Bringing this one back to the top as I finally got around to finishing the LED driver box. I also bought a new halide fixture, with a much better reflector in it. Here are the FINISHED pictures. LOL!
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-DG87Nnv%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2794-L.jpg&hash=189d8896a84b9423f1e79b1c830d64c6)
The heat sink is now only 10" in length, and yes it does get quite warm. I have added a thermal switch from Steve's LED's to the middle of the heat sink, and it has never tripped off. The quarter is there for scale.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-bjs3BTL%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2796-L.jpg&hash=8f1dc2b22a23e9d8f0affa0486ff6518)
Mounted to the side of the halide, this time I used a rubber grommet between the LED's and halide. The grommet creates an air gap to allow for better cooling, and less heat transfer from the halide to the LED.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-f7rVnXN%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2806-L.jpg&hash=672d071370184c2bd363123c3294d089)
Lights on. This is taken with a Ushio 20K bulb that was about 12 months old, it has been replaced by a Phoenix 14K, which I like a lot more. I like the Phoenix even better than the Radium to be honest. The 14K Phoenix looks just a tad more blue to me, I know the charts show otherwise. Also the LED on the left is dim because I had touched the LED with the double sticky tape on the bottom of the reflector. The LED was on when I was placing those, and it started smoking immediately. I ended up replacing that particular emitter, and ordered a spare in case I do something stupid again.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-cxgvtWb%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2830-L.jpg&hash=52d6c51d873010095e467f442ef7b55e)
LDD's into the O2 Surplus manual PWM Dimmer. This works perfect for me, manual dimmer on LED's that are only there to enhance the color of the tank, and add a dawn/dusk effect to the halide.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-T78QkpF%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2831-L.jpg&hash=3a05cb501267121d4683f200660e93de)
E-bay special voltage dropper. This takes the 36v from the LED power supply and drops it to 5.2V which goes into the O2 Surplus dimmer.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-J6Mvvzp%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2833-L.jpg&hash=987c5393f76e64b184a6a314512708e3)
All 3 parts hanging before getting added to the project box.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-nv9pKV2%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2839-L.jpg&hash=0c161bec6683d76007695a4c8b6cc6de)
All placed in the box, you can see the voltage to the Dimmer at 5.22. I can also push a button and see the input voltage, which is 36.2.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-3dxpCP6%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2840-L.jpg&hash=8913ded425c81e11437f573a41697616)
And finally all buttoned up, looking much cleaner than having that dimmer hanging out in space.![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-DG87Nnv%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2794-L.jpg&hash=189d8896a84b9423f1e79b1c830d64c6)
The heat sink is now only 10" in length, and yes it does get quite warm. I have added a thermal switch from Steve's LED's to the middle of the heat sink, and it has never tripped off. The quarter is there for scale.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-bjs3BTL%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2796-L.jpg&hash=8f1dc2b22a23e9d8f0affa0486ff6518)
Mounted to the side of the halide, this time I used a rubber grommet between the LED's and halide. The grommet creates an air gap to allow for better cooling, and less heat transfer from the halide to the LED.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-f7rVnXN%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2806-L.jpg&hash=672d071370184c2bd363123c3294d089)
Lights on. This is taken with a Ushio 20K bulb that was about 12 months old, it has been replaced by a Phoenix 14K, which I like a lot more. I like the Phoenix even better than the Radium to be honest. The 14K Phoenix looks just a tad more blue to me, I know the charts show otherwise. Also the LED on the left is dim because I had touched the LED with the double sticky tape on the bottom of the reflector. The LED was on when I was placing those, and it started smoking immediately. I ended up replacing that particular emitter, and ordered a spare in case I do something stupid again.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-cxgvtWb%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2830-L.jpg&hash=52d6c51d873010095e467f442ef7b55e)
LDD's into the O2 Surplus manual PWM Dimmer. This works perfect for me, manual dimmer on LED's that are only there to enhance the color of the tank, and add a dawn/dusk effect to the halide.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-T78QkpF%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2831-L.jpg&hash=3a05cb501267121d4683f200660e93de)
E-bay special voltage dropper. This takes the 36v from the LED power supply and drops it to 5.2V which goes into the O2 Surplus dimmer.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-J6Mvvzp%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2833-L.jpg&hash=987c5393f76e64b184a6a314512708e3)
All 3 parts hanging before getting added to the project box.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-nv9pKV2%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2839-L.jpg&hash=0c161bec6683d76007695a4c8b6cc6de)
All placed in the box, you can see the voltage to the Dimmer at 5.22. I can also push a button and see the input voltage, which is 36.2.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsplitsecond.smugmug.com%2FAquariums%2FLuxeon-DIY-Build%2Fi-3dxpCP6%2F0%2FL%2FIMG_2840-L.jpg&hash=8913ded425c81e11437f573a41697616)
And finally all buttoned up, looking much cleaner than having that dimmer hanging out in space.