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Harbor Freight.. sucks!



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 29th 04, 02:37 PM
Gale Pearce
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light , a 20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it I got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember the #) ~
$7 Can
Gale :~)
or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)


Where can you find those? Lowe's, auto stores, Home depot, Wal-Mart??

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!




  #2  
Old May 29th 04, 04:14 PM
Gareee©
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

Hmmm... That's making me wonder if those smaller replacement headlights that
plug into built in car headlight housing could be used somehow? They look
like they might draw less power, and of course are smaller (but with no
reflector)

I might see if I can work up an alternate housing for the headlight in any
case... instead of pouring quickrete, maybe I can use a Tupperware (or such)
rectangular container, use silicon for a sealer, and fill it with small
aquarium gravel to weigh it down.
(that would eliminate the long cure time, and also eliminate any lime or
chemical leaching from the concrete.


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light , a 20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it I got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember the #)

~
$7 Can
Gale :~)
or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)


Where can you find those? Lowe's, auto stores, Home depot, Wal-Mart??

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!






  #3  
Old May 30th 04, 02:26 PM
Gale Pearce
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

I just checked my transformer that came with the light - it is a Cal Pump
model # PS 11V16 20 amp unit - the cement housing that the nursery made to
house it disintegrated in the pond and I found one of those red pottery
crock flower pots that fit the bulb perfectly - after dark it looks like a
lit up acquarium - one other thing - contacts are not sealed in any way, the
wires are just plugged onto the bulb terminals like you would in a car -
thats the way it was sold to me
Gale :~)
"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Hmmm... That's making me wonder if those smaller replacement headlights

that
plug into built in car headlight housing could be used somehow? They look
like they might draw less power, and of course are smaller (but with no
reflector)

I might see if I can work up an alternate housing for the headlight in any
case... instead of pouring quickrete, maybe I can use a Tupperware (or

such)
rectangular container, use silicon for a sealer, and fill it with small
aquarium gravel to weigh it down.
(that would eliminate the long cure time, and also eliminate any lime or
chemical leaching from the concrete.


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light , a

20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that

came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it I

got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember the

#)
~
$7 Can
Gale :~)
or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)

Where can you find those? Lowe's, auto stores, Home depot, Wal-Mart??

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!








  #4  
Old May 31st 04, 01:08 PM
Gale Pearce
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

I took the light out of my pond yesterday and the bulb was in a plastic
holder with a lead weight - the contacts are inside and not wide open as I
remembered it (been a few yrs since I had it out) and the sealed beam is ~
garden tractor size, not a car headlamp
Gale :~)

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
I just checked my transformer that came with the light - it is a Cal Pump
model # PS 11V16 20 amp unit - the cement housing that the nursery made

to
house it disintegrated in the pond and I found one of those red pottery
crock flower pots that fit the bulb perfectly - after dark it looks like a
lit up acquarium - one other thing - contacts are not sealed in any way,

the
wires are just plugged onto the bulb terminals like you would in a car -
thats the way it was sold to me
Gale :~)
"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Hmmm... That's making me wonder if those smaller replacement headlights

that
plug into built in car headlight housing could be used somehow? They

look
like they might draw less power, and of course are smaller (but with no
reflector)

I might see if I can work up an alternate housing for the headlight in

any
case... instead of pouring quickrete, maybe I can use a Tupperware (or

such)
rectangular container, use silicon for a sealer, and fill it with small
aquarium gravel to weigh it down.
(that would eliminate the long cure time, and also eliminate any lime or
chemical leaching from the concrete.


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light , a

20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that

came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater

light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it I

got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember the

#)
~
$7 Can
Gale :~)
or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)

Where can you find those? Lowe's, auto stores, Home depot,

Wal-Mart??

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!










  #5  
Old June 1st 04, 12:41 PM
Gareee©
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

Good additional info. We've had family visiting for the last week, and once
they leave (soon thanks Gawd!), I can look at working up a pond light.
Probably after Weds. this week.

I'm sure I'll find a lamp/headlight at Biglots, and then it's a matter of
getting the power correct, and then sealing it.

Caulking gun silicon is great for maming small things watertight, and I'll
probably try that. I also saw that they have electrical wiring and cables
there as well.

I want to see how inexpensive and easy I can make one that actually works
good and looks nice. Lovally, they only have some low watt ones that are $40
+, and for a low level light, that's just too expensive to me. It's not so
much that I can't afford it, it's the principal of the thing.

Worst case, I can always get sealed rope light, but I want to try an
underwater floodlight kinda thing first., and maybe have it under our big
gargoyle spitter, shining up at him...

I actually got a decent night shot of our backyard and pond last night.. and
I used a new photoshop tool I got called Noise Ninja.. it cleaned up the
nightshot quite well!


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
I took the light out of my pond yesterday and the bulb was in a plastic
holder with a lead weight - the contacts are inside and not wide open as

I
remembered it (been a few yrs since I had it out) and the sealed beam is ~
garden tractor size, not a car headlamp
Gale :~)

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
I just checked my transformer that came with the light - it is a Cal

Pump
model # PS 11V16 20 amp unit - the cement housing that the nursery made

to
house it disintegrated in the pond and I found one of those red pottery
crock flower pots that fit the bulb perfectly - after dark it looks like

a
lit up acquarium - one other thing - contacts are not sealed in any way,


the
wires are just plugged onto the bulb terminals like you would in a car -
thats the way it was sold to me
Gale :~)
"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Hmmm... That's making me wonder if those smaller replacement

headlights
that
plug into built in car headlight housing could be used somehow? They

look
like they might draw less power, and of course are smaller (but with

no
reflector)

I might see if I can work up an alternate housing for the headlight in

any
case... instead of pouring quickrete, maybe I can use a Tupperware (or

such)
rectangular container, use silicon for a sealer, and fill it with

small
aquarium gravel to weigh it down.
(that would eliminate the long cure time, and also eliminate any lime

or
chemical leaching from the concrete.


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light ,

a
20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that

came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater

light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it

I
got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember

the
#)
~
$7 Can
Gale :~)
or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)

Where can you find those? Lowe's, auto stores, Home depot,

Wal-Mart??

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!












  #6  
Old June 1st 04, 02:58 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight..(easy to make lights)

I and a friend have also taken these floating 12-volt fishing lights from
Walmart. They have a styrofoam case that makes them float, light facing
into the water. You just wire them into your 12-volt landscape lights.
Easy to do. The lights sell in the 5-8 dollar range. MIKE
"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Good additional info. We've had family visiting for the last week, and

once
they leave (soon thanks Gawd!), I can look at working up a pond light.
Probably after Weds. this week.

I'm sure I'll find a lamp/headlight at Biglots, and then it's a matter of
getting the power correct, and then sealing it.

Caulking gun silicon is great for maming small things watertight, and I'll
probably try that. I also saw that they have electrical wiring and cables
there as well.

I want to see how inexpensive and easy I can make one that actually works
good and looks nice. Lovally, they only have some low watt ones that are

$40
+, and for a low level light, that's just too expensive to me. It's not so
much that I can't afford it, it's the principal of the thing.

Worst case, I can always get sealed rope light, but I want to try an
underwater floodlight kinda thing first., and maybe have it under our big
gargoyle spitter, shining up at him...

I actually got a decent night shot of our backyard and pond last night..

and
I used a new photoshop tool I got called Noise Ninja.. it cleaned up the
nightshot quite well!


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
I took the light out of my pond yesterday and the bulb was in a plastic
holder with a lead weight - the contacts are inside and not wide open

as
I
remembered it (been a few yrs since I had it out) and the sealed beam is

~
garden tractor size, not a car headlamp
Gale :~)

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
I just checked my transformer that came with the light - it is a Cal

Pump
model # PS 11V16 20 amp unit - the cement housing that the nursery

made
to
house it disintegrated in the pond and I found one of those red

pottery
crock flower pots that fit the bulb perfectly - after dark it looks

like
a
lit up acquarium - one other thing - contacts are not sealed in any

way,

the
wires are just plugged onto the bulb terminals like you would in a

car -
thats the way it was sold to me
Gale :~)
"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Hmmm... That's making me wonder if those smaller replacement

headlights
that
plug into built in car headlight housing could be used somehow? They

look
like they might draw less power, and of course are smaller (but with

no
reflector)

I might see if I can work up an alternate housing for the headlight

in
any
case... instead of pouring quickrete, maybe I can use a Tupperware

(or
such)
rectangular container, use silicon for a sealer, and fill it with

small
aquarium gravel to weigh it down.
(that would eliminate the long cure time, and also eliminate any

lime
or
chemical leaching from the concrete.


"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light

,
a
20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is

that
came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater

light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace

it
I
got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember

the
#)
~
$7 Can
Gale :~)
or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)

Where can you find those? Lowe's, auto stores, Home depot,

Wal-Mart??

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!














  #7  
Old June 1st 04, 04:12 PM
Gareee©
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight..(easy to make lights)

wrote in message ...
I and a friend have also taken these floating 12-volt fishing lights from
Walmart. They have a styrofoam case that makes them float, light facing
into the water. You just wire them into your 12-volt landscape lights.
Easy to do. The lights sell in the 5-8 dollar range. MIKE


Hmm. and I'm going to Wal-Mart today...

Maybe the case can be submerged, or it can be used as a floating planter of
some sort...

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!
--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!


  #8  
Old June 3rd 04, 08:27 PM
Gareee©
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight..(easy to make lights)

wrote in message ...
I and a friend have also taken these floating 12-volt fishing lights from
Walmart. They have a styrofoam case that makes them float, light facing
into the water. You just wire them into your 12-volt landscape lights.
Easy to do. The lights sell in the 5-8 dollar range. MIKE


Ok, I grabbed one of these lights (They do look like easy pond lights!)..
any resource for the 12 volt adapters though? The cheapest thing at Lowe's
was $40 or so...


--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!


  #9  
Old May 30th 04, 05:21 AM
Rodney Pont
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

On Sat, 29 May 2004 09:37:42 -0400, Gale Pearce wrote:

or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)


Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light , a 20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it I got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember the #) ~
$7 Can


UK car headlamps are 60 watts (5 amps at 12 volts). Are yours really
only 20 watts?

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail ngpsm4 (at) infohitsystems (dot) ltd (dot) uk


  #10  
Old May 30th 04, 11:12 AM
Remydog
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Harbor Freight.. sucks!

I would have to believe by the time you tried to create your own underwater
lights, between the time effort and materials, you'd be better off buying
something manufactured for the purpose.

"Rodney Pont" wrote in message
news:atcfzvasbuvgflfgrzfygqhx.hyisnj0.pminews@ihs1 ...
On Sat, 29 May 2004 09:37:42 -0400, Gale Pearce wrote:

or buy a small 12 volt
transformer to run it separately. That's how mine is powered
Gale :~)


Home depot etc carry these - if you only want to run the one light , a 20
watt unit should be all you need - I think that is what mine is that came
with the light ~ 8 yrs ago - I think it is a cal pump underwater light -
looks just like a car sealed beam, in fact when I had to replace it I got
the identical light from an auto store (a Philips - don't remember the #)

~
$7 Can


UK car headlamps are 60 watts (5 amps at 12 volts). Are yours really
only 20 watts?

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail ngpsm4 (at) infohitsystems (dot) ltd (dot) uk




 




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