DIY LEDs - The write-up
- Thread starter JohnL
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truspeeder205
New member
Wow this thread is awsome im thinking about doing this and ditching my halides and t5's i just need to find a local LED supply shop... any one order parts from granger
akindbro4u
New member
granger really doesn't have anything that fits our needs. try led supply, or cutter if your not in a hurry.
widmer
Drug Enthusiast
truspeeder-
You probably won't be finding a local LED supply shop. Please see this post for information and where to buy the LEDs we're all talking about.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17148119&postcount=3727
You probably won't be finding a local LED supply shop. Please see this post for information and where to buy the LEDs we're all talking about.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17148119&postcount=3727
Soundwave
New member
Been gone for a while. I am absolutely amazed how far this has gone! You guys are taking this to new levels.
My original fixture is still kicking strong after all this time. However, I'm about to cut it in half and use that half over my aquapod. The 75 is going to be torn down soon. It has become a fixture in the house and I feel like I've been losing interest. I thing starting a new tank is what I need.
Wish me luck!
My original fixture is still kicking strong after all this time. However, I'm about to cut it in half and use that half over my aquapod. The 75 is going to be torn down soon. It has become a fixture in the house and I feel like I've been losing interest. I thing starting a new tank is what I need.
Wish me luck!
akindbro4u
New member
ok heres the rundown.
The heatsink is 2 heatsinkusa 8.5x48 heatsinks screwed together at the ends with an L bracket like so.
the I hooks are drilled, and tapped to the sink, and chains added for adjusting height.
Like this
the threaded eye bolt allow me to level the fixture.
now for the good stuff
.
48 xp-g run on four string
each string is run in series on a meanwell 60-48p at 750mA
48 xp-e on four strings
each string is run on a meanwell 60-48p at 1000ma
for wiring I used 9 conductor irrigation wire. surves two purposes. First it limits the number of "wires" running to my fixture. second irrigation wire is flooded, and uv treated so that will add in it's durability. The cable is attached to the back of the heatsink with metal p loops llke this.
wires are connected to the drivers using ballast disconnects found at lowes.like these.
drivers are plugged into a line conditioning "surge protector"
for alll those worried about 8 meanwells on one circuit I can say I have no problems with or without the little extra protection. Total current draw is 2.9 amps.
I am testing open frame, and covered to see if there is any heat difference. They are mounted to a wall inside my cabinet like this.
For now pwm is generated by a diy pwm circuit, as I can't seam to get my timer to work with my arduino to use the eln shield created by dwm.
here is my crude pwm.
wheww that took a while. any more questions let me know.
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akindbro4u
New member
good luck and thanks for the inspiration.
akindbro4u
New member
the gap in the middle is because i have a brace there, but it is clear, and i could have put leds there, so as you will see i have a flat rock under that spot I use it for light acclimation. start in the center, and move out to acclimate. worked well for me so far.
Jay1982
New member
Do you have any recent pictures of your aquarium?
kcress
New member
Good luck! And, thanks for starting this thread and the ball rolling. We regularly send people back to page one since your write-up was so clean.
I fully understand the "fixture" mentality. It's especially prevalent to DIY'ers since we like "the chase" probably more than the results. :lmao:
Suggestion. Sell your fixture as-is and build a new custom one to fit your new project. Your original one doesn't lend itself to being cut in two and there are lots of people who don't feel they can DIY their own. Put it in R/C's classifieds. :dance:
kcress
New member
Great run-down! Better than I hoped for. Very nice and clean. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
laverda
Well-known member
Widmer
If your worried about cost, all the more reason to run parallel strings. With 2 HLG-120-54B Mean well drivers running 4 and 6 strings of 15 LEDs each, I should be able to do what others are doing with 12 ENL-60-48 Mean wells. That alone is going so save a bunch of money on drivers and electricity. The drivers are designed to be run this way and will be more efficient. There is really no reason to run them at reduced voltage if you do not want to, especially if you use fast blow fuses to protect the strings.
laverda
Well-known member
Interesting way to go about it. As far as I can tell you plan should work. I am planning to have 150 LEDs. I am thinking about using 2 HLG-120-54B Mean well drivers running 4 and 6 strings of 15 LEDs each. I will have 6 XPEs RB and 4 XPG white strings. Only reason I am using the same driver for both is if I want more light I can add another string or 2 to the driver for the whites.
I wonder what the advantages, disadvantages of our two setups compared to each other would be?.
I'm planning on running 24 strings of mixed RB and CW XR-E, 6 LEDs per string.....If my calculations are right I'll need either 2 HLG-240-20A or 2 of the new HLG-185-20A/B:
3.2v per LED x 6 = 19.2V, which should also be should work off those 20v power supplies right? 6 LEDs at 800mA comes in at 4.8A per series, correct? So 12 series x 3.2v x 4.8A= 184.32W, close to being out of specs for the HLG-185-20, so would it be better to go with the bigger power supply?
I'm also going to be running 8 strings of 6 RB XR-Es and 8 strings of CW XR-Es, I'm thinking of running each set of 8 strings in parallel of 6 LEDs again, but on the new HLG-150-20B, (4.8a x 3.2v x 8 strings = 122.88W) letting me dim each strip of solid colors.
Please criticize my plan for any flaws.
3.2v per LED x 6 = 19.2V, which should also be should work off those 20v power supplies right? 6 LEDs at 800mA comes in at 4.8A per series, correct? So 12 series x 3.2v x 4.8A= 184.32W, close to being out of specs for the HLG-185-20, so would it be better to go with the bigger power supply?
I'm also going to be running 8 strings of 6 RB XR-Es and 8 strings of CW XR-Es, I'm thinking of running each set of 8 strings in parallel of 6 LEDs again, but on the new HLG-150-20B, (4.8a x 3.2v x 8 strings = 122.88W) letting me dim each strip of solid colors.
Please criticize my plan for any flaws.
Soundwave
New member
You think someone would be willing to buy it?
TheFishMan65
New member
westmoorenerd,
I think you are confused I think all meanwells (including the HLG series take 120 volts ac). So you don't need 20 volt supply. I haven't worked with the meanweels, but I also htink you want to run them close to there maximum output so you probably want 12-15 LEDs per string.
I think you are confused I think all meanwells (including the HLG series take 120 volts ac). So you don't need 20 volt supply. I haven't worked with the meanweels, but I also htink you want to run them close to there maximum output so you probably want 12-15 LEDs per string.
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