DeePDiSHeD
Member
6063 has better corrosion resistance than 6061. Its surface finish is also smoother than 6061.
DIY LEDs - The write-up
- Thread starter JohnL
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TheFishMan65
New member
I just got Cutter prices for 500 mixed LEDs (0no limit on type). It Australian Dollars which is pretty close ($5.99 vs %5.97)
XR-E Cool White AUD4.75 ea
XR-E Neutral White AUD4.75 ea
XR-E Royal Blue AUD5.60 ea
XR-E Blue AUD4.95 ea
XP-G Cool White AUD5.47 (0 bin, very cold)
XP-G Neutral White AUD5.50 ea
XP-E Royal Blue AUD3.43 ea
XP-E Blue AUD2.94 ea
XM-L Cool White AUD7.13 ea - no lenses available
Lenses for the above.
Basic optics approx AUD1.00 ea
XR-E Cool White AUD4.75 ea
XR-E Neutral White AUD4.75 ea
XR-E Royal Blue AUD5.60 ea
XR-E Blue AUD4.95 ea
XP-G Cool White AUD5.47 (0 bin, very cold)
XP-G Neutral White AUD5.50 ea
XP-E Royal Blue AUD3.43 ea
XP-E Blue AUD2.94 ea
XM-L Cool White AUD7.13 ea - no lenses available
Lenses for the above.
Basic optics approx AUD1.00 ea
Obi-dad
Active member
The LEDs in a tube with fans works well for me. Over my 75g I have 3 tubes of 24 LEDs each. The LEDs are mounted on a 1/8" aluminum bar with Arctic Alumina adhesive, with small black heatsinks on the opposite side of the bar also with adhesive. That slides into the fluorescent tube carriers (from Lowes), with push/pull 12v ducted fans on each end (40mm computer fans). I have one tube with 24 RB XR-Es, and the other two tubes have 12 CW XP-G and 12 RB XR-E each. Plenty of light for my 75g, and wonderful color.
I didn't want the typical 'massive heatsink' approach due to my custom canopy, and I like the ability to just wipe down the plastic tube to remove any salt accumulation. Another benefit of the tube is placement - I have one tube right at the front of the tank angled back slightly, and it illuminates the front sides of my corals way better than the MH did. And after all, the front sides of the corals is what I'm looking at!
Some people have complained that cool white don't give you the ability to render reds and oranges, but maybe that is a difference between the cool white XR-E and the newer XP-G (or just that I got a bin that is slightly warmer).
What about this from HomeDepot for $10.56/96 inches?
Too thin? (1/16")
Too short? (0.9 in high)
Or wrong type of aluminum? (IDK what type)
TheFishMan65
New member
that might be too narrow to place a star on. It is either .75 (description) or .6 (specification) wide. The .75 might do, but I don't think .6 would work. Wonder what it really is. Because the shape is good.
I will go to HD this weekend and take measurements myself (unless someone beats me to it).
As the manufacture's specification says (page 4), it should be .75 (3/4)
As the manufacture's specification says (page 4), it should be .75 (3/4)
TheFishMan65
New member
OK, assume .75 the stars are 20mm or .787 inches anybody remember if that is edge to edge or point to point?
[EDIT]
According to dealextreme (I just remembered they have a picture) it is edge to edge. So there will be some hanging over. Possible more than .037 because the corners are going to be rounded. IMHO you would probably be OK.
[EDIT]
According to dealextreme (I just remembered they have a picture) it is edge to edge. So there will be some hanging over. Possible more than .037 because the corners are going to be rounded. IMHO you would probably be OK.
Okay, so I have 96 XP-E Blues and 72 XP-G whites to work with in a parallel build.
I'm looking for a way to drive these in parallel using the HLG Meanwells that dim completely (or at least almost completely). My proposed layout split both colors of LED's into two groups so a total of 4 HLG150-48B's would be used.
Each HLG with blue LED's would have 48 LED's in 4 parallel strings of 12 running at 800mA. Two of them would total my 96 blue LED's
Each HLG with White LED's would have 36 LED's in 3 parallel strings of 12 running at 1000mA. The two of them would equal my 72 white LED's.
Would this work?
TheFishMan65
New member
Believe kcress first posted this fact. The HLG series of drivers only dims to about 50% of the drive current. So dawn will be like when you were a kid and mom came in and opened the blinds at 7:00 in the morning 
kcress
New member
Believe kcress first posted this fact. The HLG series of drivers only dims to about 50% of the drive current. So dawn will be like when you were a kid and mom came in and opened the blinds at 7:00 in the morning
No no no! Only the 240 and 320's would only dim to 50% the 185 dims way down, as do all the ones below the 185.
kcress
New member
Yes! Thanks. Sounds like a great plan. Now if you can just lay hands on those pesky HLGs. :lmao:
Believe kcress first posted this fact. The HLG series of drivers only dims to about 50% of the drive current. So dawn will be like when you were a kid and mom came in and opened the blinds at 7:00 in the morning
Actually I found the post and he's indicated that the HLG dims fully up until the HLG240 and HLG320. Those don't dim fully.
S2minute
New member
Fully dimmable 240s & 320s have to be in the works. It makes no sence not to. I`m going to call and ask why...i`m a pain like that. Maybe if they hear of enough interest in fully dimmable versions...:hammer:
firechild
Premium Member
Powergate provided me with a quote for various MW drivers including HLGs. They seemed to indicate there would be no problem supplying though it could take up to 10 weeks to fill my order. Since the other drivers were ELN and LPC I'm guessing the high lead time would be due to the HLGs.
guillotine
New member
well below is the list of everything that i think i am going to need for my LED lighting system over my 125g tank let me know what you guys think, if i need anything else or more of anything. the fans to cool the units i will get later on and the wiring i have plenty of at my house just not sure what gauge would be best to use. thanks for your input
Shopping Cart
Rapid LED Items
Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 23" Heat Sink for 24 LEDs
4.25-23HS-24DT Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 23" Heat Sink for 24 LEDs $50.00 x2= $100.00
Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver
ELN-60-48D Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver
$34.00 x4= $136.00
CREE XR-E Royal Blue 3W LED on Star
RB-425-CREE CREE XR-E Royal Blue 3W LED on Star
$5.75 x32=$184
CREE XR-E Q5 Cool White 3W LED on Star
CW-107-CREE CREE XR-E Q5 Cool White 3W LED on Star
$5.75 x16=$92
80 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
80-XRE-LENS 80 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
$1.00 x12= $12.00
60 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
60-XRE-LENS 60 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
$1.00 x36= $36.00
10K Ohm Linear Potentiometer
$3.50 x4= $14.00
3-Prong Power Cord
$2.50 x4= $10.00
10V AC Adapter
$10.00 x4= $40.00
Sub-Total $624.00
Shipping: insurance $6
Rapid LED ESTIMATED TOTAL $630.00
since coming up what i thought was everything i was going to need, i have been told that i do not need 4 10v ac adapters, is that true?
also i was told i should incorporate some xp-g neutral whites so i have been thinking of making the whites row like this for each heat sink (this will be the middle row of the three) W W NW W W NW W W
any advice would be great appreciated
Shopping Cart
Rapid LED Items
Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 23" Heat Sink for 24 LEDs
4.25-23HS-24DT Drilled and Tapped 4.25" x 23" Heat Sink for 24 LEDs $50.00 x2= $100.00
Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver
ELN-60-48D Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver
$34.00 x4= $136.00
CREE XR-E Royal Blue 3W LED on Star
RB-425-CREE CREE XR-E Royal Blue 3W LED on Star
$5.75 x32=$184
CREE XR-E Q5 Cool White 3W LED on Star
CW-107-CREE CREE XR-E Q5 Cool White 3W LED on Star
$5.75 x16=$92
80 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
80-XRE-LENS 80 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
$1.00 x12= $12.00
60 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
60-XRE-LENS 60 Degree CREE XR-E Lens/Optics (white)
$1.00 x36= $36.00
10K Ohm Linear Potentiometer
$3.50 x4= $14.00
3-Prong Power Cord
$2.50 x4= $10.00
10V AC Adapter
$10.00 x4= $40.00
Sub-Total $624.00
Shipping: insurance $6
Rapid LED ESTIMATED TOTAL $630.00
since coming up what i thought was everything i was going to need, i have been told that i do not need 4 10v ac adapters, is that true?
also i was told i should incorporate some xp-g neutral whites so i have been thinking of making the whites row like this for each heat sink (this will be the middle row of the three) W W NW W W NW W W
any advice would be great appreciated
TheFishMan65
New member
You only eed 1 pot for color (it can drive multiple meanwells). You can also use one poer cord.
guillotine
New member
would i be able to run 16 cree xr-e RB on one driver to make it so two drivers run each unit and one driver runs each color bulb?
kcress
New member
No. You can parallel and run about 24 on one ELN60-48 or you only run 12 or 13.
kcress
New member
Well that's something that they will provide them. I suppose you could work on finishing everything else in the interim.
Kcress, could you answer this for me:
I am doing a large parallel build and was wondering which is the best technique for combining the LED strings at the end of each string.
1) run a seperate wire back from each string, combine in a terminal block and then bridge together back to the MW driver. (like the diagram that has been posted in this thread with the black background)
or
2) combine the LED strings at each end and just run one wire back to the MW driver.
Does it make a difference?
Thanks
I am doing a large parallel build and was wondering which is the best technique for combining the LED strings at the end of each string.
1) run a seperate wire back from each string, combine in a terminal block and then bridge together back to the MW driver. (like the diagram that has been posted in this thread with the black background)
or
2) combine the LED strings at each end and just run one wire back to the MW driver.
Does it make a difference?
Thanks
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