Icecap 660 Wiring, how hard?

Laddy · 05/28/2007, 06:47 PM

I'm debating lighting schemes for a 55g i'm starting and I'd really like to take the Icecap and custom the lighting myself (after traditionally buying my hoods) however, I don't want to burn down our house (I'd hate to think how long it would take for my wife to forget that!). What exactly is the process.

Any help would be appreciated.

chris4869 · 05/31/2007, 08:04 PM

It's really simple. The ballast has a diagram printed on it and you really can't go wrong if you follow the color coding.

I recommend buying the kit (ballast, lights, reflectors, wirings, power cord, end caps, etc.). You'll need to buy some wood screws. I also bought a stick of wood from Home Depot to mount the end caps onto it, because the top of my hood is too thin to screw the end cap bases directly onto it.

Once you screw the bases of the end caps on, layout your wires according to the diagram on the ballast and cut to the proper length. You'll have extra wires left over from the cuttings. Use them to wire the "in between" connections.

Cut 1/4" of the plastic insulation from the tip of the wires to expose the copper core and insert them into the end caps. The end caps will lock onto the exposed copper wires. Push the end caps onto the end cap bases until they're locked.

You will have 3 extra wires (black, white, and green) from the plastic connector that you will need to connect to the black, white, and green wires from the power cord.

Insert the bulbs and then attach the reflectors.

Plug the connector into the ballast and power cord into the wall outlet... hopefully there will be light. =)

It sounds complicated, but it isn't.

chris4869 · 05/31/2007, 08:08 PM

It's really simple. The ballast has a diagram printed on it and you really can't go wrong if you follow the color coding.

I recommend buying the kit (ballast, lights, reflectors, wirings, power cord, end caps, etc.). You'll need to buy some wood screws. I also bought a stick of wood from Home Depot to mount the end caps onto it, because the top of my hood is too thin to screw the end cap bases directly onto it.

Once you screw the bases of the end caps on, layout your wires according to the diagram on the ballast and cut to the proper length. You'll have extra wires left over from the cuttings. Use them to wire the "in between" connections.

Cut 1/4" of the plastic insulation from the tip of the wires to expose the copper core and insert them into the end caps. The end caps will lock onto the exposed copper wires. Push the end caps onto the end cap bases until they're locked.

You will have 3 extra wires (black, white, and green) from the plastic connector that you will need to connect to the black, white, and green wires from the power cord.

Plug the connector into the ballast and power cord into the wall outlet... hopefully there will be light. =)

It sounds complicated, but it isn't.

05/28/2007, 06:47 PM	#1
Laddy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Standing Tall on the Quarterdeck Posts: 1,001	Icecap 660 Wiring, how hard? I'm debating lighting schemes for a 55g i'm starting and I'd really like to take the Icecap and custom the lighting myself (after traditionally buying my hoods) however, I don't want to burn down our house (I'd hate to think how long it would take for my wife to forget that!). What exactly is the process. Any help would be appreciated.

05/31/2007, 08:04 PM	#2
chris4869 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,006	It's really simple. The ballast has a diagram printed on it and you really can't go wrong if you follow the color coding. I recommend buying the kit (ballast, lights, reflectors, wirings, power cord, end caps, etc.). You'll need to buy some wood screws. I also bought a stick of wood from Home Depot to mount the end caps onto it, because the top of my hood is too thin to screw the end cap bases directly onto it. Once you screw the bases of the end caps on, layout your wires according to the diagram on the ballast and cut to the proper length. You'll have extra wires left over from the cuttings. Use them to wire the "in between" connections. Cut 1/4" of the plastic insulation from the tip of the wires to expose the copper core and insert them into the end caps. The end caps will lock onto the exposed copper wires. Push the end caps onto the end cap bases until they're locked. You will have 3 extra wires (black, white, and green) from the plastic connector that you will need to connect to the black, white, and green wires from the power cord. Insert the bulbs and then attach the reflectors. Plug the connector into the ballast and power cord into the wall outlet... hopefully there will be light. =) It sounds complicated, but it isn't.

05/31/2007, 08:08 PM	#3
chris4869 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,006	It's really simple. The ballast has a diagram printed on it and you really can't go wrong if you follow the color coding. I recommend buying the kit (ballast, lights, reflectors, wirings, power cord, end caps, etc.). You'll need to buy some wood screws. I also bought a stick of wood from Home Depot to mount the end caps onto it, because the top of my hood is too thin to screw the end cap bases directly onto it. Once you screw the bases of the end caps on, layout your wires according to the diagram on the ballast and cut to the proper length. You'll have extra wires left over from the cuttings. Use them to wire the "in between" connections. Cut 1/4" of the plastic insulation from the tip of the wires to expose the copper core and insert them into the end caps. The end caps will lock onto the exposed copper wires. Push the end caps onto the end cap bases until they're locked. You will have 3 extra wires (black, white, and green) from the plastic connector that you will need to connect to the black, white, and green wires from the power cord. Plug the connector into the ballast and power cord into the wall outlet... hopefully there will be light. =) It sounds complicated, but it isn't.