DIY LEDs - The write-up

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14762289#post14762289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
Thought I would post an update...

The LEDs are still doing great. I lowered them into the canopy to keep the lighting bright since the optics were not of my liking. Since their inception and my re-aquascape, I had a diatom bloom which is starting to fade away. Everything is still growing nicely.

DSC05029.jpg
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Looks Great Soundwave. :thumbsup: Keep up the nice work.

I really want to make one now, probably my next project.
I have a 55gal tank and your original design is perfect for me.

And I have a couple questions,
I think i missed where you added the 4 shimmer lights,
I saw the mounting but how did you wire them into the system?
and are they wired into the white side of the system?

do you have moonlights? I have them in my current corallife PC light fixture and I really like them.

also, I'm so tired of moving my light to get in the tank, would 10" to 12" above tank work ok?
 
The shimmer lights were used when I was running PCs. Long before I went full LEDs. They ran off a single 24v 1a wall wart.

I do have moonlights that are attached to the canopy front panel and shine down at an angle. I just used 10 blue 5mm LEDs on a 12v wall wart. It's the standard led/resistor setup.

As far as mounting height, if you placed the fixture a foot off the tank, par levels would decrease but it will still smoke your PC setup. I decided to lower mine for the added light. I may build a new canopy and put the fixture on a set of rails so I can move it when needed. Right now, it's kind of part of the canopy which limits my ability to do much since it's in the way.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14764391#post14764391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
I may build a new canopy and put the fixture on a set of rails so I can move it when needed. Right now, it's kind of part of the canopy which limits my ability to do much since it's in the way.
Click to expand...

looking at your above pics, i think it would be easy to modify your existing canopy. i am using these 2-way drawer slides (slide forward & backward off center) that should be fairly easy to retrofit into your current setup.

the 3rd post of my build thread shows the beginnings of my mounting them
 
Could anyone explain how the dimmable buck puck would be controlled? Is it just connected to some sort of rheostat switch? I looked at the diagram on the online data sheet but I'm moderately electronically illiterate
 
In the datasheet it is a 5k ohm potentiometer. radio shack has them. Once you have the POT, just look at the diagram on the back of the packaging and match it up with the buckpuck datasheet, I think it would be hard to go wrong.

to make it easier on anybody else wanting to answer this question http://www.leddynamics.com/LuxDrive/datasheets/3021-BuckPuck.pdf

With that method you would basically have a dial to turn to change the brightness.

Theres also a method of wiring the POT using a 5v external source as reference... anybody done that?
 
Thanks for the help ReefEnabler. That sounds well enough within reach for me to do.

Question 2:

Does anyone know why the OP used CREE LEDs rather than the K2 Stars?

I've got my eyes on the Original K2 Star Royal Blue high current $7.49 and the 180 lumen TFFC Cool White Star $8.49
 
soundwave,
do you have to use the buckpuck for this?
would a series of 3 LED's work on a 12v regulated power supply alone?
I have a 50A 12V regulated power supply from my CB radio days that I can use for power,I don't fully understand the buckpuck
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14765897#post14765897 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widmer
Thanks for the help ReefEnabler. That sounds well enough within reach for me to do.

Question 2:

Does anyone know why the OP used CREE LEDs rather than the K2 Stars?

I've got my eyes on the Original K2 Star Royal Blue high current $7.49 and the 180 lumen TFFC Cool White Star $8.49
Click to expand...

I have ordered the Cree xr-e'son stars for 6.00ea from etgtech.com. They are shipping next week. I have heard great things about them and seems like you can't go wrong with them. This is the best price that i have found other than dealextreme, but i have heard that they take a long time to ship.. we shall see. You have to email anna@etgcorp.com for ordering.
 
Soundwave,

AWESOME write up. Went through the entire thread lastnight. Very torough.......answered all my questions - par's, spectrum, power consumption, height placement, etc.

From a costing perspective, I'm considering purchasing the CREE XRE's from www.dealextreme.com. I know you prefer www.ledsupply.com as your source. Do you know if dealextreme sells the same CREE's you're using ?? If yes, will you be able to provide the part numbers.

Once again, thanks for putting together such a thorough writeup !!:rollface: :rollface:
 
widmer: I chose the CREE just because that was my preference. Why that is my preference... Not sure.

redtop: You could use a 12V 50a supply but you would need to match the amperage output to the number of LEDs. What I mean is you can't have 50 amps of juice running through 3 LEDs. They'll be super bright for about a tenth of a second, though. The buckpuck regulates the amperage for LED use. You will be limited by voltage at that point.

byee: The only CREE LEDs that DX sells are the Q5 WG. They are bright enough for this application but they are horrible at shipping. I have placed many orders with DX and they can take a month to ship as they are always "waiting on supplier" when you check your shipment status. LEDsupply, however, has the LEDs on my doorstep in 3 days.

As far as I know, you can't get the royal blue from DX, either.
 
widmer: I would shy away from the Q2 version. They only produce 87 lumens at 350ma where the Q4 is 100 and the Q5 is 107. The WC color code is good but, again, I hate DX and you will have to wait a long time for them. Also, you will need more to be able to get the intensity you need.

You could give it a shot, though. I'm curious how well they work.
 
In regards to LEDsupply.com, I'd have to hold my judgement of their quality support until my delivery issue gets resolved first. They are currently investigating.

I bought LEDS, Buckpucks, Optic Holders, and Optics - over $400 worth of stuff.

I got the package this Saturday, and all it had were the Optics. I figured that they might have shipped it in different boxes, but logically that didn't make any sense.

So I called them today (somewhat irritated because I couldn't start on the project) - and they said they had packaged everything in the box. But of obviously it wasn't there. They told me to check the box more carefully. And Trust me, I did. The box had no damage or signs of opening whatsoever. It's also pretty easy to tell whether the box is empty or not. And it's also pretty easy to see if a box doesn't have 24 leds, 8 buckpucks, and 48 optic holders.

Long story short, they will come back to me with an update, and I will keep you all posted.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14770533#post14770533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
widmer: I would shy away from the Q2 version. They only produce 87 lumens at 350ma where the Q4 is 100 and the Q5 is 107. The WC color code is good but, again, I hate DX and you will have to wait a long time for them. Also, you will need more to be able to get the intensity you need.

You could give it a shot, though. I'm curious how well they work.
Click to expand...

Hi there. I appreciate you clarifying the details for me, I'm at a moderately n00bish level here, and it probably would have taken some time looking at datasheets for me to notice the difference. In light of your help, here's v2.0 of my above post.

Cree XR-E Q5 Emitter on Premium Star (228LM at 1A)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2394
10+ units are $5.18 shipped each.

Anyone have any comments on this color code (WG)?
 
so i'm about to order a 350mA dimable w/ pot & a 500mA standard buckpucks for my build to replace the ones i bought earlier....1 too big & 1 not dimable

so i have a 700mA & a 350mA standard buckpucks if somebody needs them for their build......CHEAP :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14772359#post14772359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fernandokng
Kcress : What a horrible Start! :-(

Widmer:

There's also this one DX: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1775

I think this may be the Blue Cree XR EQ4's, but there is no bin code to verify.
Click to expand...

At $3.33 that would be a great deal if they are the Q4's. It's awfully peculiar that there is no identification though... Anyone else care to ponder?
 
Sorry I'm having too much fun here, but from dealsextreme, using the white and blue LEDs aforementioned on this page, the cost of the 24 blues and 24 whites given in the OP's original example drops from ~$350 to ~$200
 
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