DIY LEDs - The write-up

Status
Not open for further replies.
Personally, I think is is best to point them both down blowing over the fins of the heat sink. This helps to disperse the heat better. Need to have some opening for there to be airflow through the system and not have everything sealed up tight.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15053008#post15053008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fernandokng
I'm planning to have 2 fans on each heatsink.

Anyone against putting one fan blowing down, and one blowing up?

Or should I do both down (soundwave)? Or both up.
Click to expand...
 
Pushing air onto the heatsink will work much better in any situation. Array the fans so they push air into all fins of the heatsink in the middle. The air will then flow out each side.
 
What about these? Go with 2ea Side for total of 4?

2x30w = 60w = 2 x 6ea x 5w (two rows of 6 stars)

Color specrtum looks good too? Curious if anyone has tried this type of setup?

linking to eBay is not permitted
Wondering about the drivers, mainly voltage looks to be at 12V.

Q: would these standard buckpucks people are using work for these 30W emmitters? And how many would drivers would you need 1 for each? so 4 for each side?

Seems like it would be less wiring and an easier build. Also if there is a higher powered driver, maybe even less drivers would be needed (probably be same or more money)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm slowly aquiring all the parts I need to make my own light fixture for my 90g. I think I know the answer to this, but all else being equal, if one could get the Cree XR-E R2 LED in the cool white (WG) spectrum, that would be preferrable to the XR-E Q5, right?

The R2's fv is 3.7 compared to 3.3 for the Q5. This still gives me a 2V buffer on my power supply (for a string of 6). Is this ok?

Thanks

-mark
 
First - Thank you Soundwave for putting this DIY together. I mimicked almost everything. Second, thank you everyone else for helping me through this process. I'm definitely not a DIYer, and I plain suck at with electrical work. But it is finally finished! I'll put it up on my tank when I get the chance.

Here are the details:
1. Standard 58 gallon - 36"L x 18"W
2. 24 Cree XRE Q5 White
3. 24 Cree XRE Royal Blue
4. 8 Buckpucks
5. 4 fans (2 on each heatsink)
6. 48 cree optics/holders - 40 degrees
7. 2 powersupplies

Starting the process
CopyofIMG_0214.jpg


Without Optics - It's pretty bright!
IMG_0219.jpg

IMG_0220.jpg
 
I like the look of your splash guards but are you worried that they are too open?

I'm definitely not a DIYer, and I plain suck at with electrical work.
Click to expand...
If you can come up with THAT final product and this statement then what does that make me?

Those fixture look way too nice for modesty. Its the internet, gloat a little.
 
Lol, thanks. Maybe because the pics are far away, and you can't see the blemishes :-)

The splash guard can move up and down as it is compressed in between 2 nuts. I gave it some space to let it "breathe". I'm not really concerned about the water since it will be a decent height above the water, and I don't expect it to splash too much. The leds are not close to the edge of the heatsink, so I that gives me some comfort as well.

Also, the fans are held up via machine screws and 2 nuts and it is not glued to the heatsink - and I can remove/move it as I'd like.
 
pictures un the tank?

pictures un the tank?

hello fernandokng:
do you have pictures of your tank with actual ilumination?
I want to see the diference..
thanks
diego
 
Really nice Fern! Your splashguard is exactly what I am planning. I think just protecting the LEDs from splashes will be sufficient. The airflow past the LEDs will be nice too.

How far apart are your LEDs?
 
I think you did a great job, Fernandokng. I would replace those metal screws on the splash guard with some nylon ones instead. Once they rust, removing the guard will be a pain.
 
That is a great looking job, I agree gloat a bit thats quality work you earned it for sure.also keep the pics comin we like them too:)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15060136#post15060136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fernandokng
Comments are welcomed.
Click to expand...

Yeah.. Make the pictures bigger!!!!

They are about the size of a large postage stamp on my screen. I'd love to see the top and side views bigger.



From what I can see, it looks really nice.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15059463#post15059463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NReefSOCAL
What about these? Go with 2ea Side for total of 4?

2x30w = 60w = 2 x 6ea x 5w (two rows of 6 stars)

Color specrtum looks good too? Curious if anyone has tried this type of setup?

linking to eBay is not permitted
Wondering about the drivers, mainly voltage looks to be at 12V.

Q: would these standard buckpucks people are using work for these 30W emmitters? And how many would drivers would you need 1 for each? so 4 for each side?

Seems like it would be less wiring and an easier build. Also if there is a higher powered driver, maybe even less drivers would be needed (probably be same or more money)
Click to expand...


Those,(which are the large integrated LED arrays in one package), would probably work pretty well. Down side would be: How do you get the light mixed from two separate light engines? One side will have the blueish color and the other the white. Also optics are basically not available.

Would BuckPucks work? Not sure.. Probably not. The reason is that BuckPucks put out a specific current. Say.. 1,000mA. If one of those light engines require more than that it won't work.

You would have to hunt down a higher current driver.

Personally I am a little leary of that style because internally they have a bunch of parallel strings of LEDs. If one shorts essentially the whole unit is going to fail soon.

A nice up side beyond your reduced complexity is your cooling could then be accomplished with a standard fan-based cpu cooler.
 
Thanks for all your feedback guys. I feel a lot better. This is all driven at 700ma.

lil monster - this is for a 58 Gallon tank with 48 LEDS.

ejmitch - LEDs are 1.5" apart

melev - good idea about the nylon screws. I will look into it.

kcress - my camera sucks. It's only 4 mp! :-) I didn't want the pics to be too big because it'll be slow download for everyone.

Okay, so currently I have 2x 150W MH ARO ballast with 14k phoenix bulb. I took one 150W MH out, so I can try to compare one heatsink with leds vs 1x150W MH.

Notes:
1. I need to move the LEDS higher to make the spread wider
2. The LEDs and the MH are staggered - MH is to the back side of the tank, LED is to the front side
3. I really like the blue and white cree combination - in my eyes, it looks better than the 150W. Maybe because it's just a different look.
4. I love the royal blues. It definitely makes my corals pop, WAY more than these actinics I have.
5. Notice that LED has definitely a stronger output. The sand on the right side is a lot brighter in person (deeper penetration).
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
Neptune DDR diy question for AWC
Replies
3
Views
366
Reefing102
Reefing102
AquaticReefTV
DIY Cable management time lapse
Replies
1
Views
671
S|\/|S
S
A
Aquarium Temperature Control: How I Hacked My Air Conditioner to control my tanks temperatures
Replies
6
Views
358
Naso180
N
ChadTheSpike
New?
Replies
6
Views
411
EchoVetEcho
E
Reefing102
My UPS - Do you have a UPS back up?
Replies
7
Views
497
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
Back
Top