DIY LEDs - The write-up - (split again)

[kcress]

Classic choice? Yes for people who subsequently complain it's way too bright still.

I'd suggest several T1-3/4 style LEDs in the color of your choice and a handful of 1/4W resistors to set their currents to something around 10~20mA. Or experiment and use two LEDs in series with no resistors. Two blue LEDs would come in at 6.2V but you only have 6V so you'd see some limiting just from not enough voltage available. If that's still too much light you can change to singles with resistors.

Use as many of these parallel setups as you want up to 80% of the current rating of your wallwart.

I'm suggesting maybe 20 of these LEDs spread around your tank.
Perhaps something like:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/C566C-BFS-CS0W0451/C566C-BFS-CS0W0451-ND/1987476

 

[VIT]

I was thinking about using 2 cree XT-E RB. From the data sheet it looks they can be run at very small current if you supply them with 2.5-2.6 volts. Is it very difficult to achieve in practice so you suggest to start with less powerful LEDs ?

(using standard XT-E RB just seems easier in operation since I can add/remove them back to main light system)

 

[kcress]

Hey, if you really want to, go for it. Any LED will run down to below 1mA. You can certainly run them down to just a glow. I'm guessing that you might have a problem with the fact that you only have two LEDs to moon up that size tank. You may find you have two spot-lights to get 'some' light any light into all the areas. But maybe not.

 

[Hdhuntr01]

This seems to be the "GO TO" thread for DIY LED Builds so maybe someone on here can answer my question. Ocean Coral White and the True Violet LEDs which are advertised as being from Exotic. When I try to look up Exotic for the actual company that manufactures the LED I get nowhere. There are several Exotic LED companies in existance though, but none advertise the availability of individual LED's or 3 LED Clusters. I would like to know exactly who manufactures the actual LED. Also I am trying to locate a Solderless Connector that can be used with the Exotic OCW and TV LEDs. Has anyone come across a Solderless Connector that would work with these two LEDs?



http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2210760

 

[jolliebrowngiant]

Very interesting...what are the benefits to l.e.d lights...are they better then t5? Do they promote growth for corals? Sorry just getting back in after being away for many many years. Love this DIY stuff.

 

[VIT]

72g Bow Front DIY LED project.

I have a question about optics. I want to prevent overspill of the light around aquarium so decided to go with 80deg optics. After I made some drawings I have got some concerns if I should be worried about color mixing and make some changes with layout/optics.

Here is the layout:

Ray paths:

I also plan to use U channels so I can turn the front strip a little bit to help with overspill (and they are cheap )

Do you see any issues with color mixing/spotlighting ? Maybe some other comments ?

thanks

 

[hobbzz]

I'm setting up a deep blue 80g. 48x24x16 (lwh). The guys at rapidled recommended 60, but according to this thread that would spread them out too far. I think 60 would be fine as far as par considering the shallow depth, but I want to avoid the disco ball effect. Would I need 72 to avoid that? If so, what size heat sink or what size grid for c-channel, optics and height above water should i do?

 

[swbyers]

Hi all, just finish reading a heck of a thread, much respect to all of you and your builds. Thank you for paving the way. I have started my build and just would like to check numbers but I think I am good. I am doing a 192 Led build for my 180 72x24x24, hope to make it total sps tank when I am done. I am going with 60 RB, 12 B, 36 CW, 36 NW, 12 Red, 12Green and 24 UV all ordered though rapid led. Driver being used are 1 HLG 185-42B for all blue 6 strings of 12, running 700mA. Same driver for 36 CW, and another for NW to give them a bit more power so 3 stings of 12 each driver maybe running 1.2A. A Eln-60-48 in parallel for the 24 UV 2 strings of 12 ~650mA. Another Eln for the Red and one more for the green. All being dimmed on an Apex, will get another VDM for it so colors can be seperate and tuneable. This is being done on traditional heat sinks 6 total 3 each pendant. Will look like so. Welcome any thoughts I know it will be over bright but ok with that. Will use fuses and 1 ohm resistors as specified in the thread. Pic of the Led layout let me know if it looks good. x2 pendants

 

[hobbzz]

I'm setting up a deep blue 80g. 48x24x16 (lwh). The guys at rapidled recommended 60, but according to this thread that would spread them out too far. I think 60 would be fine as far as par considering the shallow depth, but I want to avoid the disco ball effect. Would I need 72 to avoid that? If so, what size heat sink or what size grid for c-channel, optics and height above water should i do?

Anyone?

 

[hobbzz]

Wow I guess this thread is dead lol.

 

[swbyers]

Starting to look that way...?

 

[hobbzz]

Guess I'll give it one last try too. Got some questions about the layout. 6"x20" heatsink, 48 leds, 60 degree optics anywhere from 15"-19" above the water on a 16" tall tank. Will be lighting a 2'x2' area.

1 - What do you think about the general layout? I think everything is spread out pretty good.

2 - At this height, do I have enough violets to use optics and still get good coverage with them? Or should I go no optics with them?

3 - Also at this height, I'm assuming I'd get virtually no par if I went with no optics on the cool whites and warm whites. I'm trying to get the best coverage out of them since there are only two each. I only need 36 leds as far as par is concerned, the extra 12 are only there to mix in colors. Would they be bright enough at that height to be seen without optics?

Thanks.

 

[S2minute]

Leds

Leds

I had made a DIY fixture for my 175gal Bow. I found that i wanted to place 2 - 4' VHO bulbs out in front. I did this because the fixture did not account for the "BOW" section and thus made it dimmer than the rest of the tank. I made the fixture through the help of alot of the folks on this thread. You may be right however that this thread has played out. TONS of new DIYers made their own fixtures from it while it was in full swing. If you look at my albums you can see pics of my build .

 

[S2minute]

Leds

Leds

Guess I'll give it one last try too. Got some questions about the layout. 6"x20" heatsink, 48 leds, 60 degree optics anywhere from 15"-19" above the water on a 16" tall tank. Will be lighting a 2'x2' area.

1 - What do you think about the general layout? I think everything is spread out pretty good.

2 - At this height, do I have enough violets to use optics and still get good coverage with them? Or should I go no optics with them?

3 - Also at this height, I'm assuming I'd get virtually no par if I went with no optics on the cool whites and warm whites. I'm trying to get the best coverage out of them since there are only two each. I only need 36 leds as far as par is concerned, the extra 12 are only there to mix in colors. Would they be bright enough at that height to be seen without optics?

Thanks.

At that height and given your depth of DT, i'd go with 80s not 60s. That with 48 leds in a 2'x2' area will be plunty.

 

[dwolson2]

Does anyone else wish there was a 3 or 4 foot 9 inch wide heatsink? I really think it would look a lot cleaner.... Anyone know of one around?

 

[hobbzz]

If money is no object heatsinkusa will cut to length. They would probably have a nine inch width.

 

[dwolson2]

If money is no object heatsinkusa will cut to length. They would probably have a nine inch width.

Yea but they don't have the splash shield like rapid LED. I could always anodize it later, but I like the lip for the splash shield.

 

[hobbzz]

Lol I'm the exact opposite. I hate the splash guard. I'm putting 48 on the 6x20 and I'm afraid the guard mounts will cut off the LEDs on the sides.

 

[S2minute]

Guys not for nothen but, this thread has been split three times it's so big. A guy named Soundwave brought the LED fixtures to light and it took off ...like a ROCKET. There are alot of newbish and redundant posts BUT, if you have patience, sit down with a cup of coffey or something and just read from the beginning.....it may take you a LONG time to do so but i have to tell you just the info in THIS thread alone immence. There are several other large threads as well. You simply HAVE to do this. I did. I knew NOTHING about doing a DIY led fixture. A year and a half later...and i'm a VERY happy camper with a very cool fixture i built myself minus the drivers . It was interesting and exciting. You really must do the reading though!

 

[kcress]

I couldn't agree more. This thread is where it all happened in the aquarium DIY LED lighting world. It all sprung from here.

The reason some of the recent posts haven't been answered is because its all been answered in here about 6 times. Every question - answered 6 times.

Then when it comes to LED placements, there is no right and wrong way. You give it your best shot at homogenizing the layout and you'll likely be pretty satisfied.