ADA Style Light Bars

[Jessy]

So here's how I made my light bars to hang my Solaris's:

Shopping list (this is to make two bars to hang two lights)

2 -10' lengths of 3/4 conduit pipe (get a 3rd because you'll make mistakes on bending)

2 - sets of "Sunlifts" from sunlight supply (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~SL2915~tab~2.html) Got mine from SWI much cheaper

4- 1" hooks

4- Decorative nuts (got mine from a current light fixture set, but I'm sure they sell something like it at HD)

4- 3/4 brackets for attaching to the wall or stand

1- Bag of end caps (1/2") see picture for type **optional**

Screws for mounting to the wall/stand


Tools-
Drill
3/4 Pipe bender ($40 @ HD) --gonna return mine :eek::o
Pipe Cutter


To make these light bars I needed them to hang a 14" light fixture 16" over a tank. (I chose to hang it slightly closer to the front of the tank)

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02069.jpg

I measured 18" to start my first bend. That gives me 2" extra on each side of my fixture of dead space.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02071.jpg
If you've never worked with a pipe bender before, you have to line up the little star with your line.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02072.jpg
Bend your first 90 degree angle by stepping on the pedal and forcing it up.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02073.jpg
I needed my light bar to extend 15-16" out from the wall.. so I made my next mark 12" from the top of the perpendicular pipe. Bending with the 3/4 in pipe bender adds about 4" extra to the finished bend. Thus a 12" mark becomes 16" finished product.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02075.jpg

Bend your second 90 the same way as the first.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02076.jpg

Cut the excess length off the foot of your pipe. I cut 7.5" off the end for my purposes.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02077.jpg
Drill holes straight through the pipe to screw in the hooks

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02079.jpg
I finished mine off with a decorative nut, but any nut will do.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02081.jpg

I went the extra step and capped the pipe for a finished look. This is the bag for these caps...Notice they are 1/2 to fit inside the 3/4 pipe.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02080.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02086.jpg
This is what the final close up of the hangers look like

My pipes sit on the floor behind my tank because I couldn't access behind my stand to attach them to the stand (my first choice) so I attached them to the wall
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02085.jpg

Final product
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02082.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02083-1.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h114/JessyCat77/DSC02084.jpg

[LarryM]

That was a really good DIY. Loogs good in the final product. Would recomment a stand matching paint upgrade.

[Jessy]

That was a really good DIY. Loogs good in the final product. Would recomment a stand matching paint upgrade. Will paint them with a black powder coat if I decide to keep the lights. Thanks for the compliment

[low]

very nice jessy.. can you come over and do some diys on my tank at the house too?:)

[Jessy]

very nice jessy.. can you come over and do some diys on my tank at the house too?:)

Aww... DIY like, DIY a whole new tank? Sure.... just let me know when and I'll be there tools in hand....

You do know the only reason I like doing DIY is because you get to use toosl ;)

[h20poloman2]

Once again you prove you are more handy than I. Nice work Jessy :D

[SuperDragon]

nice job! :)
carefully planned out, clean look, versatile, strong, relatively simple.
do the arms swing left and right? I didn't see a bottom bend to hold them steady. My only concern.

[bellareef]

That turned out really nice Jessy. Very nicely done! :)

Mohri

[egd101]

very nice!!!