Looking to build an LED Fixture, Large heatsinks locally?

[ThunderousTalon]

I am getting ready to build an LED fixture for my new 100gallon shallow 72x24x14. I rather not spend a ton of money on shipping from heatsinkusa for heatsinks, does anyone know where i can get them locally? And can any program an arduino board? Thanx! :bounce3::bounce3::bounce3:

 

[Megabite]

Try Skycraft off of Fairbank just east of I-4. They have tons of stuff there. Very cool store.

http://skycraftsurplus.com/index.aspx

 

[ThunderousTalon]

I've tried calling them. They don't carry them and couldn't really point me in a direction. they have just about everything else tho. Well except the LEDS and drivers....

 

[tricky]

There is an industrial salvage store that has great aluminum stock and prices. The name is Acme, and they are located off I-4 at the exit just south of the Lake Monroe bridge. If you are looking down on the right just after you come off the bridge going southbound, you will see a big man in a space suit sign near the road in front of them. I beleive it was the one used by MTV in their early years. They are right next to the big RV place.

They have all kinds of metals- sheet, extrusions, angle, tubing, etc. and they sell by the pound. I am sure you can find some aluminum that will suit your needs very cheap. They also have a lot of industrial tools. A little like Skycraft, but different.

Rick

 

[ThunderousTalon]

Good to know thanx for the heads up...

 

[g8gxp]

Just an fyi, heatsinks aren't the only way to go. you could just use a standard aluminum plate, there are some threads in the DIY section where people did this with perfectly acceptable results. Since no one ever runs LED's at more than 50% anyways (even for SPS) the heat is not that bad. add a cheap computer fan for circulation and it would be more than enough.

Obviously if you have a little extra cash the heatsink is the way to go, but for a budget build it's not a problem. Plus for an aluminum plate, the drilling is alot easier and not nearly as heavy and takes up less space in the hood. If i had known this was possible i would have done it before buying my own heatsinks.

 

[iLLwiLL]

If you need anyone to wire them up, I'm a certified electronics technician with a shop and dont mind working for corals or equipment. I have a bunch of PC heatsinks lying around, nothing fancy but it would be better than nothing.

~Will.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

nice man I am interested to see how it turns out!

 

[ThunderousTalon]

Just an fyi, heatsinks aren't the only way to go. you could just use a standard aluminum plate, there are some threads in the DIY section where people did this with perfectly acceptable results. Since no one ever runs LED's at more than 50% anyways (even for SPS) the heat is not that bad. add a cheap computer fan for circulation and it would be more than enough.

Obviously if you have a little extra cash the heatsink is the way to go, but for a budget build it's not a problem. Plus for an aluminum plate, the drilling is alot easier and not nearly as heavy and takes up less space in the hood. If i had known this was possible i would have done it before buying my own heatsinks.

I'll be using meanwell drivers which run them @ 1000mA. which is full load. Most people are running them atleast 70% or higher. I've seen the solo thread @ NR with the guy using aluminum plate. I havent seen anyone else doing. If you have more threads you can point me to i'd appreciate it.

 

[ThunderousTalon]

If you need anyone to wire them up, I'm a certified electronics technician with a shop and dont mind working for corals or equipment. I have a bunch of PC heatsinks lying around, nothing fancy but it would be better than nothing.

~Will.

Thanx for the offer. I'm going to give it a shot. Can't foresee it being to difficult given everything i've tackled. But if I run into any trouble or think i wont be able to do it. I'll definitely hit ya up. If you know anything about programming arduino boards that could prove very useful. :bounce3:

 

[ThunderousTalon]

nice man I am interested to see how it turns out!

i should have most of the stuff by Mid January, preplanning stages atm. I'll definitely post pics along the way. Really stoked bout this.

 

[Lutefisk]

I'll be using meanwell drivers which run them @ 1000mA. which is full load. Most people are running them atleast 70% or higher. I've seen the solo thread @ NR with the guy using aluminum plate. I havent seen anyone else doing. If you have more threads you can point me to i'd appreciate it.

The real question is, "How many LED's of what wattage, over what physical dimensions, will you be using?"

If you're just using a couple LED's for supplemental lighting you can get by with aluminum angle stock. But if you are planning on putting together a larger higher wattage system you better just go with actual heatsink material and probably some fans.

Here is where I'll be buying my next heatsinks - I am using some that I had previously purchased at SkyCrafter in the past.

http://www.heatsinkusa.com/

Their pricing seems reasonable.


Paul

 

[cur10u5g30rg3]

I have purchase 3 different time from heat sink usa and they ship there stuff very quickly. All of my orders showed up in two days.

The only light I have finished so far is a 12 LED fixture driven at 1000MA by buckpucks. Running at 100% or 1000ma, it produces some seriuous heat. I personally wouldn't spend as much as the led's cost to build and skimp on the heat transfer.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

I have purchase 3 different time from heat sink usa and they ship there stuff very quickly. All of my orders showed up in two days.

The only light I have finished so far is a 12 LED fixture driven at 1000MA by buckpucks. Running at 100% or 1000ma, it produces some seriuous heat. I personally wouldn't spend as much as the led's cost to build and skimp on the heat transfer.

Hey how's it going?

Did you find the need to run it at 100% or could you get away with say 60% power? What is the heat difference in those ranges? When the solaris first came out I didnt think much of it until I saw the Powerbrights....those are crazy!

 

[cur10u5g30rg3]

The 3 watt crees royal blues at 100% are way more intense than the powerbrites. I haven't run them on a tank yet with livestock in it, so I can't speak to how they will support anything. I just built the first fixture for a 12 gallon aquapod then decided to build a 40 breeder instead with a 32" LED fixture over it. It is taking forever, just cause I don't have much time to put into it.

I plan to run mine on a dusk till dawn cycle using an Arduino built contoller, so the power to them will vary. I purchase almost all the parts but I haven't finished it yet.

 

[ThunderousTalon]

I just needa change the name of this thread to Orlando LED Thread... LoL... I know the heat sinks from heatsinkusa are expensive esp once you add shipping. I am going to try to get to acme this week and see if i can find a 3mm or > aluminum plate or if they have heat sinks go that route. probably use 3 20x10 plates 6 rows of 4, or 8 rows of 4, havent decided yet...

I'm leaning towards the same route as CurGeo in that i will be running an arduino board. I think i've finally got a decent discussion going on over @ NR about it.