DIY LEDs - The write-up - (split again)
- Thread starter TheFishMan65
- Start date
lowfi
New member
l o l. Ya I know about the blue corners thing, its been hard trying to fit in all of the rb's. I have no idea how to envision what spectrum this ratio might put out. I'm hoping for a 14k Phoenix-ish type look. If it goes a little more blue than that its ok. I just dont want a purple tank. I guess I can always use pots to adjust the spectrum later. Do you think it is worth messing with the red and green led's?
S2minute
New member
LED FIxture
LED FIxture
I have an update for all of you. After nearly a year and a half of planning and questions and being a general pest :headwally:
I wrote details of this plus more pics in the album on my profile. Special thanks to Kcress, Monkyballs, DMZ and everyone else for putting up with my noob self for the past 1.5 years since i started this heh. ESP. thanks to Fishman. He was with me prettymuch the whole time with advice and phone calls. Without him and the rest of you this project would have been just a pipe dream. You guys are awesome. :thumbsup:
LED FIxture
I have an update for all of you. After nearly a year and a half of planning and questions and being a general pest :headwally:
I wrote details of this plus more pics in the album on my profile. Special thanks to Kcress, Monkyballs, DMZ and everyone else for putting up with my noob self for the past 1.5 years since i started this heh. ESP. thanks to Fishman. He was with me prettymuch the whole time with advice and phone calls. Without him and the rest of you this project would have been just a pipe dream. You guys are awesome. :thumbsup:
brassmonkyballs
BMB
Sweet build S2....congrats!
S2minute
New member
LED Fixture
LED Fixture
So like, i put the final touches on muh new LED Fixture. Then i proceed to dismantle the old MH fixture AKA "The Madusa" as i cart it away i think of the Matrix scene where Neo is carted away in the machine city after his final sacrafice for mankind. :wavehand:
An hour or so later and satisfied everything is cool, i fire up the first PS for mainly RBs and 4 whites,(nevermind that),....and OMG :bigeyes: DUDE,(to myself), this looks SICK!! My fish are like whaa????:fish2: Then PS #2 with the rest of the RBs and Whites ....GASP:hmm6: I immeadiately call my friends.
Then i power up the 3rd PS with the XM-L CW T6s and WW T3s and the first thing i notice.....the polyps on all my corals are like HELLO!!:love1: I then twisted and bent the individual HSs to tweek the spotting
.
No, i diden't get pics at the time BUT, i AM celebrating ATM with some Blue Moons :celeb1: !!. Wish you guys were near me!
Oh and BTW, alittle off topic. The day before i recieved my second order within 2 weeks, from Reef Cleaners. I was so impressed with the Fuzzy Chitons and Dwarf Ceriths from the 1st order that i ordered 12 more Chitons and ahhh 500 more
Ceriths >
...John sent me like 1000+!!! for the price of 500!!! I e-mailed him, " i'm being invaded!!!" The back glass of my 175 has the 2 week old algae growth on it. They swarmed up the back side and in less than 12 hours it was CLEAN heh You want tank cleaners??? Trust me, order form Reef Cleaners!:thumbsup:
LED Fixture
So like, i put the final touches on muh new LED Fixture. Then i proceed to dismantle the old MH fixture AKA "The Madusa" as i cart it away i think of the Matrix scene where Neo is carted away in the machine city after his final sacrafice for mankind. :wavehand:
An hour or so later and satisfied everything is cool, i fire up the first PS for mainly RBs and 4 whites,(nevermind that),....and OMG :bigeyes: DUDE,(to myself), this looks SICK!! My fish are like whaa????:fish2: Then PS #2 with the rest of the RBs and Whites ....GASP:hmm6: I immeadiately call my friends.
Then i power up the 3rd PS with the XM-L CW T6s and WW T3s and the first thing i notice.....the polyps on all my corals are like HELLO!!:love1: I then twisted and bent the individual HSs to tweek the spotting
.No, i diden't get pics at the time BUT, i AM celebrating ATM with some Blue Moons :celeb1: !!. Wish you guys were near me!
Oh and BTW, alittle off topic. The day before i recieved my second order within 2 weeks, from Reef Cleaners. I was so impressed with the Fuzzy Chitons and Dwarf Ceriths from the 1st order that i ordered 12 more Chitons and ahhh 500 more
Ceriths >
...John sent me like 1000+!!! for the price of 500!!! I e-mailed him, " i'm being invaded!!!" The back glass of my 175 has the 2 week old algae growth on it. They swarmed up the back side and in less than 12 hours it was CLEAN heh You want tank cleaners??? Trust me, order form Reef Cleaners!:thumbsup:
S2minute
New member
LED Update
LED Update
Here is the 1st DT Pic. It should be much better but i only have a dig cam.
The readings in the middle of each of the 2 top rows are from the bow section of the 175. The 1st row being just above the water surface then just below, then mid section and lastly bottom.
The outside edges of the tank are mainly RB with 60 degree lenses .All the rest including the XM-Ls have 80 degree Lenses. Now, the readings can be highly varible because if you looked at the LED album you can see the with this fixture, i am able to twist and bend each of the 144 leds to any position i want or need to. The Apogee Quantum Sensor i bought i used with my Multi-Meter.
I had to move 2 corals that since showed signs of bleaching. If you guys/gals have any suggestion on how to get a quality pic with these lights on please let me know. This pic does nothing for the beauty of the DT.
The Sensor is very sensitive i found out. I want to show you many more pics if i can find a way to get better quality. The lights come on and off in 4 stages with the XM-Ls on only 3.5 hours @1400ma for now..till i can figure how to make and program an Arduno :spin2:
So are these good readings? Please give me your input. Thanks!
LED Update
Here is the 1st DT Pic. It should be much better but i only have a dig cam.
The readings in the middle of each of the 2 top rows are from the bow section of the 175. The 1st row being just above the water surface then just below, then mid section and lastly bottom.
The outside edges of the tank are mainly RB with 60 degree lenses .All the rest including the XM-Ls have 80 degree Lenses. Now, the readings can be highly varible because if you looked at the LED album you can see the with this fixture, i am able to twist and bend each of the 144 leds to any position i want or need to. The Apogee Quantum Sensor i bought i used with my Multi-Meter.
I had to move 2 corals that since showed signs of bleaching. If you guys/gals have any suggestion on how to get a quality pic with these lights on please let me know. This pic does nothing for the beauty of the DT.
The Sensor is very sensitive i found out. I want to show you many more pics if i can find a way to get better quality. The lights come on and off in 4 stages with the XM-Ls on only 3.5 hours @1400ma for now..till i can figure how to make and program an Arduno :spin2:
So are these good readings? Please give me your input. Thanks!
lowfi
New member
hey guys...will this wire work?
http://www.zorotools.com/g/Types UL 1007 and UL 1569 Hook-Up Wire/00053068/
http://www.zorotools.com/g/Types UL 1007 and UL 1569 Hook-Up Wire/00053068/
LED Questions - Frequency Change??
LED Questions - Frequency Change??
I cant seem to find the answer to my question so I thought I would post a question. I have LED lights and one fell in the display tank.
Can the LED's change spectrum or anything? Can they change light output? I started getting a bad GHA problem about 2 months after one LED fixture fell in the water and have been living with it ever since. Since LED's are so expensive, I was thinking of rebuilding it but thought I would get opinions from more experienced forum members first....thoughts?
LED Questions - Frequency Change??
I cant seem to find the answer to my question so I thought I would post a question. I have LED lights and one fell in the display tank.
Can the LED's change spectrum or anything? Can they change light output? I started getting a bad GHA problem about 2 months after one LED fixture fell in the water and have been living with it ever since. Since LED's are so expensive, I was thinking of rebuilding it but thought I would get opinions from more experienced forum members first....thoughts?
bhazard451
New member
24 Cree XT-E Royal Blues @1.3a 4.5w each
6 Cree XT-E Cool Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
3 Cree XT-E Neutral Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
3 Cree XT-E Warm Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
2 Luxeon ES Reds @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Greens @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Cyans @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Blues @630mah 3w each
4 True Violet Leds @630mah 3w each
3 60 Watt Meanwell ELN-60-48D @ 1.3a
1 30 Watt Meanwell ELN-30-48D @ 630mah
~180 watts total. 4 individual channels of Apex control
48 leds, 60 degree optics. Around $350 total in parts
6 Cree XT-E Cool Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
3 Cree XT-E Neutral Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
3 Cree XT-E Warm Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
2 Luxeon ES Reds @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Greens @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Cyans @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Blues @630mah 3w each
4 True Violet Leds @630mah 3w each
3 60 Watt Meanwell ELN-60-48D @ 1.3a
1 30 Watt Meanwell ELN-30-48D @ 630mah
~180 watts total. 4 individual channels of Apex control
48 leds, 60 degree optics. Around $350 total in parts
bump
bhazard451
New member
They wouldn't change after 2 months. 2 years maybe.
Since it fell in the water, maybe something did happen to them. Unless you see a visual difference, you won't know for sure.
Check Phosphate levels and Nitrates.
24 Cree XT-E Royal Blues @1.3a 4.5w each
6 Cree XT-E Cool Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
3 Cree XT-E Neutral Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
3 Cree XT-E Warm Whites @1.3a 4.5w each
2 Luxeon ES Reds @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Greens @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Cyans @630mah 3w each
2 Luxeon ES Blues @630mah 3w each
4 True Violet Leds @630mah 3w each
3 60 Watt Meanwell ELN-60-48D @ 1.3a
1 30 Watt Meanwell ELN-30-48D @ 630mah
~180 watts total. 4 individual channels of Apex control
48 leds, 60 degree optics. Around $350 total in parts
That is one excellent looking DIY there, please tell me your starting a build thread. I would love to see how you made those lens holders/covers and got it all to line up so nicely. one of the best builds I've seen so far.
bhazard451
New member
Build thread here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2183576
The casing, lens holders, optics, and heatsink inside came from a chinese led fixture called the Nova A4, sold by a company in China called Evergrow. That light uses Bridgelux leds and manual dimming, and can be had for $199. That light alone was great, but I wanted Apex dimming, and the light couldn't do it. I then replaced the drivers and converted that light into an Apex dimmable one, but I felt the fixture needed more colors/spectrum.
I decided to go all out, and replaced the Bridgelux PCB board and wired up Crees and Luxeons instead on the heatsink. The heatsink is tapped in such a way, that those plastic lens shields screw into the heatsink and hold the optics on the leds in place, with no glue needed. I barely was able to squeeze the Meanwells in there, and I had to move the fans outside of the fixture to do it.
I'm very happy with it. I can change optics/leds at will whenever I feel the need. It should last a very long time for me.
I am designing my DIY LED for 72g tank. I want to incorporate moonlight into the fixture which will be just on-off from APEX. The main light will be dimmable.
I am planing to use 2 LEDs (RB for moonlight seems to be the classic choice ?) and supplying them with constant voltage. In case if I use 6V adapter + resistor and wire them in series how I can protect the circuit if one of the chip fails open ? Would it be a big blow if LED chip will get about 5.5 volts or no big deal (Also will need more powerful adapter I guess)
Another option is to use them in series with 5V adapter. But it will be more expensive/less efficient because of 2 adjustable resistors (I liked this idea with adjustable from kcress).
As a side question can I buy smaller/cheaper AC/DC adapters not plug and play type / wall wart. I will connect it to main LED power input. Or the only way is to break down and splice generic unit.
thanks
I am planing to use 2 LEDs (RB for moonlight seems to be the classic choice ?) and supplying them with constant voltage. In case if I use 6V adapter + resistor and wire them in series how I can protect the circuit if one of the chip fails open ? Would it be a big blow if LED chip will get about 5.5 volts or no big deal (Also will need more powerful adapter I guess)
Another option is to use them in series with 5V adapter. But it will be more expensive/less efficient because of 2 adjustable resistors (I liked this idea with adjustable from kcress).
As a side question can I buy smaller/cheaper AC/DC adapters not plug and play type / wall wart. I will connect it to main LED power input. Or the only way is to break down and splice generic unit.
thanks
