madcurlyq
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2011
- Messages
- 168
Can u make them?
LEDS
- Thread starter madcurlyq
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Smitty
Aquarium Advice Addict
You can build LED fixtures from LED (something like the kits being sold by rapidLED). If you are talking about building individual pucks, I'm sure it can be done but that is WAY over my knowledge on how-to.
Retired_AF
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Yes, it can and has been done. However, be aware of what you are purchasing because not all LED's are the same. Plus they require a specific way to power and wire them together.
LED's are Light Emitting Diodes. They run on a DC current. If wired up incorrectly they will either not work, work poorly or they could self destruct. You would have to be sure that the LED's put out the correct light amount and proper spectrum, that you have a sufficient quantity to complete the project and that you have a power source capable of handling the load. There is also the issue of having to calculate and add resistors to the circuits to control current and to drop the voltage to the correct level if necessary. What I mean is, many LED's run on anywhere from 3 to 5 volts DC. If your power source puts out 12 volts, you would have to find out what resistors you would need to drop the voltage down enough to protect your diodes. A 5 volt power source could give you the correct voltage, but may not handle the current requirements. The requirements all depend on what you decide to use for your lights. Start with the LED's specifications and build from there. Note that most of the LED's people use for aquariums are kind of expensive.
As you can see it can get a little complicated, but it CAN be done. You may be able to do some research and find some projects that others have done to give you a head start.
Good luck!
LED's are Light Emitting Diodes. They run on a DC current. If wired up incorrectly they will either not work, work poorly or they could self destruct. You would have to be sure that the LED's put out the correct light amount and proper spectrum, that you have a sufficient quantity to complete the project and that you have a power source capable of handling the load. There is also the issue of having to calculate and add resistors to the circuits to control current and to drop the voltage to the correct level if necessary. What I mean is, many LED's run on anywhere from 3 to 5 volts DC. If your power source puts out 12 volts, you would have to find out what resistors you would need to drop the voltage down enough to protect your diodes. A 5 volt power source could give you the correct voltage, but may not handle the current requirements. The requirements all depend on what you decide to use for your lights. Start with the LED's specifications and build from there. Note that most of the LED's people use for aquariums are kind of expensive.
As you can see it can get a little complicated, but it CAN be done. You may be able to do some research and find some projects that others have done to give you a head start.
Good luck!
CRUSHER
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
it would be best to just buy the LED strips... gut out a fluorescent fixture and adheise the LED strips inside... there are some that come with an adheive already on them and they can also be daisy chained. they do come in a wide assortment of colors too, but white and blue are what is needed.
CRUSHER
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
If I could afford high end lights, i would be investing in Aqua Ray; Aqua Beam & Gro Beam 600/1000/1500 Marine/Freshwater Lighting Systems;
*We are the original and most experienced online retailer of AquaRay LED Aquarium Light Fixtures
*Now Available; XG 1500 Ultima Daylight and Ocean Blue Wide Angle LEDs &
*1000 Ultra; Reef White, Marine White, & GroBeam
*AquaBeam Reef White, Marine White, Marine Blue, Reef Blue, & GroBeam 500/ 600
* MountaRay & Rails, * Flexi Red LED Aquarium Light Strips
*Fully Programmable Controllers; Multi Controller, Storm & UPS Feature
*LED Lighting Suggestions & Care, *LED Videos
*600 Mounting Examples, Instructions Download
*We are the original and most experienced online retailer of AquaRay LED Aquarium Light Fixtures
*Now Available; XG 1500 Ultima Daylight and Ocean Blue Wide Angle LEDs &
*1000 Ultra; Reef White, Marine White, & GroBeam
*AquaBeam Reef White, Marine White, Marine Blue, Reef Blue, & GroBeam 500/ 600
* MountaRay & Rails, * Flexi Red LED Aquarium Light Strips
*Fully Programmable Controllers; Multi Controller, Storm & UPS Feature
*LED Lighting Suggestions & Care, *LED Videos
*600 Mounting Examples, Instructions Download
fishmonkey
Aquarium Advice Addict
if you are interested in making a led setup, it is really not as difficult as you may think, if you have some basic soldering skills. and it can be better than buying a fixture.
fadetoblack06
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I bought 3 sets off of eBay plugged them into a power strip and put a corner protector over it so it doesn't shine up.
00youknowit00
Aquarium Advice Addict
I just made a LED moonlight, its amazing. I think for things like that its great to DIY. But if you're trying for a full fixture of LED's, I would just but a premade fixture without any question. My moonlight is 3 blue LED's wired in series over a 20H, its perfect. Extremely easy to do if you can solder, or at least willing to learn. If you plan to DIY you can PM me if you have any questions, hopefully I could help you a little, its definitely a learning experience.
krap101
Aquarium Advice Addict
I'd also suggest building your own. Basically what you need are some high powered leds, a heat sink, DC power supply, and some way to attach the leds to the heat sink.
Here is what I used:
40B
24x Cree Q2 WC bin led's
2x Meanwell eln-60-24 power supplies
24x Berquist Thermal Pad
1x aluminum plate (Mcmaster)
2x 120mm Fan
5v and 12v AC/DC adapter (from random appliances)
1x polycarbonate splash guard
1x 12 terminal junction
1x desk fan (to cool the power supplies for now)
1x ABS electronics housing
10G:
6x Cree Q2 WC bin led's
6x Berquist Thermal Pad
1x Thompson power supply (from nanotuners before they closed)
1x potentiometer
1x aluminum plate
1x 120mm fan
1x ABS electronics housing.
random rivets, tape, etc
Here is what I used:
40B
24x Cree Q2 WC bin led's
2x Meanwell eln-60-24 power supplies
24x Berquist Thermal Pad
1x aluminum plate (Mcmaster)
2x 120mm Fan
5v and 12v AC/DC adapter (from random appliances)
1x polycarbonate splash guard
1x 12 terminal junction
1x desk fan (to cool the power supplies for now)
1x ABS electronics housing
10G:
6x Cree Q2 WC bin led's
6x Berquist Thermal Pad
1x Thompson power supply (from nanotuners before they closed)
1x potentiometer
1x aluminum plate
1x 120mm fan
1x ABS electronics housing.
random rivets, tape, etc
