How do you wire ahsupply lights?

[Mikeman]

I'm really scared of doing it, can you explain how to do it step by step, but in simpler terms than the directions? Also what equitment do you need? I could take it to a one of my dad's electrition friends, but then who knows when they'll be done.

[Strangelove]

Mikeman,

I am the most unhandy person on the planet. If building things is a form of intelligence then I would be riding the little yellow bus.

I've done 3 setups from AH. If you take a big open area (the floor for me) and spread out the parts and instructions you'll find it's not that bad. 2 out of 3 times it went perfectly. The first time it took a little fiddling. It turned out that one splice wasn't long enough.


My advice is to go for it. Have a friend or family member do it with you to double check.

Honestly, if I can do you can too.

Good luck,

Gene

[Mikeman]

one thing with the splicing, what are the blue splice taps, are they the blue things that are in with the white sockets?

[MarkS]

Originally posted by Mikeman
one thing with the splicing, what are the blue splice taps, are they the blue things that are in with the white sockets?

splice taps must = wire nuts

I have never heard of this term before.

Mark

[Aquariust]

the a&h kit is simple to do. If you have zero experience with electrical stuff, stop working now! It's better to wait for someone with experience to do then for you to "blow a ballast".

What kind of experience do you have working with electricity?

A&H's directions weren't extremely clear I know. Those splice taps are quicker than wire nuts. They clamp on the wires and complete the circuit. Like a wire nut, just no cutting involved.

I lost my directions, if you type them all up on here, I could guide you.

[Mikeman]

Aquariust

are the blue splice taps the blue things, with it looks like 2 holes through them but really one of them in blocked off, and it has a peace of metal sticking out of it?

Also how do they work? Where do you put the wires?

I've really haven't got any experiences with electrical stuff, but you have to learn somehow, right ? All I really need to know is how to splice the wires.

[Mikeman]

here are the instructions


1. To makes jumpers, cut four 2 1/2” Red wires from the extra Red wire supplied in you kit. Bend each 2.5” wires into a U shape(insure all end are stripped 1/2”) and insert into the holes sockets shown.

2. Splice the long Yellow wire with your kit into the Yellow ballast wire with a blue splice tap.

3. Mount the ballast case and ground it by connecting the Green/Yellow power cord wire to the case at a mounting holes securing it under the head of the ballast mounting screws. Use the extra green wire provided as an extension if necessary. Crimping(?) the eyelet(?) provided unto the ground wire will make your connection neater and more secure.

4. Trim the long Red and Yellow wires to the length your installation requires(make sure the ends are stripped 1/2”) and insert the ends of the long Red and Yellow wires into the socket holes shown.

5. Use wire nuts to connect the Black ballast wire to the Brown power supply wire, and the White ballast wire to the Blue power supply wire.

6. To avoid electrical shock, cap and insulate the short red wires. The gray wire nuts work well for that.


How do you use the wire nuts? Where do you put the wires?
Also what does crimping mean, and what are the eyelets?


I still am not sure what blue splice taps are


thanks in advance

[Strangelove]

Mikeman,

1. Wire nuts are the the roundish things that look like a thimble. They are used to connect to wires (connect wires = splice). You can easily practce with these. Hold 2 wire tips together that you have stripped (removed) about 1/2" of the plastic insulation. Place the wire nut very firmly over the ends of the wires so that the wires go into the hole in the nut. While pushing down on the wire nut, twist it clockwise onto the 2 wires. If done correctly, it sould stay on and hold the wires pretty firmly together. These nuts are used for the black, brown and white wires on the power cord to attach to the ballast.

2. The green wire will be your grounding wire. It's very important to keep you from shocking yourself. There are 2 ways to use it. The end that is connected to the ballast can just have an end stripped, bent into a j shape and screwed down under one of the screws that holds the ballast onto the enclosure. This is easiest. Step 3 in the instructions involves an "eyelet". It is a small piece of metal that has a round hole (where a screw goes through) and a partially complete "tunnel" that you stick the green wire into. Instead of the "j-shape" above, you put one end of the green wire (stripped) into the "tunnel" and bend (crimp) it with pliers so that the wire can' come out. Then use the hole in the eyelet for a ballast screw to go through as above.

3. The jumpers are what the direstions say. They're just a piece of wire stripped on both ends and stuck into 2 holes in the bulb plugs. Look carefully at the picture and you should see where thay go. You should have 4 holes to choose from. I don' think it matters whee you begin as long as the holes get wires configured as in the picture.

4. Lastly, the blue "splice taps". They are used to connect a wire onto the middle of another wire insteadof onto the end of a wire, like the wire nuts do. More specifically, in step 2 you are connecting a yellow wire into the middle of the yellow wire that's already coming out of the ballast. The wire already coming out of the ballast goes into tha sple tap in the hole that goes all the way through. No stripping needed. The wire that you're attaching to it goes into the hole that only goes 1/2 way through the splice tap. This wire should be spliced 1/2 - 3/4 " where it goes into the splice tap. After the wires are in you'll see a piece af plastic on the tap that swings over top of the wires. On that is a little latch. Use pliers to squeeze the splice tap until the metal strip is all the way into the tap and the latch catches. These you really can't practice with but if you goof it up they are sold cheap at any hardware store. Lay all the wires out next to the picture that comes with the directions and I think you'll see where everything goes.

If I can, I'll post some picture of my wonderful wiring later today.

Hope this helps. If you still are having trouble maybe getting those electrician friends to help isn't the worst thing inthe world.

Gene

[Aquariust]

As strangelove said, the blue splice taps are to be used when connecting one wire to another. The splice tap has two places where wires can go. The first place is where the wire you are getting power from spices into the other one. The other place won't let the wore all the way threw. You put both wires in the tap, and squeeze with pliers. Not too hard though, bc the splice can break. That little metal piece will bite into both wires and create a conncetion. Kind of hard to explain w/o pictures.

Make sure you cover everything with electrical tape, or better yet Liquid electrical tape.

If you have any more ?'s let us know. We'll get you threw this

[Mikeman]

do I need to cover everything with electric tape if I have a glass cover over the top of the tank?

I think I understand most everything, if you could I'm a still a little lost on the blue splice tap(although atleast I know what it is ) I'm confused if you bend the peace of plastic that curves toward the metal with plierers until the metal touches the wires? It kinda hard to explain the question? I might need a pic to understand, sorry

also

The wire already coming out of the ballast goes into tha sple tap in the hole that goes all the way through. No stripping needed. The wire that you're attaching to it goes into the hole that only goes 1/2 way through the splice tap. This wire should be spliced 1/2 - 3/4 " where it goes into the splice tap.

when you say the wire should be spliced 1/2 - 3/4" do you mean stripped?


thanks all for your help really

[Aquariust]

No Mike the wire doesn't have to be stripped. The blue splice goes over the wires, shething and all. The blue thing has a small "hinge" on it. When you put the pliers on, your are "closing the door". With the pliers you want to put them over the plastic. When you squeeze it, the metal piece should snap into the wires. You will hear the plastic snap together and it will hold together. When it does, it breaks through the shething, and "connects" the 2 wires together. The metal piece is a conductor of electricity. It is basically making the 2 wires touch, creating a circuit.

Understand?Cover everything with electrical tape. Seal it up good! Just make sure it all works before you wrap it all up!

[Mikeman]

I think I understand, also what do I put the electric tape on, just the wires, and the splice taps, or over the sockets too?

[Strangelove]

Mike,

Yes, I mean stripped.

Here are some bad pictures, hope they help.

[Strangelove]

Here are the jumpers.

[Strangelove]

Wire nut.

[Mikeman]

I'm now confused on how to actually asemble the darnt thing. here are the directions

1(I'm not going to type it but it said to drill the holes in the reflectors)

2.Se the reflectors aside and install the Switch with adjusring Ring Bezel and Button (um I have no idea what those are. First screw the adjusting ring(?) into the threaded switch neck(?) as far as it will go with the ripped edge closest to the switch body. Insert into the 1/2" inlcosure hole from the inside. Feed the bezel into the 1/2" hole from the outside and screw it onto onto the threaded switch neck until snug. Place the button over the top of the yellow plunger and press until it snaps in place.

3. Now install a power cord in the eclosure using a bushing(a what?) If you are installing 2 grounded power supply cords, it will be easier to kae all the nessasry connections if you strip3 to 4 inches of outer insualtionfrom the non-plug end of the cords before installation.

Make electrical conncetions

5....... you will need to adjust the reflector instructions to incorporate washers between the nylon spacers and the reflectors. Therefore, put 1" screws through the bulb holders and reflectors.slide the washer onto the screws, slidethe spacers onto the screws, and set the reflectorswith the screw tips in the pilot holes, and then tighten the screws into place,

My question of five is, do you do anything to the socket? Like screw it in? or do the bulb holders keep the bulb in place? Also if its the case, do you need to drill a hole on each side of the reflectors?
thanks again

Mike

[Aquariust]

Mike I am going to be honest...

Have a professional wire it up!

[FishKid]

um... It was easy for me but I never put electrical tape on and my application doesnt allow easy access...

mark

[Mikeman]

perosnally I think I can do it, but I wouldn't like to ruin the thing by not asking questions.

[Mikeman]

got them wired, and on the tank, it wasn't as hard as it looked I guess