Help Finding A New Tank Light!

[chestnutree]

o thats good! thanks for letting me know i'll go down the same route in that case!

Still haven't got around to doing it yet was going to do it over the weekend, so i read your post just in time.

I know they have taken the rest of them off sale due to the light issues.

 

[karenb2]

Hi, I have been waiting for a replacement bulb since January, then last night my 10 year old got all excited because new lid arrived, until I opened it, OMG there is no way on earth I would of expected that fitting to be safe, I phoned pennine this morning and got a rather grumpy women who insisted that these baynot fitting 12v bulbs had been dunked in water and tested, yeh right! so I,ve just been upto an aquatic centre with the lid and they confirmed that they are not safe to use, there is no seal to protect from the condensation.
Then by chance another came in centre with exactly the same issue, whilst there I phoned pennine to get the same response, the owner and expert of the aquatic centre even spoke to them on my phone to confirm they were not advisable to use. so I have requested in writting confirmation of their testing and a new flouresent light. Then when i test it myself by splashing water on it they have no case. And the other problem with the tank is it is a unusual size to be able to buy a new hood with a good safe light fitted.and you get just get the florentent lights in any store to fit the hood.
Doesn't look my son is going to get to see his fish soon!

Had the same lady myself today, i was also told how they would be safe too fully submerge in water

 

[karenb2]

Just a quick update on the lights issue, today a new fluorecent light has just arrived from pennine, and guess what?? I plugged it in and it didn't even light all the way along before it went off.. surprise surprise!
On the phone again luckily didn't get grumpy women like last time, they are going to send ANOTHER one out.
can't wait to see what happens with that one, in the mean time I have bought an light off ebay for £8, number 230442876402 what others had mentioned. its not an exact fit but have been able to attach it and it does the job. My son can see the fish at last.

 

[abih2005]

Ergggh that's so annoying! I too have received a light today, not tried it yet but these posts are not giving me much cause for optimism! Shall get a condensation tray tomorrow then fit it - see if it works then!

 

[hillbilly]

Got my new one today as well. I've been testing it during the day and its worked O.K. so far.
Not fitted it to the tank yet as that's at my Mums.

Doesn't look like they are from a different supplier as they are exactly the same as previous lights.

 

[hamish]

We recieved a light yesterday from Pennine and touch wood its working ok doesn't give me much confidence after hearing one of them new ones is faulty? lets hope its a one off this time.
If they continue to fail then you should all insist on a FULL REFUND not just for the light, i got one + 2 extra hoods complete with the bayonet type bulbs (crap) and then i also got the new light! so it does pay to complain.
We told them we had contacted trading standards and 2 days later got a cheque for £40+ result.
keep us posted on the new lights

 

[hillbilly]

Well I fitted the new light to my Mum's tank yesterday. Worked fine at the time and I switched it off and back on before leaving last night to test it and it was still O.K. then. This morning she tried to switch it on but it's failed agan!!!

Pennine will be sending another after they have done some tests on those they have in stock.

 

[chestnutree]

Incase anyone wants to go down the same route, the aquarium light starter kits that you can get fit fine. The only downside is you have to drill 2 small holes in the top of the hood. These holes are then covered by the clips that go onto the hole to hold the light in place.

Also the starter for the light just pops out to replace once this eventually fails, unlike the pennine one which is a sealed unit (as i recon it's the starter which keeps failing because the bulbs never look like they have blown....and the fact they work until turned off but don't turn back on again)

There is a complete seal that goes around the tube which is easily replaceable instead of having to replace the whole light unit! the power unit for the light is external.

This light is very simular to the one i fitted. please note it's not the exact same one so don't purchase this without checking the size and wattage 1st

 

[abih2005]

Got my light last week, went and bought a condensation hood from Pets At Home, had no problems since then - just waiting to receive my pH testing kit and gravel cleaner so hopefully will get fish this weekend, am thinking 3 or 4 bronze corydoras for the bottom and 5 neon tetra.

 

[karenb2]

Just a quick update on the lights issue, today a new fluorecent light has just arrived from pennine, and guess what?? I plugged it in and it didn't even light all the way along before it went off.. surprise surprise!
On the phone again luckily didn't get grumpy women like last time, they are going to send ANOTHER one out.
can't wait to see what happens with that one, in the mean time I have bought an light off ebay for £8, number 230442876402 what others had mentioned. its not an exact fit but have been able to attach it and it does the job. My son can see the fish at last.

Latest up date on the terrible service from pennine, still waiting for another replacement light and letter stating in writing what test was supposed to be carried out on the bainot fitting light that was totally unacceptable.

 

[hamish]

Our replacement light has just gone again, so far 6 lights, Pennine want to get a better supplier as its obvious that they are just sending out the same old lights and hoping they last?
Even though i have recieved a full refund i'm still going to report them to trading standards as companies like this need closing down

 

[hillbilly]

Even though i have recieved a full refund i'm still going to report them to trading standards as companies like this need closing down

I received my 3rd replacement from Pennine last week and this one didn't even light up fully once. It just glowed a bit at the ends, flashed once and died!

I think however they are trying to do their best, but are being let down by their suppliers. It must be costing them a fair bit in couriers!

 

[sassie b]

Hi all,

The same's happened to me too. I've had my tank set up for 3 weeks and the light wouldn't switch on. I can't believe how many people appear to have the same problem!!

After reading through the post's, I've decided to get the £8 one off ebay with a condensation tray to be on the safe side and stay well clear of the supplier. I'll only end up in trouble...

 

[abih2005]

I received my replacement hood/lamp today and its not good news!

The hood is the same as before but they have drilled a hole in the back and fitted a 12 volt 15 watt incandescent bulb.

The output from this bulb will be insufficient to light a tank of this size and being at the back it will not illuminate the tank properly.

Fortunately I had already taken pix1's advice:

Hi had the same problem light lasted about a week, i bought a waterhome 3 light from ebay for £7 and made a little bracket to use excisting holes very easy to do.

and fitted a waterhome 3 fitting ( held in place by a couple of cable ties) and so will not need use this one from Pennine!

[sup][sup]Please could you explain how you fitted the waterhome light? I've bought one and haven't a clue![/sup][/sup]

 

[hillbilly]

[sup][sup]Please could you explain how you fitted the waterhome light? I've bought one and haven't a clue![/sup][/sup]

As stated above pix1 made a bracket to adapt the waterhome fixing, but my DIY skills are not up to that so I attached it with cable ties.

I first cut away some of the cental plastic strut so that the lamp assembly would fit flush to the lid and then drilled 2 small holes either side of the cut out for the cable ties to fit through.

I left the fixing screws in their studs and slid the ballast end of the fitting between them.

I then wrapped cable ties around the screws to hold it in place and ran more cable ties though the holes to hold the centre in place.

Some pictures may explain it better:
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The waterhome lamp I used is shorter and slightly lower wattage than the original so it doesn't illuminate the tank fully.

This is the result:
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