Anyone make personal DIY LED kits around here?
- Thread starter mickeyray
- Start date
terahz
1x10^12 Hz
Are you replacing the lights altogether or just want to add on?
All your answers were probably asked in the long LONG thread here:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587273.
For total replacement:
I have a 10G tank with 6 white (Cree CR-E) and 6 blue (Cree CR-E) leds with individual heatsinks (Wakefield 658-35AB) driven by two buckpucks (1000mA) at 60% white and 75% blue, powered by a 24V power supply from ebay. I also have 4 40mm fans to move air out of my original tank hood. I'd say the same setup will be enough for your 14G bio as well.
In addition have an Arduino controller that does sunrise/sunset.
Here is the build write up on my blog:
http://joro.geodar.com/diary/2009/11/04/714/lang/en/
In general you want 1 LED for evern 10-20in^2 of surface area. (10 will be very bright, 20 will be enough for most mixed reefs), then depending on the height of the tank you supplement with lens. LEDs are usually driven at 500mA so that they "live" longer. You don't have to worry about lens, unless you want to mount the lights on the ceiling like this guy did:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1784873
All your answers were probably asked in the long LONG thread here:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587273.
For total replacement:
I have a 10G tank with 6 white (Cree CR-E) and 6 blue (Cree CR-E) leds with individual heatsinks (Wakefield 658-35AB) driven by two buckpucks (1000mA) at 60% white and 75% blue, powered by a 24V power supply from ebay. I also have 4 40mm fans to move air out of my original tank hood. I'd say the same setup will be enough for your 14G bio as well.
In addition have an Arduino controller that does sunrise/sunset.
Here is the build write up on my blog:
http://joro.geodar.com/diary/2009/11/04/714/lang/en/
In general you want 1 LED for evern 10-20in^2 of surface area. (10 will be very bright, 20 will be enough for most mixed reefs), then depending on the height of the tank you supplement with lens. LEDs are usually driven at 500mA so that they "live" longer. You don't have to worry about lens, unless you want to mount the lights on the ceiling like this guy did:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1784873
I think I wanna replace it. I'm just lost on how and what they need to run smoothly. and if it's cost efficent to DIY. On one hand I want the experience but on the other I don't wanna pay nearly the same for something I could buy. And if I do learn how to do this. I'd like to try it on a couple other things.. like only 2 or 4 led setups. maybe even led strips for my fuge.
terahz
1x10^12 Hz
LEDs cost roughly 10 bucks per LED (final price), so 12LEDs would run you about 120-130 bucks (or maybe less) in parts.
This is a good place to buy kits if you don't want to search for parts yourself:
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-DIY-Retrofit-Kits/Categories
That being said if you're not sure about LEDs it is best to just get 2-3, as you said, and give them a try over a section of your tank.
As for buying an LED fixture, I don't think you have too much choice there. It seems like almost everybody here builds their own.
It is really a straight forward wiring job.
This is a good place to buy kits if you don't want to search for parts yourself:
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-DIY-Retrofit-Kits/Categories
That being said if you're not sure about LEDs it is best to just get 2-3, as you said, and give them a try over a section of your tank.
As for buying an LED fixture, I don't think you have too much choice there. It seems like almost everybody here builds their own.
It is really a straight forward wiring job.
FroMan
Insane in the Brain
Nice work!
Did you use the Cree based LED DYI as a guide?
OUt of curiosity, does the heat sink get warm? I read through the DIY thread and I thought the size/mass of the heat sink was a bit excessive.
fishieness
New member
No. I believe there used to be a 150 watt halide and 72 watts of PC. He USED to have 220 watts and now has 78 (LED).
terahz
1x10^12 Hz
I don't have a par meter, and lux is not really useful. 1 LED produces about 200lux (at 700mA). I do have a lux meter though and if you're interested I can measure it.
There was a thread under Reef Discussions about a guy who took measurements and he had something like 1000par under water at 7" from the 24leds with 60 degree lenses. If I find the thread I'll post the info here.
Edit:
This is what I was looking for:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1761942
There was a thread under Reef Discussions about a guy who took measurements and he had something like 1000par under water at 7" from the 24leds with 60 degree lenses. If I find the thread I'll post the info here.
Edit:
This is what I was looking for:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1761942
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