Minimalistic multichip DIY LED build

[maglofster]

Just wanted to say that my Stylophora Milka is just super duper thriving under this light so far. Soon it's gonna be two months, so the jury is still out.. But come July, if everything still look as good as now, I'm going to declare this a success!

 

[Everyones Hero]

I was searching for 2A drivers to power 20w chips (not sure if I want to run them individually, 2/driver, or 4/driver).

While searching I came across these:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/480640315/20w_level_constant_current_high_power.html

They're 20w (22w), 2A (2000mA) constant current drivers that have an output voltage of 8-11vDC (10-11vDC). All of the parameters fall inline for running an individual 20w chip, correct? In parenthesis is the Max for the 20w chips.

I would need one for each individual chip & they're non-dimmable, but they're extremely cheap & seem to meet my needs. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Landsailor]

I was searching for 2A drivers to power 20w chips (not sure if I want to run them individually, 2/driver, or 4/driver).

While searching I came across these:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/480640315/20w_level_constant_current_high_power.html

http://shop.stevesleds.com/The-Double-Dimming-LED-Driver-The-Double.htm

You'll very likely want to dim them or you could blast your corals. The above solution lets you dim them for about twice the cost (before shipping) of those sketchy Chinese things. After shipping from the other side of the world, you will likely end up paying close to this amount, anyway and you'll get these a LOT faster!

Of course, that doesn't include the cost of a power supply, but it's not that much more.

 

[kaki ikan]

Hi MR.Maglofster,

I am new here, could you please pm the ebay link of the microchip LED to me. Many thanks.

Regards,
Kaki Ikan

 

[10reefman]

hello , how can i dimm a 50 watt microchip LED rated for 32 volts? what type or size pot do i need? is there a dimmer for this chip? the power supply i have is not dimmemable. thank for any help.

 

[madlarkin]

Hey All,
I just got my 50w hybrid chips and generic drivers in, I think I may be in love. I've been digging around for a solution for a dimable driver, and *think* I may have found one. It's through Invertronics, but I can't find a retailer. Not sure if I would need to order a truckload when I just need the one.

Specs on it are:
EUC-200 EUC-200S175DT Constant Current Input-90~305VAC 200W 68-114VDC 1.75a 0~10V Dimming

Does that look OK for running 4 chips?

 

[jubjub47]

Check out the (led) website for a (group) for one to (buy) for inventronics drivers.

Piece the parenthesis together for the site since it's for some reason restricted to post.

 

[xssx]

Hey All,
I just got my 50w hybrid chips and generic drivers in, I think I may be in love. I've been digging around for a solution for a dimable driver, and *think* I may have found one. It's through Invertronics, but I can't find a retailer. Not sure if I would need to order a truckload when I just need the one.

Specs on it are:
EUC-200 EUC-200S175DT Constant Current Input-90~305VAC 200W 68-114VDC 1.75a 0~10V Dimming

Does that look OK for running 4 chips?

http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/Search.aspx?dsNav=Ny:True,Nea:True,N:4294886037

 

[saf1]

http://shop.stevesleds.com/The-Double-Dimming-LED-Driver-The-Double.htm

You'll very likely want to dim them or you could blast your corals. The above solution lets you dim them for about twice the cost (before shipping) of those sketchy Chinese things. After shipping from the other side of the world, you will likely end up paying close to this amount, anyway and you'll get these a LOT faster!

Of course, that doesn't include the cost of a power supply, but it's not that much more.

The drivers are good, I have the double over my 29 gallon Bio-Cube. However, the power supply is utter crap. They are Chinese knock offs of Mean Wells and really don't hold up well. I've already replaced one after 3 months of use.

After taking it apart I see a fried resistor that I'll replace. Hopefully that is all that is wrong and it can be a spare. Mean Wells are the ticket due to their durability and warranty. Steve's doesn't come with one so consider them throw away items if they bust on you.

Like I said - the drivers are good as is the LED kit I purchased from him.

 

[Landsailor]

I wholeheartedly agree with the quality of MeanWell power supplies. We use well over a hundred of them a year in our products and have not yet had a single failure.

 

[Lassef]

@ 10reefman: Normally, a potentiometer are not used to dim power LED's. It is best if dimmer, or the power supply, uses PWM to dim power LED's. There is power supply (or dimmers) that uses current strength to dim - they tend not to dim down to 0

@ madlarkin: Look after your chip's Forward Voltage (FV) A description can look like this:

DC Forward Voltage (VF): 33 V-36V DC
DC Forward Current (IF): 1750mA max

In this case you can assume that 1750 mA provides an FV of 36 V.
Four of the series gives 4 * 36 V = 144 V, which is over driverns adjustment range (68-114 V).
With this driver you can use 2 chips (FV = 72V) or 3 chip (FV = 108 V)

Another chip has the following description:

DC Forward Voltage (VF): 31.5-36V DC
DC Forward Current (IF): 3500mA max

Here, you can assume that 1750 mA gives a FV in the lower part, say 33 V.
Your driver would then manage only 3 in the series of this chip (2 * 33 = V -> below the driver's 68 V, 3 * 33 = 99 V -> in the field, 4 * 33 V = 132V -> over control the area)

To cope with four pieces of chips's with this driver may not each chip's FV exceed 28.5 W

Sincerely Lasse

 

[madlarkin]

Hi Lasse,
The chips that I picked up had the following specs listed:
FV 24-28.8 FV 1800-1900mA

Hence my draw towards that driver, although my understanding is fairly mediocre at best. I've been hunting for a solution to drive these up towards the upper end of what they can handle and still be dimmable via PWM or 1-10v. I did receive a response from one of the recommendations earlier, so that driver may be a viable solution to those wishing to drive multiple chips.

 

[Lassef]

Hi Lasse,
The chips that I picked up had the following specs listed:
FV 24-28.8 FV 1800-1900mA

Hence my draw towards that driver, although my understanding is fairly mediocre at best. I've been hunting for a solution to drive these up towards the upper end of what they can handle and still be dimmable via PWM or 1-10v. I did receive a response from one of the recommendations earlier, so that driver may be a viable solution to those wishing to drive multiple chips.

Hence, it will probably work with that driver, please let us know how it works out.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[10reefman]

thanks Lassef ill order a dimmable power supply

 

[madlarkin]

Hence, it will probably work with that driver, please let us know how it works out.

Sincerely Lasse

Will do. Right now I am waiting on hearing back if it is both:

A) Orderable
B) Available in a quantity less then a complete truckload.

 

[gh0st]

I'm looking for a single dimmable with potentiometer driver to run 2x 50w Epistar Royal Blue LEDs.

LED specs:
Color Wavelength: 445nm-447nm
LED chips: EPISTAR EDI-EA1143 45*45mil
PAR reading(Instrument: Apogee MQ-200): 762(1.7A) / 1130(3.5A)
DC Forward Voltage (VF): 32-36V DC
DC Forward Current (IF): 3500mA Max
Rated Power: 126W max
Viewing Angle: 120 Degree
Intensity Luminous (Iv): 1250LM(3.5A current)

Any suggestions or am I better off going with two seperate 50w drivers?

This will be phase one of switching my 90 Gal reef over to LED. Burnt out a couple of actinic and blue bulbs, and decided it's time to make the switch.
Eventually I plan on adding 2x20k 50w and possibly 2x10k 50w's, all dimmable.

These will all be mounted on 2xRapidLED 6x9 Black Heatsinks with fans and splash guards.

 

[madlarkin]

Ghost,
For what it's worth when I was searching for a driver to run 4 50w chips I did find a number of Inventronics drivers that looked like they would fit the bill. I don't remember what they were off the top of my head, but it is worth digging through there product line. I emailed both of the recommendations given to me earlier and it looks like at least one should be able to figure it out for me. Might be worth checking, although I think they only do 1-10v dimming.

Cheers.

 

[TropTrea]

Considering your running 4 50 watt chips which will total 200 watts I have not seen a retail driver to handle this alone. When you talk about dimmable it even would harder to find.

Has anyone thought of scratch building the driver for these? Looking at some of the specs listed 3.5 Amps at 36 Volts really is 126 Watts.

the others list 1.9 Amps at 28 Volts = 53 Volts and makes more sense.

With the 53 Amp spec you can either go with a driver at 7.6Amps and 28 Volts, or a 1.9 Amp driver at 112 volts. I would personly not want to run 112 Volts DC for saftey reasons.

Look throgh the larger electronic vendors like digikey, and newark and search for a variable DC power supply. Then make a simple current limiting stage to control your dimming.

 

[TropTrea]

Considering your running 4 50 watt chips which will total 200 watts I have not seen a retail driver to handle this alone. When you talk about dimmable it even would harder to find.

Has anyone thought of scratch building the driver for these? Looking at some of the specs listed 3.5 Amps at 36 Volts really is 126 Watts.

the others list 1.9 Amps at 28 Volts = 53 Volts and makes more sense.

With the 53 Amp spec you can either go with a driver at 7.6Amps and 28 Volts, or a 1.9 Amp driver at 112 volts. I would personly not want to run 112 Volts DC for saftey reasons.

Look throgh the larger electronic vendors like digikey, and newark and search for a variable DC power supply. Then make a simple current limiting stage to control your dimming.

Personly my biggest concern would be cooling for 50 Watt LED's.

 

[xssx]

Considering your running 4 50 watt chips which will total 200 watts I have not seen a retail driver to handle this alone. When you talk about dimmable it even would harder to find.

Has anyone thought of scratch building the driver for these? Looking at some of the specs listed 3.5 Amps at 36 Volts really is 126 Watts.

the others list 1.9 Amps at 28 Volts = 53 Volts and makes more sense.

With the 53 Amp spec you can either go with a driver at 7.6Amps and 28 Volts, or a 1.9 Amp driver at 112 volts. I would personly not want to run 112 Volts DC for saftey reasons.

Look throgh the larger electronic vendors like digikey, and newark and search for a variable DC power supply. Then make a simple current limiting stage to control your dimming.

Personly my biggest concern would be cooling for 50 Watt LED's.

I'm using this http://www.powergatellc.com/mean-well-hlg-185h-power-supply.html to power 4 50w chips, I will be under driving mines so they will last longer and reduce heat and they still should be plenty bright. I'm not using the multichips that most of you guys are using so I don't know if this driver will work for some of you guys