New light hood project

BMW Rider · #1 03-28-2006, 02:13 AM

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 · #2 03-28-2006, 02:21 AM

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

Tangman · #3 03-28-2006, 02:39 AM

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

Ruth · #4 03-28-2006, 02:47 AM

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 · #5 03-28-2006, 04:09 AM

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

BMW Rider · #6 03-28-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murminator

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

Well, I thought about it for a few minutes before getting started

Actually, I spent more time planning than building.

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

Delphinus · #7 03-28-2006, 04:12 PM

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 · #8 03-28-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

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 · #9 04-02-2006, 06:59 PM

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 · #10 04-02-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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