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 #2041259


Remixxx420
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 Wiring multiple lights in cage

theres a thread in the monitor section about cage building, one was very good but was very brief about the lights they put in, they had 3 fixtures for flood basking lights, a fixture for a ceramic heater, and a fixture or two for just regular energy efficient lights hooked up to a couple switches and im assuming a dimmer switch for the ceramic heat bulb, anybody want to take the task of explaining in some detail about how this was done without hiring somebody who knows what thier doing? im not dumb, and im very good with electronics but im assuming electric panels are somewhat a differant story, so if anybody has any input or a DIY dummy tutorial it would probably help out a lot of people including me



07/18/09  11:13am

 #2041660


Cphill58
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   Message To: Remixxx420   In reference to Message Id: 2041259


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

Remixxx...

I haVE A VIDEO ON YOU TUBE (CAPS) sorry , new keyboard .....lol

Look up my name or view the link here....make sure you see part 2 also. It will show you how to make the dimmer... we can build a 3 /4 light set up easily...

With the parts I used you can run up to 600 watts of bulbs or whatever. The dimmer switch is rated for 600 watts max. Any good extention cord will have seperate wires colored black / white / green (for ground)











07/19/09  02:39pm

 #2041832


Remixxx420
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2041660


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

that is some good information but i was talking about wiring up light holders to the main power like any other house light without plugging into the wall, this is my exact situation i need 4 or 5 light sockets wired up to one on/off switch and 1 light socket wired up to a dimmer switch all connected to the house electricity, i know its cheaper than buying 6 clamp lamps at 10$ a piece and its more conventional, it also looks better. i guess i should have explained more in my post but if i dont end up doing that your tutorial is deffinatly a big help as an alternative thanks
07/19/09  08:20pm

 #2042031


Remixxx420
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2041660


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

hey if the dimmer switch only has bolts do you connect the wires from both sides of the extension cord to the bolts? your dimmer already has wires coming out of it
07/20/09  07:53am

 #2042539


Cphill58
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   Message To: Remixxx420   In reference to Message Id: 2042031


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

The reason I posted the dimmer switch is so that you could start there... once you have that built you can control the lights ....

Lights...

Attach these items to the wood ...like a 2x4 ... drill a hole large enough to pass wire of your choice
( usually extension cord wire ) sold by the foot at home depot. You will need to prep the ends of the wire and connect to the terminals / screws. All these parts are available at Homer Depot for less. Finally at the one end you will run a male plug to a receptacle ...? somewhere you have to plug it in.

light fixture .....


Attach the light fixtures to the wood and route wires to be neat and clean. Run one wire always on the gold terminals....and one witre on the silver terminals ....do not cross them. If you need help let me know exactly what it is you need so I can explain it ...

White (nuetral) wire is always attached to silver .... black (power) wire is always attached to dark brass terminals. It is easy to keep the wires paralell label one , or color it with a marker.





07/21/09  02:11am

 #2042541


Cphill58
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2042539


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

Ok I just re read your thread .... the dimmer is a switch ... and all switches are just that ...an interruption in one wire only... the power(black) wire.

Where are you planning to steal power from ... you need to carefully invade the box and steal power ...one black and one white wire source.... then you add a switch to your light / dimmer switch that you will make.... if you don’t know how to get the power from the wall .... you can do it aS i SAID WITH A RECEPTACLE ...AND PLUG IN THERE.... AND MAKE YOUR OWN SWITCH AT THE ENCLOSURE. Damn CapS....lol

First make the dimmer ... and then the light bar ... as you become more familiar with all the parts and terms I can guide you to YOU TUBE videos that will teach you more.

Or you can look on your own ... try searching how to wire a light... how to wire a switch...etc.

Cp



07/21/09  02:19am

 #2042587


Remixxx420
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2042541


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

hey thanks phil yeah i understand how to attach the lights to the switches, i was going to hard wire everything to a breaker but i figured if something happened and i wasnt up to code that could be a big problem, so i decided to do it your way, the way i have it all in my head is i have 5 lamps, 3 for flood lights that are going to be hooked up to a dimmer, 1 for a ceramic heat bulb thats going to be hooked up to a dimmer, and the 1 cfl twirly light thats going to be hooked up to nothing just the power bar that everything else is going to be hooked up to then im going to hook up the main power bar to a timer and that should be it, does that sound correct?



07/21/09  08:02am

 #2043013


Cphill58
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   Message To: Remixxx420   In reference to Message Id: 2042587


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

Compact Flourescent....bad news, read about them here....

Link

Just my dollars worth on them , they have caused considerable damage to reptiles ...if caught soon enough it is reversible. Better to have a linear tube .... what type of critter is it for?

The light bar ... and the heat can be dimmed as you indicated. The flourescent can not. It will flicker if not given the proper voltage. The timer is way cool I use these for 20.00 at where else .....HD....lol

If you build the dimmer as I indicated with a 2 gang box ...you can add a full power receptacle too.
I was going to make a third video , but I am in Calif working for the next 2 weeks.

Link
Link

Cp
07/21/09  08:38pm

 #2043024


Remixxx420
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2043013


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

hey phil thats deffinatly an eye opener but is that connected to just regular 15 watt cfl lights? not ones ment for uva sunlight, i was jsut thinking with just 3 red flood lights its going to be dark so i was going to juse a regular cfl for lighting because monitors apparently like it bright, im not sure if you have experience with monitors or have heard anything bad about using regular cfls in a monitor cage?



07/21/09  08:44pm

 #2065443


Cphill58
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   Message To: Remixxx420   In reference to Message Id: 2043024


 Wiring multiple lights in cage

It’s been a month of work out of state ...good to be back ...I know a bit about what monitors need ...and yes for regular white light CFL’s are fine ....I thought you were doing the UVB / UVA thing...

I see the 4 foot single and double florescent fixtures at Home Depot for 10-20.00 I use these and purchase a 4’ 6500k daylight /full spectrum bulb for about 3.00..actually I bought a 10 pack for all the beardies ...these are as bright as you can get...far better than the warm or cool lights. 6500K look that up on the Kelvin scale ...surprising bright light



08/30/09  01:16pm


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