DLuce510
A.D.I.D.A.A.
First a little back story. I've always been blown away with the growth and color from systems lit with t5's. After I've spent almost $1200 on my AI Hydras for the controllability aspect I wanted to give a shot at a t5 hybrid. No ATI or Giesemann fixture would fit in my canopy with the Hydras so I found two 2 bulb fixtures at a home department store for around $30 each. It was too much at full strength and bleached most of my Acro's. I took them down and there they sat for over a year. The t5 bug kept chewing at me and finally I decided to sell the Hydra's and set up a 48" dimmable fixture. Strangely enough for 3 Hydras and a director at $400 off retail, couldn't sell them. So I made due with what I had.
I am making this thread because I had a heck of a time finding any step by step info or others who have done this. Hopefully I can save you the trial and error I had.
I found the two bulb fixture fit well and I could use one on each side of the LED's. I found the dimmable ballast at Iballast.com for around $50-$65. Make sure it has a 0-10v port.
I used a Kessil cord to run from the ballast to the Apex Variable Speed outlet, I got 2 of them for about $20 each.
I only used the White and Red wire from the cord which is strange because the White wire controls intensity and the Red controls color on the Kessil, but it was a process of trial and error to get this right.
The White wire goes into the Grey outlet which is (-) negative
The Red wire goes into the Violet outlet which is (+) positive
Next I took the wires from the two fixtures and ran them into another Kessil cord that I left the Cat5 on to hook up to my Apex VDM module for ramp up ramp down.
Lastley I ordered a reflector for about $18 a piece and installed it with small nylon screws to prevent rust.
All that's left to do is make a profile on your Apex for one channel and hang your fixture! It is wise to have fans in your canopy as well. I purchased some cabinet fans for around $50 that are variable speed with 4 channels. I will add this can be done without the Apex. There is a switch that can be purchased to manually control the Dim for around $45.
Ill include a video to show the Dim. Hopefully this saves someone at least half the stress and headache I experienced trying to get this to work. Big shout out to Jess from Diablo Corals for all the help and my VERY patient wife.
I am making this thread because I had a heck of a time finding any step by step info or others who have done this. Hopefully I can save you the trial and error I had.
I found the two bulb fixture fit well and I could use one on each side of the LED's. I found the dimmable ballast at Iballast.com for around $50-$65. Make sure it has a 0-10v port.
I used a Kessil cord to run from the ballast to the Apex Variable Speed outlet, I got 2 of them for about $20 each.
I only used the White and Red wire from the cord which is strange because the White wire controls intensity and the Red controls color on the Kessil, but it was a process of trial and error to get this right.
The White wire goes into the Grey outlet which is (-) negative
The Red wire goes into the Violet outlet which is (+) positive
Next I took the wires from the two fixtures and ran them into another Kessil cord that I left the Cat5 on to hook up to my Apex VDM module for ramp up ramp down.
Lastley I ordered a reflector for about $18 a piece and installed it with small nylon screws to prevent rust.
All that's left to do is make a profile on your Apex for one channel and hang your fixture! It is wise to have fans in your canopy as well. I purchased some cabinet fans for around $50 that are variable speed with 4 channels. I will add this can be done without the Apex. There is a switch that can be purchased to manually control the Dim for around $45.
Ill include a video to show the Dim. Hopefully this saves someone at least half the stress and headache I experienced trying to get this to work. Big shout out to Jess from Diablo Corals for all the help and my VERY patient wife.
