LED DIY Thread

[eggie]

Since some of you guys ask for a LED thread here in R2R and I had my parts coming to me. I decide to make a DIY LED thread

Parts

8 Cree XR-E Royal Blue LED from Cree LEDs - Led Driver - Led Fixtures - Led Optics - Luxeon LEDs - LED Supply.com
2 3023-D-N-700 Wired Buckpuck from Cree LEDs - Led Driver - Led Fixtures - Led Optics - Luxeon LEDs - LED Supply.com
1 Aluminum Flat bar 2"x 1/8 x 4'
1 Plastic Project box 2" x 3" x 1" Radio Shack
2 Rolls of solid wire #22 gauge Red/Black
2 per each led 4-40 SS screw withe tap and drill bit
1 Arctic silver thermal compound
1 Power supply (will depend of the quantity of leds)

Tools

Drill
Measuring tape
Sharpie marker
Wire stripper
Screw driver

This is what you will get when you order

Im using an aluminum flat bar cause Im limited of space and a heatsink wont fit
The flat bar will do the same work as a heatsink .It will spread the heat emittedd by the LED all away across

First I spaced all my LEDs to 5" one an other and mark them to the flat bar with a sharpie

Then I started to drill and tap each hole,Once done i started to mount the LEDs to see how they look

After that is done I start to put a drop of the artic silver to assure that every LED transfers it heat to the aluminum bar and start tighting down all my LEDs be very carfull not to over tighten them they could break

Also make sure that the head of the screw is not touching the negative or positive soldering point

At this point I have all the LEDs mounted its time to wire them up this is a drawing i made so you could understand how the wireing goes from one LED to the other and the buckpuck

Each buckpuck holds up to 6 LEDs

As I didnt want my cable to see what I did is drill some holes near by were I was going to attach the wires

Then they will all be tied with black tie raps

I like to have my wiring colored cause then I will know wich is Positive (RED) and wich is Negative (BLACK) going to my Buckpuck

After all that is done Its time to attach my plastic project box
I did 2 more holes and tap them and put 2 screw to hold the box in place

Then I run all my wire thru a piece of heat shrink and in the box
with the 2 buckpucks

After all is done its just a matter to hook up the power supply
wich Iv done already but only temporary

 

[Paul_N]

Thanks for sharing! I'll be following as I would love to give it a shot down the road.

 

[eggie]

Here is a pic of LEDs on and one of my tank its not the best as im crap taking pics

Ill be trying better pics
I still have more info on the optics

 

[MikeB]

Awesome work.

 

[adetamor]

I will be tagging along with this. I am considering going LED over my 40 breeder. As of this point...do you plan on adding more LED's to the tank? Is this just a supplementary lighting with your current lighting? Thanks.

 

[eggie]

I will be tagging along with this. I am considering going LED over my 40 breeder. As of this point...do you plan on adding more LED's to the tank? Is this just a supplementary lighting with your current lighting? Thanks.

Just supplement I have an ATI PM 6 bulb fixture and since my tank is incrusted to a wall of my house I hade 6 inches of the tank getting less light so I did the LED supplement it added shime, more blue to get better colors and they also good for moon lights all my corals look very nice

 

[eggie]

Optics they tend to concetrate the lighting to get more depth

I tried the Carclo Optics there diffrent degress like: spot light, 40 degress, 60 degress and my invention using only the optic holders to concentrate more light for more depth

Carclo plain tight lens
This give you the effect of a spot light

Carclo ripple medium
Its a 40 degree optics

Carclo ripple wide lens
Its a 60 degree optics

This is led with out optics

And this is what I called my invention its just the optic holder in the LED it creats a wider spread then any of the optics and having a good penetration with good amount of light

I was playing around and was wondering how it look this way and really looks good for those higher tanks

this is how the leds look with optics reflected by a paper you could see how they spread the light at the same distance

 

[saintperez]

Excellent results! I didn't see it anywhere but did you post how much $$ you spent on this project? I would like to do the same but just curious.

 

[eggie]

Excellent results! I didn't see it anywhere but did you post how much $$ you spent on this project? I would like to do the same but just curious.

The hole proyect was like 142 dollars

 

[jaytizzle]

I am looking into this project... how would you go about making these dimmable? I am no electronics whiz, so if you could give me the part numbers that I should use as a replacement to the stuff that you listed, that would be phenomenal!

 

[thomasdo87]

eggie is using Buckpuck drivers. There are buckpucks that are already wired with external dimming pots. but you need to purchase a power supply.
3023 Wired BuckPuck - LED Supply.com

There are also mean well eln-60-48p dimmable drivers that dont need a power supply just a cord. but dimming takes a little more effort.
Mean Well ELN-60-48P dimmable driver

Buckpucks makes it easy for dimming applications.

 

[ReeferRob]

Thank you for sharring!

 

[eggie]

I am looking into this project... how would you go about making these dimmable? I am no electronics whiz, so if you could give me the part numbers that I should use as a replacement to the stuff that you listed, that would be phenomenal!

All you need to do is change the buck puck for the dimmable one call led supply and speak with Brook he will help you out :smile:

 

[inactive]

The flat bar is only 1/8" inch thick, I would seriously consider getting a real heat sink. Without the fins to dissipate the heat its just going to load up...

 

[jaytizzle]

Thanks for the info! Kraylen, I will into the heat sink portion of it.

 

[eggie]

The flat bar is only 1/8" inch thick, I would seriously consider getting a real heat sink. Without the fins to dissipate the heat its just going to load up...

Well not really cause the heat will disipate thru all the aluminum i did it with aluminum bar just beacuse i didnt have space and its sitting on top of the plastic bracing and it hasnt melt or bend the plastic so its transfering the heat very well
But heat sink could be use also

 

[rosebud161616]

Very nice write up! I have to say most LED writeups have me snoozing half way through the first post, but this was plain English!

 

[eggie]

Very nice write up! I have to say most LED writeups have me snoozing half way through the first post, but this was plain English!

Thank you and enjoy any question dont hesitate to ask even do my english is not the best

 

[evilc66]

The flat bar is only 1/8" inch thick, I would seriously consider getting a real heat sink. Without the fins to dissipate the heat its just going to load up...

Considering the size of the bar, and the number of LEDs placed on it, it's fine for this application. I wouldn't recommend using this approach for a primary lighting setup though.

 

[eggie]

Considering the size of the bar, and the number of LEDs placed on it, it's fine for this application. I wouldn't recommend using this approach for a primary lighting setup though.

Correct