Hello to all:

I need your feedback on a little issue i'm having.

To make a long story short, our bathroom fixture decided to give it up a
couple of weeks back. SWMBO and I went looking for a new one but couldn't
find anything we liked so me being the handy dandy carpenter guy, told her
I could build one for her that has some features not found on most
fixtures. The box is made of oak and is about 25" long and 6" wide and
houses 2 electrical outlets, one on either end with two 15" T8 bulbs
providing the lighting. I happened to have a magnetic ballast on hand so
used that, but it requires a metal grounded plate to sit about 1/2" above
the lamps in order to get them to illuminate.

Here's the issue...after constructing the unit, I put in the metal plate
that covers the lamps (and also reflects the light). After testing it out
for 4 hours, the metal plate is also acting like a heat sink. It's very
warm to the touch, but not to the point where one would burn one's hands
(ballast on the other hand is very hot.

There are 2 pieces of oak which stretch across the unit which support the
lampholders underneath as well as the metal plate on top. My question is,
should I be drilling some holes on the top of the unit for heat
dissapation??

At some point in time, this unit will be left on for several hours at a
time and don't wish to burn the house down. Any ideas or comments would be
most appreciative.


Thanks,


Stripes23

Get an electronic ballast AND ventilate. Not sure of your construction
but... no wood should be exposed directly without a metal barrier for fire
prevention. The wood will dry out and crack eventually.

----------------
"Mark" wrote in message ...

Hello to all:

I need your feedback on a little issue i'm having.

To make a long story short, our bathroom fixture decided to give it up a
couple of weeks back. SWMBO and I went looking for a new one but couldn't
find anything we liked so me being the handy dandy carpenter guy, told her
I could build one for her that has some features not found on most
fixtures. The box is made of oak and is about 25" long and 6" wide and
houses 2 electrical outlets, one on either end with two 15" T8 bulbs
providing the lighting. I happened to have a magnetic ballast on hand so
used that, but it requires a metal grounded plate to sit about 1/2" above
the lamps in order to get them to illuminate.

Here's the issue...after constructing the unit, I put in the metal plate
that covers the lamps (and also reflects the light). After testing it out
for 4 hours, the metal plate is also acting like a heat sink. It's very
warm to the touch, but not to the point where one would burn one's hands
(ballast on the other hand is very hot.

There are 2 pieces of oak which stretch across the unit which support the
lampholders underneath as well as the metal plate on top. My question is,
should I be drilling some holes on the top of the unit for heat
dissapation??

At some point in time, this unit will be left on for several hours at a
time and don't wish to burn the house down. Any ideas or comments would be
most appreciative.


Thanks,


Stripes23

On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:24:59 -0600, Josepi wrote
(in article ):

Get an electronic ballast AND ventilate. Not sure of your construction
but... no wood should be exposed directly without a metal barrier for fire
prevention. The wood will dry out and crack eventually.

I agree with this, however find the 'best' ballast you can get. Every light I
have with an electronic ballast eats bulbs alive if they are power cycled
often.
-BR

----------------
"Mark" wrote in message ...

Hello to all:

I need your feedback on a little issue i'm having.

To make a long story short, our bathroom fixture decided to give it up a
couple of weeks back. SWMBO and I went looking for a new one but couldn't
find anything we liked so me being the handy dandy carpenter guy, told her
I could build one for her that has some features not found on most
fixtures. The box is made of oak and is about 25" long and 6" wide and
houses 2 electrical outlets, one on either end with two 15" T8 bulbs
providing the lighting. I happened to have a magnetic ballast on hand so
used that, but it requires a metal grounded plate to sit about 1/2" above
the lamps in order to get them to illuminate.

Here's the issue...after constructing the unit, I put in the metal plate
that covers the lamps (and also reflects the light). After testing it out
for 4 hours, the metal plate is also acting like a heat sink. It's very
warm to the touch, but not to the point where one would burn one's hands
(ballast on the other hand is very hot.

There are 2 pieces of oak which stretch across the unit which support the
lampholders underneath as well as the metal plate on top. My question is,
should I be drilling some holes on the top of the unit for heat
dissapation??

At some point in time, this unit will be left on for several hours at a
time and don't wish to burn the house down. Any ideas or comments would be
most appreciative.


Thanks,


Stripes23

On Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:14:25 -0600, Bruce wrote:
I agree with this, however find the 'best' ballast you can get. Every light I
have with an electronic ballast eats bulbs alive if they are power cycled
often.

And, what is the criteria for a 'good' ballast'? Surely, it must be
something other than price?