Questions about diy led's/drivers.

[lingwendil]

There are plenty of capable controllers out there open source that can be assembled for less than $25, depends on what features you want in the end. I've got one built that can do 16 channels of PWM, temperature based fan control, and acclimation mode. If you don't want all the extra fluff (which is cool but largely unnecessary) and want to set things up and let them run it's an easy option. Your corals could care less the exact color temperature, storm lightshows, etc, they just want the right light and enough of it.

SSLAC16, Typhon, storm, and perkint's 16 channel controller are all affordable , open source, and usable controllers. The SSLAC16 is wireless, and has a hugely configurable interface, and can be built for less than $15 total.

Perkint's controller is what I'm currently using, and is a bit clunky to set up at first (but includes a file to fill out to load settings easier) but is a hugely configurable and versatile controller.

Bluefish mini controller is only $100, and have some extra features some may want. It has individual sliders to adjust everything. Easy and useful, but most of these controllers have a ton of features that are just added on as gimmicky fluff you don't need, so you need a good idea of what you want in mind.

 

[cedwards04]

I am fairly certain I can diy a light big enough for my 20gal for around $75 or less, but regardless, I enjoy building things/working with my hands. I already have a few needed items laying around.

Here is my situation. I have plenty of money (Not trying to brag, I am not rich by any means). My budget constraints are bc my wife is not on board with this hobby and there for doesn't want me spending money on it. Admittedly I already have a ton of toys/hobbys and need to sell out of some of them to free up play money. This light will be used as a "get me by" until I can free up other money to upgrade the tank and lighting at that time. I am hoping to get her more on board once she sees how beautiful they can be. Time will tell and I don't want to have $1,000's of dollars in something for it to be wasted and end up being taken down bc she gets tired of it. Once she is on board, my budget will be nearly limitless.

As far as all the programming and stuff is concerned. I honestly could care less about that right now. I only wanted them dimmable so I can adjust the colors to my liking. A simple on and off once the colors are set is totally fine with me. My tank is not a Cadillac, it's more like a Kia lol. Simple and effective is all I am after for now.

If I purchase a light now, I will just need to purchase another light later once I upgrade, and I am way to OCD to have two lights that are not the same or don't look the same, so I know I would end up purchasing 2 new lights for the new tank anyway, and the one I had now would be of no use to me.

 

[lingwendil]

28-36v power supply, 2A at least

2x LDD 1000-L drivers for $6-7 each shipped (supports manual dimming, but it's 0-2.5v, easy enough to get around with a 50¢ voltage regulator, then just run a potentiometer off of it, easy) or blueacro two-channel driver (about the same cost really)

Two blueacro 24w pucks ~$30 delivered each

Heatsink(s)

12v PSU for fans (or run a switching regulator, or fanless, $5 either way)

That's it really, and about what I currently run on my 20 long. The bulk of your cost will be the heatsink, but if you look on ebay for something surplus, or go on heatsinkusa you can get something large enough to run without a fan, otherwise, run a pair of $5-10 cpu cooler combos to be really cheap.



It can be done cheap, but cheap and quality isn't as, erm, cheap :strange:



And I get you on the tank not being fancy-

(Pardon the absolutely terrible wash of blue from my crappy phone camera)



That's Perkint's controller all tangled on top lol. I'm building up a second one in a nice case, this was a test rig that accidentally became permanent...

 

[oreo57]

Here is my situation. I have plenty of money (Not trying to brag, I am not rich by any means). My budget constraints are bc my wife is not on board with this hobby and there for doesn't want me spending money on it.

https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/1-sbox-basic.html

Done..
Whats an extra $50..............
$10 more for white..


Easier to convince her w/out a bunch of DIY wires hanging everywhere..

 

[perkint]

That's Perkint's controller all tangled on top lol. I'm building up a second one in a nice case, this was a test rig that accidentally became permanent...

LOL - my first version was in a sandwich box!

Tim

 

[lingwendil]

https://sbreeflights.com/sbox-reef-lights/1-sbox-basic.html

Done..
Whats an extra $50..............
$10 more for white..


Easier to convince her w/out a bunch of DIY wires hanging everywhere..

Well, in spite of what they say, it's still a bit of a "shotgun" approach, but with more thought put into emitter selection, but they do have a two year warranty, and manual dimming, so might not be a bad choice if OP doesn't have their heart set on DIY. SB reef lights are good people and that particular fixture is better than most black box type fixtures.


I still think it's worth doing it on your own though, and with a t-slot type heatsink you can experiment, upgrade, and modify to your hearts content as your needs taste, and technology changes.

 

[Fishinbob]

This clears things up for me perfectly. That's exactly the info I needed to confirm. For some reason I had a very hard time finding that explained so simply online. Thank you.

Go for It! The rapid led kits are good, I'd consider a couple extra channels with ldd drivers... but commit to the diy and solder it[emoji41] ok. Diy led is rewarding and with some additional time and effort can produce works of art (especially small scale) consider some blue and UV/violet and mixing cw,nw,and ww.
I have only 5 channels but have pretty decent colors and control. I have uv,rb,b,red and green, and white channel originally on potentiometers but now on apex.

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