Full DIY Led Kit
- Thread starter Ninja1
- Start date
sflorlando
Member
Rapid led
Rapid led
Get your stuff from RapidLED. I ordered on Friday and got it on monday.
They have complete kits...everything but the multimeter and soldering gun.
Rapid led
Get your stuff from RapidLED. I ordered on Friday and got it on monday.
They have complete kits...everything but the multimeter and soldering gun.
Ninja1
New member
Oowwwhhhh, nice site! But how do you know which one is appropriate? So lets say if I get this: http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-53/24-Ultra-Premium-LED/Detail - Lets say if I get this, what else would I need?
I guess you cant have a controller like Apex or RK work with DIY led?
Apologies for the dumb questions. The DIY threads are so complex and most of them go off topic.
But back to the topic, whats your favorite kits? It looks like a fun build!
I guess you cant have a controller like Apex or RK work with DIY led?
Apologies for the dumb questions. The DIY threads are so complex and most of them go off topic.
But back to the topic, whats your favorite kits? It looks like a fun build!
MADtanks
Stix Anyone?
That kit will certainly work if you only want the on/off feature with timers. Now if you want to control with RK or Apex you will need the ELN-D driver which is dimable. This kit would be appropriate for using with an APEX or RK:http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-54/24-Ultra-Premium-LED/Detail
With this kit you will also need to order a heatsink from them, or you can get into C- AKA U-Channel and mount them on that, but at this point you will need some fans and it gets a bit more complicated. If you truly want something almost ready to go just get the kit, and a heatsink from Rapid. Here are the heatsinks
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-Heat-Sinks-cln-5.9"-Width/Categories
Multi meter: http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-115/7-Function-Multimeter/Detail
Hanging kit
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-110/Y-dsh-shaped-Hanging-Kit/Detail
If you dont use Apex, or RK you can use the following to dim
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-116/10K-Ohm-Linear-Potentiometer/Detail
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-132/10V-AC-Adapter/Detail
hope that helps
With this kit you will also need to order a heatsink from them, or you can get into C- AKA U-Channel and mount them on that, but at this point you will need some fans and it gets a bit more complicated. If you truly want something almost ready to go just get the kit, and a heatsink from Rapid. Here are the heatsinks
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-Heat-Sinks-cln-5.9"-Width/Categories
Multi meter: http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-115/7-Function-Multimeter/Detail
Hanging kit
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-110/Y-dsh-shaped-Hanging-Kit/Detail
If you dont use Apex, or RK you can use the following to dim
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-116/10K-Ohm-Linear-Potentiometer/Detail
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-132/10V-AC-Adapter/Detail
hope that helps
MADtanks
Stix Anyone?
No problem at all....
on the iron, really depends on if you want to have the iron work fast or if you are willing to wait on the iron to heat up enough to melt the solder.
I used this iron and it actually worked really well but the tip was a pointy one. for this i feel the flat tip would transfer heat much better.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=QWq_TaWQA9PTgAev2MTnBQ&ved=0CE4Q8gIwBA#
But if anything just get one that is about 40w you can get them from radioshack for about the same price as the weller i just linked.
GL
on the iron, really depends on if you want to have the iron work fast or if you are willing to wait on the iron to heat up enough to melt the solder.
I used this iron and it actually worked really well but the tip was a pointy one. for this i feel the flat tip would transfer heat much better.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=QWq_TaWQA9PTgAev2MTnBQ&ved=0CE4Q8gIwBA#
But if anything just get one that is about 40w you can get them from radioshack for about the same price as the weller i just linked.
GL
Ninja1
New member
I will be picking up the weller tomorrow! Is there anything else you think I might need?
For a standard 48" long tank, I will have a pre-made fixture in the center and want to do 2 DIY fixtures on the other ends. Do you know which 2 kits would make sense for that and which heat sink?
Thanks!
For a standard 48" long tank, I will have a pre-made fixture in the center and want to do 2 DIY fixtures on the other ends. Do you know which 2 kits would make sense for that and which heat sink?
Thanks!
MADtanks
Stix Anyone?
having a hard time picturing your tank and fixture... if you post a picture it will be easier to help .
any additional stuff.... i would say heat shrink or black tape to cover up any soldering you might do between wire connections. I prefer that over the wire nuts, my connections are all far from water so i am not so worried about it.
.any additional stuff.... i would say heat shrink or black tape to cover up any soldering you might do between wire connections. I prefer that over the wire nuts, my connections are all far from water so i am not so worried about it.
madreef_7K
Member
i think rapidled's kit is pretty good. I did not buy their kit as I did not need the optics, instead I increased the number of LEDs to 56 from 48. They also cut the prices of LEDs
Ninja1
New member
Lol, madtanks, I can't wait to see spots... Ultra premiums 
I went with 50/50 and optics. Depending on how this fixture goes, might do one more. I'm sort of excited about the whole thing and nervous. Once it gets here, I'll put up pics.
Should I wait to buy a enclosure or get it it before hand? By enclosure, I mean something that will hid the wiring and the dimmable driver/adapter (white thing).
I went with 50/50 and optics. Depending on how this fixture goes, might do one more. I'm sort of excited about the whole thing and nervous. Once it gets here, I'll put up pics.
Should I wait to buy a enclosure or get it it before hand? By enclosure, I mean something that will hid the wiring and the dimmable driver/adapter (white thing).
MADtanks
Stix Anyone?
Ninja,
With the 50/50 i would just alternate the LED's that will give you an even mix, and make sure you put each color on a driver(well 12 - mayb 14 15 depending on the LED u got). Did you end up with XPG/XPE LED's or the XRE for blue and XPG for white or XRE(white/blue) this will come into play with how much you will be dimming your whites to get that color you want.
12 LEDs Per Strip
B W B W B W B W B W B W
W B W B W B W B W B W B
OR
8LED's per Strip
B W B W B W B W
W B W B W B W B
B W B W B W B W
I run 4 of the 23X4." heatsinks with 12 LED's on each so mine are really spaced out, but you shoudl still be able to fit your LED's in that heatsink. You are going to have a heck of punch in light! make sure you use a fan, or it might get a bit hot. I ran mine without fans and it got hot but not too bad, so i didnt have them on after a while. The absolute max temp on these things is about 150c, which is a lot of heat but just try to keep it cool enough to be able to put your finger on the heatsink without burning yourself.
GL!
With the 50/50 i would just alternate the LED's that will give you an even mix, and make sure you put each color on a driver(well 12 - mayb 14 15 depending on the LED u got). Did you end up with XPG/XPE LED's or the XRE for blue and XPG for white or XRE(white/blue) this will come into play with how much you will be dimming your whites to get that color you want.
12 LEDs Per Strip
B W B W B W B W B W B W
W B W B W B W B W B W B
OR
8LED's per Strip
B W B W B W B W
W B W B W B W B
B W B W B W B W
I run 4 of the 23X4." heatsinks with 12 LED's on each so mine are really spaced out, but you shoudl still be able to fit your LED's in that heatsink. You are going to have a heck of punch in light! make sure you use a fan, or it might get a bit hot. I ran mine without fans and it got hot but not too bad, so i didnt have them on after a while. The absolute max temp on these things is about 150c, which is a lot of heat but just try to keep it cool enough to be able to put your finger on the heatsink without burning yourself.
GL!
Similar threads
