(Another) DIY LED Build - Linear Design

[TheFishMan65]

You can do that just make sure you have a splash guard and run with no lenses. Watch the heatsink that you buy also - some of them are kind of tall.

 

[bamf25]

You can do that just make sure you have a splash guard and run with no lenses. Watch the heatsink that you buy also - some of them are kind of tall.

I plan initially to try no lenses. I will be using an old rim mounted MH t5 combo light fixture, that is currently gutted of anything that makes light. Will end up 6 to 8 inches off the water.

 

[katchupoy]

so I have a slight spotlight effect. I may change them to 60 degree to get better spread because are tanks are the same footprint mine is only 6" deeper if I'm correct?

You can always raise them up? and the spotlighting will get diffused.

 

[Mr.Mcgibblets]

i am leaning to doing the 72. Think it should be all the light I would ever need.

I am just finishing a 72 led build on the same size tank. 36 RB and 36 CW XR-E's with 60 degree optics. I will post some pictures in the next day or two for you to see. Last night I did a test fitting and I love the shimmer and the different color combinations available.

 

[swenholz]

I finally got the the red and green LEDs up and running this weekend to finish out the array. That makes a tatol of 92 LEDs - 40 CW(44%), 28 RB(30%), 12 Red(13%), and 12 Green(13%). The reds and greens on my live stock really pop now. I still need to track down a PAR meter. Anyone know where in the Bay Area I can rent or borrow one? I will try to get some decent pictures tonight.

 

[itsmateo]

I finally got the the red and green LEDs up and running this weekend to finish out the array. That makes a tatol of 92 LEDs - 40 CW(44%), 28 RB(30%), 12 Red(13%), and 12 Green(13%). The reds and greens on my live stock really pop now. I still need to track down a PAR meter. Anyone know where in the Bay Area I can rent or borrow one? I will try to get some decent pictures tonight.

Id Love to see some pictures, my buddy has been saying hes having trouble getting reds out of his corals, I'd like to see your set up, Do you have a build thread??

 

[swenholz]

Id Love to see some pictures, my buddy has been saying hes having trouble getting reds out of his corals, I'd like to see your set up, Do you have a build thread??

Here you go
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1743394

I don't have a lot in the way of corals just yet, but the red on my peppermint shrimp and skunk cleaners is a lot more vibrant. Also the orange of my Clowns is much richer.

 

[Hemlock71]

You can always raise them up? and the spotlighting will get diffused.

I'm up as far as I can go in the canopy and the drivers are on top of the lid so the next thing would be going all the way up to the ceiling 15" more but not an option now although something to think about and explain to my wife

 

[swenholz]

Here are a few shots of the completed array

and the red on Pepe le Scrimff really pops now

I am still tweaking it to get just the right balance and I have found someone local that has a PAR meter I can borrow...but most importantly, the main components are DONE!:bounce3:

 

[Mr.Mcgibblets]

Led flicker

Led flicker

Got my lights up last night but having a problem with the lights flickering after shutoff. The lights turn off with no flicker if the pots are turned full on, however with the pots dimmed I get several pops of light for about 5 seconds after I turn the power off. I saw a post somewhere on how to fix this but I can't seem to find it now. Can someone help me out please? Thanks.

I wired to terminal blocks and ganged 3 meanwells together for CW and 3 meanwells to RB.

 

[TheFishMan65]

IIRC the answer is to shut power off to your 10 volt circuit first (ie dim them all the way down). However I may have this backwards and you need to shut the meanwells off first. It has been a while since I saw this question, but I think the answer is shut down order.

 

[Mr.Mcgibblets]

IIRC the answer is to shut power off to your 10 volt circuit first (ie dim them all the way down). However I may have this backwards and you need to shut the meanwells off first. It has been a while since I saw this question, but I think the answer is shut down order.

Ok thanks I will play around with the order tonight.

 

[TheFishMan65]

Let me know what you find. I will add it to the summary. I keep meaning to and forgetting.

 

[chadfarmer]

any XM-l used on builds

 

[TheFishMan65]

IMHO they are just starting up.

 

[bamf25]

I plan on ording 14 XM-L cool whites in the next few days, and Mix with 10 XP-G neutral white. They will be on separate drivers.

 

[TheFishMan65]

I think Cutter has the Neutral XM-Ls. I know they have warm so if not it shouldn't be much longer.

 

[swenholz]

PAR readings...

Readings are from after the reds and greens were added, but the pic is before. Here is a more accurate representation. (no FTS yet)

I would highly suggest adding some reds and greens to the mix. IMO it makes a huge difference in the color richness.

all of these images are straight from the camera and what you see in person.

 

[katchupoy]

wow those are very good readings.... thanks for sharing... amazing inhabitants too...

 

[swenholz]

Thanks. I couldn't be happeir with the results. It's all thanks to the great minds here on RC... couldn't have done it without all of you.
My purple tang was not in good shape when I got him. Pale, no yellow and VERY stressed. as you can see, he has recovered nicely. He is definitly the center piece thus far.