Minimalistic multichip DIY LED build

Lasse,

Driver 1(455 NM) = 39.03V @ full load
Driver 2(10-14K) = 39.67V @ full load
Driver 3(445 NM) =35.15V @ dimmed a little
Driver 4(455 NM) = 39.61V @ full load

All drivers have 4 20W chips in series.


Thanks,
Tony
 
What size wire should i use on a 100watt led and which solder

Right or wrong, I used 16ga stranded. Max enclosed amps for 16ga is 13 and free air is 22. At 36V is 2.8 amps.

Lead free solder and flux for lead free solder is what I use. Any place that sells soldering stuff will carry it.


Tony
 
OK - you have 8 V left on each driver at full load - you can not put anymore 20 watts multichip in serie (they take around 10 V) - but what you can do is to the white serie ad 2 Cree XL-M in to this serie - they manage up to 3 A and at yours 1.7 A they will give around 3.15 as FV and therefore around 5 watt each. You put them in a serie (daisy chain) with your whites. Of course - you can put 2 XL-M to each of the other series also but when you do not get any pure colors.

When you will have a daisy chain of 4 "20 watts" and 2 Cree XL-M you will read around 45 - 46 V on your multimeter.

The second option is 4 new 20 watts and a new driver but to get some XL-M will be a little cheaper. Choise cold white and test first without lenses. If that do not work so good - test with the widest lens

Sincerely Lasse

By the way - you just now run your chips at around 16,5 W each - just for the book :)

Which type of dim do you use?
 
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OK - you have 8 V left on each driver at full load - you can not put anymore 20 watts multichip in serie (they take around 10 V) - but what you can do is to the white serie ad 2 Cree XL-M in to this serie - they manage up to 3 A and at yours 1.7 A they will give around 3.15 as FV and therefore around 5 watt each. You put them in a serie (daisy chain) with your whites. Of course - you can put 2 XL-M to each of the other series also but when you do not get any pure colors.

When you will have a daisy chain of 4 "20 watts" and 2 Cree XL-M you will read around 45 - 46 V on your multimeter.

The second option is 4 new 20 watts and a new driver but to get some XL-M will be a little cheaper. Choise cold white and test first without lenses. If that do not work so good - test with the widest lens

Sincerely Lasse

By the way - you just now run your chips at around 16,5 W each - just for the book :)

Which type of dim do you use?

Thanks for the info Lasse. I think I will go the route of the Cree's and see how that is.

The dim I'm using is the 100K ohm Pot.

Thank you again for all your help. I'm about 85% happy with the way it turned out. Just need a little more white/red in the tank. As of right now, all coral and fish seem to like it. I ended up putting both heatsinks together to make one 60"x4"x1" heatsink. 50mm fans are way to loud so I'm going to build a 50mm to 60mm adapter so I can use ultra quiet fans or even figure out how to run 3 120mm fans.

As soon as I get the rest of the build pics from my friend I will post for you guys to see how I/We did my build.


Thanks again,
Tony
 
@tony where did you mount your wires. To the plate tor tab

I soldered to the tab right in the middle of em. Didn't clip em or anything. I did have a short where the tab was touching the heatsink and the chip didn't work but the rest in the series did. Traced it to the tap. Pulled it off the heatsink and butter baby


Tony
 
And right now I do have a disco effect in the middle of the tank do to the center braces and glass on my 100 gal. I'll figure out how to overcome it and report back


Tony
 
Tony what drivers did you use

What Lasse had recommended. Despite all the negative people have talked about him one her, he knows what he's talking about. I'm using the Meanwell HLG-80H-48B with 4 20wers in series and apparently still have some room to add a couple of Crees for a bit more white


Tony
 
@tony where did you mount your wires. To the plate tor tab

I soldered mine to the pad. I had to trim the reflector so it would fit but it is much cleaner looking now and I don't have to worry about shorts. I cut the tabs off. I also used 18g wire. Easier to work with and easier to solder to the pads. The mean well drivers have 18 g wire coming out of them.
 
Finally got everything wired. I hope to get these over my tank tomorrow. This is my propeller head bench.

IMG_2639.jpg


IMG_2643.jpg


IMG_2644.jpg


Still gotta wire up the fans and come up with a good way to mount the POT and DC power connectors for the 10V dimmer and 12vfan power supplies.
This is all I've got.

I don't have them over the tank yet but I did play around with them over the tank. I run 150w de Phoenix metal halides right now and the Phoenix look kinda green along side the LEDs. I'm guessing the LEDs are about 25% brighter too.

Life keeps me busy. I had to mow the lawn, wash the cars, sweep the porches do my sunday water change and take my daughter to practice. She is a catcher on a fast pitch travel ball team.

Maybe next weekend :)
 
This is all I've got.

I don't have them over the tank yet but I did play around with them over the tank. I run 150w de Phoenix metal halides right now and the Phoenix look kinda green along side the LEDs. I'm guessing the LEDs are about 25% brighter too.

Life keeps me busy. I had to mow the lawn, wash the cars, sweep the porches do my sunday water change and take my daughter to practice. She is a catcher on a fast pitch travel ball team.

Maybe next weekend :)

Looks great! I feel you. I have a daughter with down syndrome and autism. Keeping her entertained is a handful. I actually had my buddy help me while I hung out with my daughter. I would draw it out on paper and he would do "the heavy lifting". That's what friends are for right!
 
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