Minimalistic multichip DIY LED build

[Lassef]

Cont.

Make place for the driver card



Mount the chip at the cooler

View attachment 236477

Conect the driver card to the LED



Check with the controller



Put everything in the tube (in this case - the controller is not in the tube)



Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lassef]

Cont

Get a filter



Get a cover



and voila

View attachment 236487

Put it up



Sincerely Lasse

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

Thanks a lot lasse those cannons are badass, I'm going with the original dream chip only because the cost and ability to take it up to 250w if I wanted to. Thanks for all your help ill be buying everything soon

Edit: lasse could you pm me a link to your cooler?

 

[noplay180]

What type of driver boards

 

[007Bond]

What... No references where to get all this stuff? :lol:

 

[zachts]

The only problem with LDD drivers is that they require an additional power supply from your AC to 48 Volts DC. Good quality DC power supplies are not inexpensive so you end up with another cost factor.

I mentioned them only because it sounded like he was probably already using the CAT type drivers (or similar) that need to have closely matched input voltage compared to their output voltage.

Usually though the LDDs are pretty cost effective especially if driving a 5 channel multi chip. Cheapest all in one drivers that are dimmable are going to be the meanwell ELNs that can be had for about $24 each x 5 your at $121.

LDD-1000HW about $7 x 5 $35 plus a PSU which can be had for around $45 (48v @ 5A would be sufficient) total = $80 now if you used the pcb mount LDDs and made the pcbs your looking at a wash in terms of cost.

 

[zachts]

Agree,I think the LDD's are a good solution for running these multichips. Way back in the thread there was concern that if you would lose a channel, the other channels would go to a higher voltage, then the talk went to mirror circuits as a safe guard. One LDD to each channel is a better solution, and like you said they adjust the voltage for you. :lmao:

good old current mirrors :lolspin:

 

[zachts]

What... No references where to get all this stuff? :lol:

Indeed, those drivers look pretty fun!

 

[Lassef]

Thanks a lot lasse those cannons are badass, I'm going with the original dream chip only because the cost and ability to take it up to 250w if I wanted to. Thanks for all your help ill be buying everything soon

Edit: lasse could you pm me a link to your cooler?

The cooler is Zalman CNPS8900 extreme Its good because you can use 2 of the orginal mounting points to attach the Dream Chip. You only have to make 2 of the holes at the base plate of the Dream Chip a little bit larger.

A good driver is the key to use the Dream Chip in a good way - this is one solution. To use the LDD drivers is another very good solution. However - I´m not allowed to mention the source of my driver board here at RC and will not do it in PM:s either. My construction of the cannons is not depending on this driver board, you can do it the same with a LDD solution or similar.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

Thanks a lot for your help lasse I look forward to building this thing

 

[Lassef]

Thanks a lot for your help lasse I look forward to building this thing

Your welcome

I forgott to say that you shall use a good termal compound - I use ARCTIC MX-2

PADs (often used by the lighting industry) is no good enough IMO

Sincerely Lasse

 

[007Bond]

Hey Lasse, So whats this piece?... First time I've seen it on your build. I see what the caption says, but was the fixture sucking salt in?

 

[Lassef]

It is a dustfilter. The fan to the CPU cooler is in the middle of the tube. The cooler has a lot of fins there it will be dust. With this filter I hope that some of the dust not going into the tube and the cooler´s fins. It is easier to clean from the top. In the same time you can mount a hanging kit to it.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[007Bond]

I see, I did not see it on the earlier pictures of your fixture. Is it something you bought, or made, I know the tube is approximately 5 inches.

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

It's about 5.56 inches Id I believe I haven't checked recently what the conversion is but I'm assuming that's the number, you can get a 6" Id black PVC pipe if you're in the states and use 3/4 pipes inside to keep the led from slipping

 

[Lassef]

Its an upgrade of the first constructions
Its a standard dustfilter for computers fans of 140 mm - something like this

Sincerely Lasse

 

[007Bond]

Thanks Lasse, I'll add it to my parts list.

 

[TropTrea]

Looking at overall build cost Please correct me if someone finds a chaper way

Cannon Construction $20.00
Zalman Cooler $54.00
4-Drivers HLN=80HB $224.00

So we have almost $300 not counting the mult chip itself. At 250 Watts I would estimate the cost to be in the $150 range for a total cost of $450 per Cannon.

Running other driver systems could bring this down.

But my point is a 250 Watt LED light source it well tuned would be enough for roughly a 125 Gallon tank itself it it were run at near maximium. For even light distribution I would want at least 4 so that puts you in the 100 Watt range and capable of handling a 500 gallons. Running a smaller tank to me would mean simply dropping the wattage of the 4 fixtures. So for a 100 gallon tank using 4 50 Watt cannons would work out much better off economicly.

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

Why would you use $50 drivers? How about $7 per channel? Dim marble from 1-100%

 

[007Bond]

4.33 if you buy 10 or more :lmao: