my DIY LED project.

[Vincenzo.]

so after doing some research and talking with a few ovas members, ive decided to try a diy build. This will be a slower process since i still deciding on a few things.

My tank display will be 9g so i could get away with about 9led's...but I WANT OVERKILL. Ill end up prolly with 15-20.

Ive read that the closer the led's are placed together, ull get optimal output and effect.

Upon research ive discovered the lower degree angle the better...

A led with 60¤ coverage is about 150w mh @ 1000mA
A led with 40¤ coverage is about 250w mh @ 1000mA
^with that being said i want around 30¤-40¤ for optimus prime.

I know everone is thinking that is crazy, but in the end it will be less watts than my 70w hqi and will blow it away.

Along with WAY less water evap / top up problems.

There are a few brands of led's that have revolutionized the trade..(ill mention them later)

For my project i will be going with CREE XR-E's

Cree xr-e Q5 white @ 6500K @ 1A
Cree xr-e royal blue @ 470nm @ 700mA
^^Cree xr-e royal blue @ 470nm @ 1A < they are really 1A for max
Cree xr-e UV @ 3watt (or might go 5w)

I will have 2 buck pucks
2@ 1A
1@ 700mA
^will use 2 1A instead.

my power supply i still have not decided. It'll prolly be bigger than what i need' if i ever want to upgrade.

And i will have indy heatsinks or custom built


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.
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Im still not done thinking it out, tony mentioned for a few extra bucks to add a dimmer, so im thinking about it.

Plus i might use diff led's
.



What everyone think so far?

[bitterman]

Vince,

This thread might interest you also

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=35423.0

Bruce

[mikerobart]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I'd say 100% do a dimmer especially if you want to go "overkill" ... I think you want to be able to adjust the output to a healthy level for the corals if it's too much.

[Vincenzo.]

Vince,

This thread might interest you also

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=35423.0

Bruce

Thx bruce. Ill deff check it out. I got the idea from a planted tank. And how well they work. For sw its a little diff, but should be fun.

[Vincenzo.]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I'd say 100% do a dimmer especially if you want to go "overkill" ... I think you want to be able to adjust the output to a healthy level for the corals if it's too much.

Ya u guys are prolly right, for a few extra bananas, might as well. Plus ill like the challenge.

Now to also figure the canopy i want.
and if i want led lenses.

[mikerobart]

I'm no expert but according to most of the discussion on RC optics can make a pretty big impact and at least to me would seem you could use fewer LED's to get the same result.. I guess the equivalent of better reflectors in the t5/mh world.

I don't know much about what the optics cost though.... but if you want to do it optimus prime....

[bitterman]

In that thread I mention it has a  link to this ... it covers the construction parts etc PAR values etc. It was done for a SW tank.

Bruce

[Vincenzo.]

^yeah i read this last night. was a good read. there is much more for me to absorb before orders are made. i need to fire off a few emails to a few companies too.

[Tyler.L]

vince....

we know you cant read buddy

you just look at the pics in the avatar and thread and say you "read" it lol

i have tony's email if you wanna email him he got a huge heatsink for his setup so i dunno if you wanna email him...

[Vincenzo.]

^lol. some times i just do some skimming though the info.

ya me and tony been talking, he gave me a few contacts. i need to hit them up with emails.

[Tyler.L]

well im glad then

[Vincenzo.]

so i have changed my mind..

5 x Q5 cool white @ 6500k
7 x royal blue @ 450nm
2 x 1000mA constant current output, external dimming w/ pot
12 x 22mm lens cover
12 x 22mm plain tight lens
1 x 12VCD, 3A 36w power supply
1 Heat sink, to size
2 x silent cpu fans

-----------------

for a grand total of under 200$

-----------------

im still in the process of ordering....so we'll see

[gvv]

Like the idea, will check this thread.
Can you post pictures how the project is going, as it seems very interesting

Also some questions:
lens covers - what is the advantage of using them?
heat sink - how much heat is comming from these LEDs and is there a spec regarding operational temp for them

Regards

[Vincenzo.]

i will be MAYBE using lens covers. i dont know if i want to go with my own cover over them all. or indy lens covers... just for protection.

off a reg led there is next to no heat, but wen u get into 1w + leds it turns into a problem.

the #1 reason led's burn out is from heat exposure. so heat sinks and fans are required for this project.

[GSM]

Hi Vince,

Not sure what you list below will work well for you.  It's the voltage on the power supply that concerns me. Let me try to explain - If your constant current drivers will work of 12v then you could only run 3 LED's off each at 12V.  These will pull about 10ish V and you need a bit of headroom.  In this case you'd need 4 drivers at 1000mA and not 2.   You'd be better off getting a driver that will accept 24v and run 6 LED's off each (20 ish volts being drawn and again a bit of headroom) - then you can stick to two dimmable drivers.  If you are using Buckpucks then just get a 24v supply and you'll be ok.  Also make sure your fans can handle the output of your power supply - not all fans can handle 12v & 3A power. 

By lens cover - do you mean optics?  I'm using 40degree optics - make sure you get the spread you are looking for - there are a lot of different kinds of optics out there!

Hope this helps and feel free to send me a PM if you need more info.

Cheers,

Greg

so i have changed my mind..

5 x Q5 cool white @ 6500k
7 x royal blue @ 450nm
2 x 1000mA constant current output, external dimming w/ pot
12 x 22mm lens cover
12 x 22mm plain tight lens
1 x 12VCD, 3A 36w power supply
1 Heat sink, to size
2 x silent cpu fans

-----------------

for a grand total of under 200$

-----------------

im still in the process of ordering....so we'll see

[Vincenzo.]

Hi Vince,

Not sure what you list below will work well for you.  It's the voltage on the power supply that concerns me. Let me try to explain - If your constant current drivers will work of 12v then you could only run 3 LED's off each at 12V.  These will pull about 10ish V and you need a bit of headroom.  In this case you'd need 4 drivers at 1000mA and not 2.   You'd be better off getting a driver that will accept 24v and run 6 LED's off each (20 ish volts being drawn and again a bit of headroom) - then you can stick to two dimmable drivers.  If you are using Buckpucks then just get a 24v supply and you'll be ok.  Also make sure your fans can handle the output of your power supply - not all fans can handle 12v & 3A power. 

By lens cover - do you mean optics?  I'm using 40degree optics - make sure you get the spread you are looking for - there are a lot of different kinds of optics out there!

Hope this helps and feel free to send me a PM if you need more info.

Cheers,

Greg

ya i mean to get 24v supply. and run of 2 buck pucks. 1 for whites and 1 for blues.
so i'll have 12 led's total. with dimmers for each. my whites will be at 100mA and my blues will be at 700mA.

as for fans, i think i'll either reverse wire them up or run a separate power supply for them. but ill look around at some electronic stores.

and yes optics i mean lens covers. i will be using 18 degree's you get more out of them the lower degree. from what ive read.
.
.
my question for you is, where did u get your heatsink? heatsinkusa.com? i might just grab a 1'' thick aluminum piece of scrap metal from a job site. i herd that will work too. or ill just end op ordering one.

[GSM]

Hi Vince,

Sounds like a good plan.  I used 1000mAfor both Blue and White.  I know some were using 700mA for the blues but never understood why.

I did buy a few heatsinks from Heatsink USA - shipping can get expensive though and really add to the cost if you are only buying 1.  Any heatsink should do, especially if you are adding fans.  Let me know if you find a good local source.

Cheers,

Greg

[Hookup]

this thread is disappointingly devoid of photos...

[audioslave_36]

this thread is disappointingly devoid of photos...

I have to agree 

[Vincenzo.]

once i order everything.
it'll be a photo tutorial.