Chad and Belinda Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 I am replacing the old power compact bulbs that are in the hood of my Red Sea Max. The hood is made for straight pins. The bulbs I purchased (by mail because I cannot find the PC bulbs I like locally) are square pins. I purchased a converter but they the wrong ones and I cannot find the one I need. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 I have some straight pins. 65watt each 50/50 brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share Posted May 25, 2012 Thank you for the offer. The brand we bought was Sunpaq Dual Actinics, which are by far our favorite bulbs. I thought the converter I purchased would work but it didn't so I'm trying to figure out a way to make those work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 No prob... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austx Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 I think you may be able to swap end caps from square to straight if you didnt want to try and find another converter. This may be a helpful link to determine the wiring setup for the switch, it also mentions an ebay seller that could have the converters if that'd be the easier way out? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=910584 Hope yall are doing good and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share Posted May 25, 2012 I think you may be able to swap end caps from square to straight if you didnt want to try and find another converter. This may be a helpful link to determine the wiring setup for the switch, it also mentions an ebay seller that could have the converters if that'd be the easier way out? http://www.reefcentr...ad.php?t=910584 Hope yall are doing good and good luck! Everything is going good now. How about you? I had already seen that thread. The link is for the same kind of converter that I already have which is just the opposite of what I need. I still have the old bulbs. Is it possible to switch them out w/ o popping the bulbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austx Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Thats good to hear, everythings going great just trying to slow down finally. Graduations weddings and a family reunion have claimed all my weekends this month so pretty excited to relax. I'll actually be cutting a polyp of the monsters for you next weekend and get that to you asap, my colony melted but had another in my brothers tank so I just took that back thankfully haha. Ya I thought you might have seen it but hoped it would help. Thats a bummer so switching the end caps may be the way to go. I believe it is possible but I cannot find any other detailed thread on how to accomplish that task yet, I will keep looking and let you now if I find anything though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 . . . I still have the old bulbs. Is it possible to switch them out w/ o popping the bulbs? If you're talking about removing the plastic end that has the pins mounted in it your odds of success are very poor. They are glued onto the bulb and if you did get it off the leads for the bulb are only about 3/8" long so almost impossible to reattach. The Light Bulb Shop on Burnet Rd. has the square sockets with leads. You would have to dismantle the fixture, cut the leads to the old sockets and use wire nuts to attach the new sockets. The square pins actually are not square but rectangular, one diamension between pins is about 2 mm longer than the other diamension. The two pins on one short side corespond to either the left two or right two pins of the straight pin setup. I've got a hammer if you get real frustrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Thats good to hear, everythings going great just trying to slow down finally. Graduations weddings and a family reunion have claimed all my weekends this month so pretty excited to relax. I'll actually be cutting a polyp of the monsters for you next weekend and get that to you asap, my colony melted but had another in my brothers tank so I just took that back thankfully haha. Ya I thought you might have seen it but hoped it would help. Thats a bummer so switching the end caps may be the way to go. I believe it is possible but I cannot find any other detailed thread on how to accomplish that task yet, I will keep looking and let you now if I find anything though! I'm sorry to hear about the colony. It happens but never with the cheap zoas. At least you had a back up. Belinda will be VERY happy yo get that polyp. Thanks for all of your help. I really want to get these bulbs working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 . . . I still have the old bulbs. Is it possible to switch them out w/ o popping the bulbs? If you're talking about removing the plastic end that has the pins mounted in it your odds of success are very poor. They are glued onto the bulb and if you did get it off the leads for the bulb are only about 3/8" long so almost impossible to reattach. The Light Bulb Shop on Burnet Rd. has the square sockets with leads. You would have to dismantle the fixture, cut the leads to the old sockets and use wire nuts to attach the new sockets. The square pins actually are not square but rectangular, one diamension between pins is about 2 mm longer than the other diamension. The two pins on one short side corespond to either the left two or right two pins of the straight pin setup. I've got a hammer if you get real frustrated. That would be great!!! I'll go by there as soon as I can. It will also give me a good reason to stop by Aqua Tek. lol I better stay away from the hammer. I would be likely to use it. haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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