Tank -> Lamp conversion

[DivingEnthusiast]

Hi everyone,
I have a few old Alum 80s (pre 89 and one is Luxfer) and I plan on turning the Luxfer into a lamp. I'm going to take the valve off, and then drill a hole in it and feed the powercord through the tank. I have a DIY lamp kit I bought at Home Depot from Westinghouse, and have it figured out. My only question is whether I should worry about the tank becoming an electrocution machine, and if so, what to do to ground it. Maybe this isn't the right forum for this, I don't know.
Thanks!

 

[Peter_C]

I have more than a few lamps that are made out of metal. None even have the earth ground connected. I would say your bigger fear should be building a wide base for it so it doesn't fall over.

 

[melanie.]

I don't know anything about lamps.....

But I sooo want to see pictures of the final product

 

[DivingEnthusiast]

Thanks for the reply Peter, I guess all I have to worry about is making sure the power cord is secured properly to the area where the bulb goes in (can't remember the name). It's just going to be a corner lamp, so I'll leave the original boot on it and that should help with stability. Melanie, don't worry, I'll upload when it's done .

 

[Peter_C]

Scrap tank $$$$
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/miscellaneous-items/362739-scuba-lamp-sale.html

 

[DIWdiver]

The major safety concern is at the point where the wire goes through the hole in the base. If the insulation chafes through, you have trouble. I would use double insulated cord (it's usually round, and has separately insulated wires covered in a secondary insulation layer), or maybe a ferrule screwed into the hole in the tank to protect the wire. UL listed lights always have some sort of secondary insulation at this point if the wire is entering a metal enclosure.

 

[DivingEnthusiast]

Done!

All I did was take the valve off, drill a hole in the side near the bottom, and then put together the lamp assembly. If anybody is considering doing this, let me know on this thread and I'll post a more in-depth DIY guide.

 

[melanie.]

Pretty cool! The scuba geek inside of me is awfully jealous :cool2:

 

[black_sea]

Nice work! I started reading this thinking you were modifying the tank as a body/housing for a submersible underwater torch...

 

[smurfy]

All I did was take the valve off, drill a hole in the side near the bottom, and then put together the lamp assembly. If anybody is considering doing this, let me know on this thread and I'll post a more in-depth DIY guide.

View attachment 101812

I'd love a tutorial on this. I'm mainly interested in how you attached the light socket inside the neck of the tank.

Thanks!

Pat