Diy led

[NeveSSL]

is there a way to only have one plugg for 2 or 3 drivers? i think i am going to go with 60 3w leds on two different heat sinks at 18x10. i am going to order a 48 bulb kit at 2 to 1 royal blues to cool whites and the other 12 are going to be warm whites and a different blue mixed in thru out. what do ya think

I would recommend doing neutral whites instead of cool whites and just skip the warm whites. It will blend better. Its redundant to do cool whites and warm whites when you could just use neutral whites.

Did you read any of the aesthetics thread?

Brandon

 

[gannmann9876]

i searched aesthetics and read some of a thread by evil99. i didnt get very far into it and just googled for some results. i found some people using violet with a royal blue and blue to white 2 to 1 and and the same setup but cyan and red instead of violet. i am going into this not knowing much at all about leds i was unaware that the were so complex. i think instead of heatsink i am going use the c channel like on bills setup because it will be easier to add if i dont have enough light. i am going to do a lot of reasearch this weekend and hopefully get a list together and get this thing going. thanks for the imput i think the leds are going to blow my overdriven t5s away.

 

[NeveSSL]

The thread I'm referring to is by maccupiccu, or something like that.

Keep researching! Your LEDs will be better for it and you'll probably be happier with the results.

Brandon

 

[westreef]

If you go C channel, make sure you have fans to cool it. I have c channel with 3.75" separation from each LED. 12 in one channel. If no fans, too hot. Once you have some air blown on it, very nice and cool!

 

[NeveSSL]

Definitely agree with westreef. We found the same thing with Bill's setup.

Brandon

 

[gannmann9876]

how about 16 cool blue 16 royal blue 16 neutral whites. do you think that would cover the color spectrum and be enought light. 24 leds on each side should equal 150 to 175 halide.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Same here, Two fans on each side blowing across and two larger fans in the canopy top pulling hot air out. Works great!
Bill

 

[NeveSSL]

gannmann, that might work. But I would say that you wouldn't like having that many cool blues. They're powerful little buggers. Most people recommend 1 or 2 every 12 LEDs. I would recommend doing maybe 10 more royal blues and 6 cool blues instead of 16 cool blues.

Brandon

 

[gannmann9876]

Yeah I did more research and am only going with 4 or 6 I am going to configure the layout and see how many will fit evenly

 

[gannmann9876]

led layout: 28 royal blue 10 neutral white 6 cool white 4 cool blue

B W B B W B B W
CW B CB CW B CB CW B
B B W B B W B B

the other side will be a mirror of this

 

[NeveSSL]

I think that looks like a pretty good ratio. Did you find the aesthetics thread? That sounds like something that would be recommended there.

Brandon

 

[gannmann9876]

I read a lot of threads some saying cool white and royal blue add 4 reds some add cyan. From all I read this ratio seems to cover a good color spectrum. Everything has been ordered. All I need is to get the c channel and get to work.

 

[NeveSSL]

Nice. Are you going to try the reds and cyan? Were you able to find a cyan? I know Cree stopped making them, but I think Luxeon has one.

Brandon

 

[gannmann9876]

I am going to start with this but I will add some if the color isn't right I also seen people putting an extra 12 coolwhites 6 on either side for a high noon blast but only running them for 2 or 3 hours. Depending on the par readings I may add the high noon effect

 

[pelagic7]

What are you planing to do w/ water proofing? Also, got a shopping list?

 

[gannmann9876]

Everything has been ordered. As far as waterproofing they sell a led sealent that you put where you solder. All I need to do is go to lowes and get the c channel and learn how to solder.

 

[NeveSSL]

Do you have any more details on that sealant? Where do you get it? Whats it called?

I'd be concerned about corrosion on more than just the solder joints, personally. I'd be interested to hear about who has used it, though, and with what degree of success.

Brandon

 

[gannmann9876]

i got the sealant from led supply.com its called led seal. the site that sold the kits i was looking at reccomended it. i ordered dimmable drivers i read something that they need a steady current of 10v each or they will burn up. is that what the power supply blocks are for.

 

[gannmann9876]

i decided to go with non dimmable drivers my controller will not dim leds. i was wondering how far apart should the leds be? the average i have seen is 2 inches. i ordered 80 degree optics and the lights will be about 4 inches from the water surface.

 

[NeveSSL]

Wow... 4 inches is pretty close. The rule of thumb that was mentioned to me was rows 3" apart, LEDs 2" apart, with or without optics. We used this on Bills tank with 60 degree optics and it worked out great.

Brandon