LED moonlighting from autolumination
- Thread starter afgoody
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pvtschultz
New member
This product needs to be put on like a permanant sticky/product recommendation page. I have yet to find an unsatisfied person with these lights. I really think that could solve a lot of reposts, make an official Reef Central Product approval page. We don't need to endorse any product, but give an unbiased recommendation of products that either really work great, or are a great bang for the buck (especially for the DIY crowd). These LEDs could be the first product. You can buy a light set with 3 LEDs in it for $7 (with shipping) versus over $50 from the aquatic industry. It is sort of a price check... My $0.02.
TroyPierce
New member
To claify something barristan talked about...
While a resistor is needed when wiring your own LEDs, the assembly from AutoLumination already has one. I think this got lost in the agruing of the other threads.
If you look at the black heat shrink tubing near the assembly, the red wire has a bump in it. That's the resistor. It's been sized for 12 Volts.
I've played with the voltage on my units and if you go much above 12 volts, that resistor gets hot. If this happens, switch your power supply down a notch.
These units are very bright at 12 volts so I'm not sure where his comment about needing a higher voltage comes from. However, as he correctly discuses, if you DO use a higher voltage, you'll need another resistor.
For the low end, when I drop the voltage to about 9 volts, one of the LEDs doesn't light and the other two were dim.
While a resistor is needed when wiring your own LEDs, the assembly from AutoLumination already has one. I think this got lost in the agruing of the other threads.
If you look at the black heat shrink tubing near the assembly, the red wire has a bump in it. That's the resistor. It's been sized for 12 Volts.
I've played with the voltage on my units and if you go much above 12 volts, that resistor gets hot. If this happens, switch your power supply down a notch.
These units are very bright at 12 volts so I'm not sure where his comment about needing a higher voltage comes from. However, as he correctly discuses, if you DO use a higher voltage, you'll need another resistor.
For the low end, when I drop the voltage to about 9 volts, one of the LEDs doesn't light and the other two were dim.
TroyPierce
New member
They're most likely the right ones. Even if you buy LEDs online or from Radio Shack, you'll see they have a clear body.kribensis said:
They will glow a satisfying blue when ya hook them up.
nyfireman3097
In Memoriam
ok i just got mine today i got 2 blue and 2 white now my question is when i splice them to the adaptor do i need resisters on them ?
Nick
Nick
TroyPierce
New member
Nope. Check out the black area in the red wire a couple inches from the unit. There's a bump there. That's a resistor. If you cut the wires (they're kinda long) be sure not to cut these off.
nyfireman3097
In Memoriam
ok kool also my adaptor goes from 1.5 volts to 12 volts what sould i have them on and if i hook up all four is 12 volts enough ?
Nick
Nick
TroyPierce
New member
Start at 12 volts and feel the resistor bumps. If they get hot, switch the power supply down one. The light will be less bright but if the resistor doesn't get hot, it's good to go.
If they are too bright when you get them in place, you can drop them even more without hurting them.
If they are too bright when you get them in place, you can drop them even more without hurting them.
OK - got everything wired up in less then 5 minutes. Easy as pie....thanks to all for the instructions! Had a million adapters around the house from old broken appliances, so picked a 12V with 300mA, 2 wire nuts, a wire stripper and walah! AWESOME blue lights! I think this is THE cheapest and coolest thing I have put together for my tank yet. My husband and I are seriously considering buying some more and putting these in various places around the house for some 'mood' lighting. 
Lori
Lori
Ok i just ordered 2 of theses lights and got them and hooked them up in my 30 gal tank. Wow so freaking Sweet !!! Im 200 % Satisfied. Well i want to get them for my brother in law for his Birthday for his 110 Gal Reef tank. Well, His tank is the 110 gal high. The tank dimension are like 4 feet long. So how many Led Domes do you guys think i need. Im thinking 3-4 and can i hook them all up with 1 12V A/C Adapter ? Please let me know soon cause i want it to be a surprise for his B-day !!!
TroyPierce
New member
I have two 3-LED units in my 120 gallon (4'x2'x2') and it's plenty bright.
pvtschultz
New member
Everyone just remember when hooking multiple light sets together. Connect all the like colored wires together (in parallel) and the voltage going to each will be the same. Then, multiply the number of sets you have by 60 (they are 60mA lights). So if you have 3 of them, that would be 180 mA and a 200 mA adapter would be perfect. If you don't connect them in parallel, each set will share the 12 Volts, ie. the 3 sets would receive 4 Volts each.
nyfireman3097
In Memoriam
could you draw a pic of this im confused
Nick
Nick
sherm71tank
Premium Member
I am looking for some input here. Does this seem like a reasonable deal? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4325561787&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
pvtschultz
New member
There is a red and black wire coming from the light set (one light unit of 3 LEDs). For multiple sets, connect the black wires from each together and the red wires together and connect to two common leads to the power source. The red wire should be the + and the black the - but I discovered that it will only work one way. So if it doesn't work at first, switch the wires around on the power source and it should work. Basically this is how it should work:
+(power source) connected to + + + of three light sets (light colors)
- (power source) connected to - - - of the three light sets (like colors)
Does that help any???
On that globe LED light on ebay, that is the one that we are talking about on here except someone was crafty enough to put the who thing together for you and sell it on ebay. The light is $7 with shipping and the power supply is going to be either free or about $12. I would look around through all your storage boxes and I'm sure that you'll find a power supply laying around. Mine is a 9V 200mA unit from a cell phone. When connected to the 60 mA load of the LED light set, it provides more power and the lights shine very brightly. So is it a good deal, I don't think so, you still have to pay for shipping...
+(power source) connected to + + + of three light sets (light colors)
- (power source) connected to - - - of the three light sets (like colors)
Does that help any???
On that globe LED light on ebay, that is the one that we are talking about on here except someone was crafty enough to put the who thing together for you and sell it on ebay. The light is $7 with shipping and the power supply is going to be either free or about $12. I would look around through all your storage boxes and I'm sure that you'll find a power supply laying around. Mine is a 9V 200mA unit from a cell phone. When connected to the 60 mA load of the LED light set, it provides more power and the lights shine very brightly. So is it a good deal, I don't think so, you still have to pay for shipping...
No its not a good deal, The 8 led bulb is not Wide Angle, And you can get this for 6.99 at autolumination.com and a power supply for 8.50 at Walmart. The 8 led dome is Narrow angle 45 degree. The 3led dome is the one that is wide angle and has a 120 degree which makes it wide angle. Go to the website and check it out your self.
nyfireman3097
In Memoriam
sherm71tank
Premium Member
8-45 degree led's are less than 3-100 degree models? Doesnt it depend on what configuration the leds are arrayed in?
