DIY Moonlights.

[SparKy697]

If you would like to have moonlights in your tank, but did not buy the fixture that has them built in. Here is an alternative to using the add on type led fixtures.

Go to EBAY and look for Blue, wide angle (+/- 100 degree viewing angle).
I found these and bought them. The exchange rate worked out to be about $18.00 with shipping. I know you can buy the pre made puck type fixtures but those have one or two LEDs and this is for 100 LEDs. I have enough to light every tank that I will ever have.

These are sold for use on an automotive application so they come with an appropriate resister to drop voltage to around 5 volts dc which is what you want for LEDs to operate. You can find 12 volt dc power packs on ebay too, as well as radio shack.

Here are the details:


I started with my All-Glass light fixture from my 29 gallon tank. It has plenty of room between the lamp and the sided of the fixture. You will have to determine if your fixture has enough room to squeeze some led's in along with the normal lamp.




I removed the reflector to expose the inner workings of the fixture. Layed out where I wanted the led's to be and drilled holes that the led's would fit through.


Inserted the LEDs to test for fit and then glued them in place. I chose to use an extra thick super glue (Cyano-Acrylate) because of it's fast drying time






I layed the LED's leads over so that they were parallel to the reflector. Then the wire that would connect the led's to the power supply were stripped every place it would come in contact with the led's leads. Since I had a 12 Volt dc Power supply I just used the resistors that came with the LEDs. I chose to use one resister per LED instead of using one main led. These resisters were soldered between the wire and the lead the wire was to be attached to.







Heat shrink tubing was used to provide a little mechanical support as well as insulate the leads that were soldered to the wire.

All of the LEDs soldered and glued in place.


The test before putting it all together.


Drilled a hole for the power cord from the power pack to go through and just tied a knot in it fro strain relief.



FINISHED!

The final test to make sure every thing works.


I will post photos of the tank lit up with the new LEDs tonight.

The only thing left is to make the LEDs come on automatically. That will be another post.

[blazeyreef]

wow!!! you are awesome with DIY'ing, I would never be able to figure somthing like that out LOL

[David14259]

Very Nice Sparky!!!

It's dark...where are our tank shots?!

[SparKy697]

[redswi]

Nice job...very profesional, but judging by your workbench, you have done this before..

[theotheragentm]

I don't have a workbench. It's just as well as I am a clumsy fool.

[SparKy697]

Thanks.

I play with many things.

Got hobbies?

[neilanh]

Very nice, and a great write up!

[Marconis]

Very nice Sparky.

[leoslizards]

I'm thinking of doing this to my new DIY canopy. I have over 100+ blue leds and UV leds. I was just going to hook 3 of them up to a 12v adapter so that they all would get 4v each. I don't use resistor nor have I ever used them before since I'm not sure exactly what they do or how to pick the proper ones. Using resistors will I be able to hook up more then 3 leds on a 12v adapter? For example 5 or 10?

As for other hobbies. I mod computer! Anyone else here also a moder? Show me your cases!