DIY LED fixture

[Chaka]

Just wanted to share my DIY fixture build with you all. Its 48x16x2" and will house my 48 LED setup with 4 t5 bulbs. More to come need to finish some of the front toggle switches.

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6769.jpg?t=1292376043

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6771.jpg?t=1292376100

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6773.jpg?t=1292376127

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6775.jpg?t=1292376154

 

[truebeliever71]

Looks good... keep the pics and details coming.

 

[ArmanS]

looks good, like the above poster more pics and some details on what leds are you using, what drivers and most importantly what kind of system will this be for?

 

[Chaka]

The fixture will be used for my 100 gallon tank (48x20x24). The LEDs I am using were bought from RapidLED.com. I got the 48 LED kit with 24 Cree XP-G cool white and 24 XR-E royal blues. One little thing I noticed is that if you get the XP-G whites you could almost do a 1:2 ration on whites to blues. The XP-G are super bright and to get the color i want I have to turn them down a bit. They came with the Meanwell ELN-60-48D drivers. I am still playing with the optics, but I have a mixed batch of 45-60 degrees. I mounted them on 2 15"x15"x3/16" aluminum plates. Which dissipates the heat nicely. All wires were run on the top portion of the plate.

Ill post some more pics with the current light setup (that will eventually go into the fixture). When I originally made the fixture I mounted the aluminum plate to high in the acrylic fixture and as a result it has no light casting to the side. The middle of the tank and sides have less light. The purpose of the new fixture is to clean up the whole LED setup, add T5s, and get the fixture to work better for my application.

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6789.jpg
http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6788.jpg
http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6787.jpg
http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/IMG_6786.jpg

 

[bartek101]

Nice setup, but I would be curious if that metal casing will absorb enough heat to prevent LEDs from overheating. (Not to hijack your threat) I am almost done with my DIY for my 75, just waiting for 2 more fans, and another LEDseal, all my stuff came from www.reefledlights.com

 

[Chaka]

Nice setup, but I would be curious if that metal casing will absorb enough heat to prevent LEDs from overheating. (Not to hijack your threat) I am almost done with my DIY for my 75, just waiting for 2 more fans, and another LEDseal, all my stuff came from www.reefledlights.com

The LEDs are not going to be touching the shell. They are already mounted on my current fixture. It is a 3/16 aluminum plate and with a fan plenty of heat dissipation. The shell will just be for protection/looks not to provide heat transfer.

 

[Chaka]

I got some updates for my tank fixture. I painted it with rust prevention paint. I put like 3 coats of the rust primer and then 3-4 coats of the black rustoleum. Then I put 3 coats of clear coat protector. Turned out nice for spray paint.

I changed the setup I had by hooking up all the whites to one pot and all the blues to one pot. Made it easier to set up the color I want. Also in this setup I have and external on/off switch for the whites and the blues. the third is for the future T5s.

I mount the aluminum plates about 1/2" away from the fans and seem to keep it cool. I will get a temperature reading to see how the plate works. The drivers are just epoxied onto the shell and the fans should help cool them as well.

I did 40~45 degree optics and mounted about 15" above the water level. It has a really nice spread and the corals that I have seem to be enjoying it. The fans I bought are amazing thin and super quite. Now I just need to add my T5 setup and it will be done. Here are some pics:

http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6834.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6838.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6853.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6855.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6864.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6866.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6870.jpg
http://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/g465/Chaka85/?action=view&current=IMG_6869.jpg

Cool...now I can sit and enjoy my tank....will continue to update the T5 add-on.

 

[kcress]

Nice job.

 

[mistaflicksta]

I mounted them on 2 15"x15"x3/16" aluminum plates.

Did you get the aluminum plates from rapid led aswell?

 

[rpresto@hotmail]

I would be afraid to build anything like that, cuz I would probably electrocute myself a bajillion times or burn the house down

 

[pyton]

Where did you get the case?