buying one......I scaled up a photo from a catolog..made a blue print and got to work..It's an exact copy of a major manufacturer's...I have the blue print and I know I have some photo's of this one being made..If not I'm making another..Have the metal bent and drilled..A good cleaning and of to paint...peace

 

[FunkBomb]

That is very badass dual reflector you have constructed, great job. Any chance you can post a a DIY guide?


-Funk

 

[mitsu1]

I'm trying to locate the blueprint drawings for it..As soon as I do I'll post it for you or anyboby to use..I'm starting another one I'll make sure I take photos and post...Let me go look again..I'll be back...peace

 

[mitsu1]

Sorry it took so long getting these blue prints up..I suck at computers...Had to take photo's of them..



This is the top view and the side view..Cut and drill your sheet metal to these drawings..I have mine done. I'm ready for paint..I will post pic's of unpainted and painted..I'll also put together a parts list..Be back soon...peace

 

[killabrown420]

Nice reflector, looks real sharp and professional. Thanks for posting this.

 

[UmphreyMcgee420]

very nice job man

 

[Guest]

Just a question, what are the ballasts grounded to? Or is the plug ungrounded?

 

[mitsu1]

The ballast doesn't get a ground..Grounding is done at the recepticle. Not at the device..If you purchase the ballast kit wiring instructions are included...Two wires go to the ballast..Black (hot) and white (neutral)..Then to the light you have two wires also Black and White..The Green (ground) gets connected at the recepticle..If you want I'll post up the ballast wiring diagrams...peace

 

[mitsu1]

Hood pieces primed

Hood pieces primed

Here is some photo's of the pieces freshly primed..Had to do some rust removal before appling the primer..It had been in storage awhile. I knew I should have primed it when I did the other one..Oh well live and learn..





I'll let them dry overnight then put it together...peace

 

[green_grow]

makes me wish i had a brake.
question ... why square openings for the bulbs ?

 

[mitsu1]

No special reason..Round would work...I was working with a photo from a catalog when I made the drawing..In the photo you couldn't see what was behind the juntion box..If you wanted to you could make a small round hole..just big enough to run the wires from the socket thru..I wanted to be able to remove the socket thru the hole..I made block off plates in case i want to remove one fixture...Two screws in the juntion box hold the whole unit in..remove them..pull out fixture..put on block off plate...I also made block off plates and louvers for the vent openings ..I tried to do as much as I could to this hood...It can be used many ways..I'm very happy with the first one..Works like a champ....peace