Minimalistic multichip DIY LED build

[garbled]

I promised a week or so ago that I would post pictures of the different lens types. I've got the lenses, so, pics!

Tank: 10'x4'x3'(deep). Sandbed is about 5" or so, so, 31" at the bottom. I also took PAR readings with an Apogee MQ-200 at *approximately* 1", 16-18", and 29" below the surface, directly below, or best I could without going blind. The light is mounted about 8-10" above the water surface. This is an "ac-rc" Epistar 100w hybrid led, powered by a Meanwell HLG-150-D.

First, no lens. PAR - 410, 137, 66.

Second, smaller lens, PAR - 1400, 450, 250 (probably higher, the glare was blinding me)

Finally, larger lens, PAR - 1150, 400, 250

The lenses, with a lighter for scale:

IMO, the small lens is a little too much of a pointsource. It's hard to see in the image, but the big lens spreads the light out more evenly. I think I'll be using the large lens. The PAR readings sold me though, there is a HUGE difference between lens and no lens. So much light is spilled out all over the sides without a lens.

 

[T Horn]

Hi Jtrasap

Great light and great prices

It would be nice if you could link to the LED/DRIVER you uses.

Thank you
T. Horn
(Denmark)

 

[propeine]

The rays or striping is really pronounced in both shots with the lenses. Is that from the camera or is it that visible in person as well?

 

[scorphonic]

Fantastic pictures Propeine. Where did you purchase the lenses? Been looking for suitable ones in Europe but so far only Hong Kong has provided a good price. My LEDs are the small 20W 9 point lights.

 

[Bcamp]

Wow! that is old.... it says made in USA?

 

[Bcamp]

Garbled-
Would also like a link for the large lens and mounting. I also am making the 100w.
Thanks

 

[jtrasap]

Hi Jtrasap

Great light and great prices

It would be nice if you could link to the LED/DRIVER you uses.

Thank you
T. Horn
(Denmark)

These are the drivers that I purchased--> http://www.ebay.com/itm/260874964118?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[garbled]

Regarding the striping, I didn't really have time to look at it closely, because I had someone in the tank room holding the lenses, and it was rather difficult to keep stable. However, playing with them later, I stuck one of those little LED flashlights with the ring of 9 LED's on them through the base, and was shining it at the ceiling. I noticed that with the small lens, you could actually clearly make out each LED on the ceiling. The same was true for the large lens, but they were more blurred. The spread size from both was about the same, so I think what is happening is the large lens evens out the light more so the whole area is covered about the same amount.

However, having said that, I also have eggcrate over the tank, so the striping is most likely due to that.

I got all the lenses and LED's on ebay from HK.

 

[jg210302]

Do you guys think a Peltier type device like this would work better than the heat pipe type heatsinks???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEC1-12706-...598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255c977876

 

[propeine]

jg210302 I wouldnt suggest one personally. They use more energy to cool. Your actual heatsink will need to be even larger then. You're wasting energy and I dont believe you're going to gain enough efficiency or LED life to make the extra expense and wasted electricity worth it.

 

[jtrasap]

Do you guys think a Peltier type device like this would work better than the heat pipe type heatsinks???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEC1-12706-...598?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255c977876

Peltiers are very inefficient and you would still need some form of heat sink to move the heat away from the peltier. Truthfully, I'm not sure I even need the fans on my coolers, I had the fans off for a good ten minutes and the heat sinks on the chips were still not all that warm.

 

[NEReef]

Garbled any chance we could get par readings with just the reflector base hooked up no lens? I'm curious if that focus the light at all without spotlighting too much. Also do you notice any prism like effect on the edges of the light on the sand when using the lenses (NOT talking shimmer lines. But legit separation of the light from white and blue)? My 50w 20k multi chip has them when i use a 90° lens but my lens looks alot smaller then yours. How many are you planning on running over that tank again? I'm trying to guesstimate for my 72lx31hx36w.

 

[scorphonic]

Just a quick update on my build, got everything sorted...but will get it over the tank tomorrow. What do you guys think?


Blue only:




Blue and whites:

 

[propeine]

Scorphonic I'm anxious to see how those work out for you. I pretty much want to do the same thing but with 1 or 2 less lights pentagon tank. Please show an over the tank shot when you get a chance! Lookin good.

 

[Lassef]

Also do you notice any prism like effect on the edges of the light on the sand when using the lenses (NOT talking shimmer lines. But legit separation of the light from white and blue)? My 50w 20k multi chip has them when i use a 90° lens but my lens looks alot smaller then yours.

I have seen this when I have my chip in the air - have not seen the effect in water because I havet not tested it in my tank yet.

Thanks to everyone for all inputs to the thread!

Sincerely Lassef

 

[NEReef]

I have seen this when I have my chip in the air - have not seen the effect in water because I havet not tested it in my tank yet.

Thanks to everyone for all inputs to the thread!

Sincerely Lassef

I am in the same boat have only tried it in air that's why I am so curious if it does the same thing over water and how noticeable it appears if at all.

 

[garbled]

Sorry, I wanted to try this too (par readings w/o lens), but I made the mistake of glueing the lens to the base on the day I got it. (The small one, didn't make that mistake on the big one, but the base is SUPER shallow, so I think it wouldn't provide much help there).

I could see a little bit of edge prisim with the small one, but nothing with the big one. I honestly think the small lens is the wrong lens for the 100. I think it's a 30 or 50w lens.

My current plan keeps changing. I'm thinking of going with 4 @ 185W with large lenses across the back, about 18" off the rear wall of the tank. (that's where the single is mounted now). At the sandbed, I'd estimate there was about a 3' diameter spread. You could see how it left the front 6" or so dark. (the pictures were taken at night so my other current lighting/solar tubes wouldn't interfere)

I think that should do it for the main set. I'm also thinking about doing 2 more @ 150W kinda in the front center angled slightly back and to the outside edges. Not sure there. Finally, I'm considering 3 royal blue and 2 UV (430nm) 10-20w units right down the middle for both moonlight and color. Those would be with no lens. (my initial math tells me I can run 5 20W off a single HLG-80H at about 1.15A each max power)

On heatsinks, I'm getting more of the CPU style sinks. I want ones with vertical fins, rather than horizontal. The horizontal ones are meant to be in tower cases. I'd rather not have potential dead zones in the fins if the fans shutdown. I'm using an old 5 1/2" external drive bay, with a PC fan controller wired in to control/power all the fans individually. I found 6' fan extension cables on amazon, so, yay!

Finally, I bought a pile of Andersen PowerPoles to use to hook everything up. They make these nice color coded modular connectors that will make assembly and replacement of components a snap. I also purchased a bunch of those nifty spring-adjustable suspension devices, so I can move the lights up and down easily. I will make a build thread once I start buying the main parts.

Having said all that, I'm still staring at the tank, doing maths, and thinking about what I want the final configuration to be. It's hard to guess and get it right. Maybe 4x185 would be enough? Who knows. The PAR numbers w/o lens surprised me, given how bright it looks. I suspect I could not keep corals low in the tank without lenses.

Garbled any chance we could get par readings with just the reflector base hooked up no lens? I'm curious if that focus the light at all without spotlighting too much. Also do you notice any prism like effect on the edges of the light on the sand when using the lenses (NOT talking shimmer lines. But legit separation of the light from white and blue)? My 50w 20k multi chip has them when i use a 90° lens but my lens looks alot smaller then yours. How many are you planning on running over that tank again? I'm trying to guesstimate for my 72lx31hx36w.

 

[Lassef]

I am in the same boat have only tried it in air that's why I am so curious if it does the same thing over water and how noticeable it appears if at all.

I´m going to test next week in a 3.5 m (11.5 ft) deep tank - probably we have the answer then.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[jg210302]

Thanks for the input on the Peltier, scrap that... Back to a low profile heatsink with heat pipes and a fan...

I also just requested a quote for a multichip along the lines of what Orphek is doing, they seemed interested in making it for me... As soon as I have more info I will let you know...

100 Watt
60 Chips 18Kwhite, 10 chips 450nm blue, 10 chips 430nm actinic, 10 chips 410nm UV, 6 chips 590nm orange, 4 chips 660nm red

What do you guys think???

 

[scorphonic]

Scorphonic I'm anxious to see how those work out for you. I pretty much want to do the same thing but with 1 or 2 less lights pentagon tank. Please show an over the tank shot when you get a chance! Lookin good.

No problem at all Propeine, I'll have that on here this evening. (4 hours from now)