Hanging LEDs from the ceiling

[ChadRaay86]

Hey there all you LED owners The time has come for me to mount my LEDs and I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to do so. I have the Chinese LEDs (D120) and I've got to hang them long side from front to back over my 300DD. I think the most economical way to get them mounted, at least for the moment is to hang all three separately using a wall hook of some sort and some black chain.

My question comes in that I'm not sure what type of hook/anchor to ensure bad things don't happen. Also, if anyone knows the better way to hang/mount these things, I'm all ears as well

Eventually, all of this will be mounted in a nice high canopy, but for now I'm just trying to make due until my dad comes in march and makes the magic happen lol

Thanks for the help!

 

[Straight_Chaos]

I used 1/2 electrical conduit painted black and strapped to stand. Cheap under $20 including paint for 3 fixtures. Look it up may be what you are looking for... The one thing about hanging from ceiling is that the cords are hanging down to plug. with conduit or a bracket you can use electrical take to secure the wires to conduit, kind of hides them. i'll take pic when i get home if you cant find the conduit thread... prob could google it.... Ty

 

[Ted_C]

I have extra ceiling wires if you want.

it's basically only this (4 of them) with 4x6 foot of wire:

You would need to build out a tray to hold all three lights then use the 4 wires in the tray up to your ceiling. The only problem I could see - if you need to raise or lower the lights - you'll need to get up to the ceiling to work the spring loaded stop.

Here's what my overall hanger looks like:

 

[MrHarvard]

+1 on the Conduit...get your measurements on how much u need to bend them and just use the pipe bender in the store. I think you will be a lot happier with the look than hanging from the ceiling.

 

[Straight_Chaos]

I had a bender at my disposal but chose to use the pre made 90 degree elbows. I had to use more connectors but it allowed me to be able to rotate a section at the connector. But pure low cost and simple is get the 10 ft section bend yourself and like $10 you have 2-4 holders...

 

[CrazyEyes]

Just a suggestion. I like this alot actually. It serves as a way to mount your light and, you can store stuff on it.

 

[ChadRaay86]

Decisions Decisions :lmao:

I like the look of all of these lol. I'm still not sure what route I'll end up going, I was thinking hanging only because the top of my tank is at 69 inches tall and my lights will be another 10 inches at least, this would leave me with what I believe is 29 inches (ceilings are 9 feet I think) left to hang the lights. I like the conduit idea but I might need the space at the side of the tank for when my dad skins the tank and I also don't have access to the back of the tank anymore (should have thought that one through).

Arghh, I wish this was more simple... I'll keep you guys abreast of the situation as it progresses.

On a happy note, I do have a couple of suncorals in there now Gotta love me those non photosynthetic corals.

 

[mlivvy]

Sorry for the crappy iphone pics. I hung mine using plant hooks from home depot. The lights weigh 7 lbs each and the hooks are rated to 20 lbs.

 

[bpcardona]

In regards to anchors, I love these bad boys! I have hung so much around the house with these things, and they are very easy. The metal one don't have much give, and create a bigger hole. The chep plastic one bend and break. Not these. Poke a hole, screw it in, insert screw. I have a solid glass desk top mounted to my wall with these. (Used for a whiteboard) the thing must weight 100 lbs, and hasn't moved.

Just my thoughts.....


<img src="http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/bd/bddc0748-d420-4564-80ae-a611f97d5b48_400.jpg" alt="best">

 

[CrazyEyes]

Oh yeah, those anchors are amazing, I have them in my wall holding up my shelf.

 

[ChadRaay86]

In regards to anchors, I love these bad boys! I have hung so much around the house with these things, and they are very easy. The metal one don't have much give, and create a bigger hole. The chep plastic one bend and break. Not these. Poke a hole, screw it in, insert screw. I have a solid glass desk top mounted to my wall with these. (Used for a whiteboard) the thing must weight 100 lbs, and hasn't moved.

Just my thoughts.....

I use these guys everywhere in the house lol. I wasn't sure how'd they do holding upside down. I've used them for all of my guitars and my old Gibson 58 special has to weigh more than the light

 

[ChadRaay86]

Looks liek I'm going the plant hanger route for the moment. I'm going to use butterfly anchors and chain, considering I only plan on having these until I upgrade to radions in a year or so

I'm still debating height/orientation of the actual mounting.

They are the D120s with 90 Degree optics and each light will have to cover a 24"x36" area and the tank is 27 inches deep. I was planning on mounting them about ten inches above the tank and mounting them with the long side of the LED unit on the 36 inch side centered up. I held one of the lights over end of the tank and it covered fairly well at about 6-8 inches, so I figured an extra few inches will spread it out even better, plus I was running the lights at 65% blue and 50% white so there's power to spare.

Any advice you guys would have is much appreciated. I'm going to try and tackle this tomorrow during the day and don't want to screw it up lol

 

[schudini]

I did like this solution...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2193527