Quad lamp 4w T5 fluorescent blacklight gearbox

thingiverse

Here we have a design I cobbled together after tracking down a bunch of affordable four-watt T5 blacklights usually used for money counters, etc. It's possible to use standard lamps, naturally, but let's be honest... Blacklights are cooler!! Note: As the ballasts can get quite hot, I highly recommend using PETG, ABS, or any other material that is capable of handling temperatures over 60 degrees Celsius without warping for this project. The one I have printed in PETG has been run for multiple hours so far and there hasn't been any noticeable warping or failure of the mount points for the lamps or gear. Also note: Unless you can specify low-voltage DC ballasts for this project, this project will require the use of mains electrical power. Don't (and I repeat, don't) undertake this project if you're not confident working with mains power. Also, regarding the third STL - The diffuser: This is optional but I like printing these in either fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark materials as they give off a really cool glowing effect. This can be safely printed in PLA as it doesn't see as much heat as the gear compartment. Parts list: (Please note that I'm in a 230-volt country (UK). You may need to change the way the lamps are wired if you're in a 100/130-volt region (e.g. China, JP, or the USA)) Required for functionality: 4x fluorescent tubes (four-watt, six-inch T5) 4x twin-lamp compatible starters (unless you use electronic gear) 4x starter holders (unless you use electronic gear) 2x magnetic ballasts (See the notes above as this configuration is optimized for a 230/240-volt power source) 8x G5 lamp holders (also known as T5 lamp holders basically everywhere). Try to opt for the "Tombstone" versions that have a three-millimeter hole in the center as this is what I designed the unit to handle Solid-core copper wire (I find 1.75mm twin & earth works well for this despite being total overkill) Fixings: 4x M4x25 bolts and nuts for the ballasts 8x M3x25 bolts and nuts for the lamp holders 4x three-by-ten-millimeter sharp self-tapping screws A couple of zip ties to act as strain relievers and management for the cables. Optional extras: 1x four-microfarad capacitor for power factor correction.