Trying DIY LED's, need a little help.

[00youknowit00]

So I have a general idea on what to do. But not 100% like I would like. I want to run them in parallel (I think), I have 3, 3.2v 20mA blue LED's, I want to use a 6V supply (battery holder with leads that holds 4 D batteries), I have a 47k-Ohm, .5 watt 5% tolerance resistor. Not really sure where to go next..

LED:



Resistor:


Power supply:



I'm hoping someone has done this before! I'm assuming from all the times I've seen it come up! (it seems all the old threads are for sw and are doing things WAY over this :P)

Thanks for the help!

*edit*
I'm on the app and I guess I didn't hit ” insert inline” on the last picture, obviously its the wire I'm using. Oops.

[Viperchaos]

Hi there, i have used LEDS in past here is my LED Board ,
athough i know youve already splashed the cash on parts you could of simply used Pre wired LED with AC power supply. a piece of measured and cut acrylic with the correct diameter holes drilled for the LEDs. and thats as easy as it is

[Viperchaos]

Lights on

[Viperchaos]

The lights over the tank

[00youknowit00]

Well, im really good with a soldering gun, and have done quite a bit with wiring since I'm also really into rc planes. I like to make things myself when I can, not sure why really, maybe more of a sense of accomplishment, but also when something does go wrong I can easily fix it since I made it.

I mean I can probably do it now (maybe), I just want to make sure its right, and im not positive if I want to run it in series or parallel. And how to really use a resistor, never had to put one in before since they are normally in the equipment already.

[00youknowit00]

Originally Posted by Viperchaos

Hi there, i have used LEDS in past here is my LED Board ,
athough i know youve already splashed the cash on parts you could of simply used Pre wired LED with AC power supply. a piece of measured and cut acrylic with the correct diameter holes drilled for the LEDs. and thats as easy as it is

Also, how much did all that cost you?

[Viperchaos]

Originally Posted by 00youknowit00

Also, how much did all that cost you?

It cost me £8 sorry if your from else where.!

[Viperchaos]

Originally Posted by 00youknowit00

Well, im really good with a soldering gun, and have done quite a bit with wiring since I'm also really into rc planes. I like to make things myself when I can, not sure why really, maybe more of a sense of accomplishment, but also when something does go wrong I can easily fix it since I made it.

I mean I can probably do it now (maybe), I just want to make sure its right, and im not positive if I want to run it in series or parallel. And how to really use a resistor, never had to put one in before since they are normally in the equipment already.

Go for it is all i can say. I mean make sure wiring is all covered and all ( but i know your inteligent enough to remember )

I found that no matter how many leds you use theyre ability to pass light through water or brighter lights is poor.

They do provide enough spectrum of light for low light plants. but nothing large. Perhaps incorperating reflective material may help increase light intensity ive pondered over that.

As for how you position them on your Led board it doesnt matter perhaps 1 LED to every 2 square inches.
But shining them through glass doesnt work that well creates loadsa silhouttes.

The picture is of the same setup but with bright white LEDs which work just as well as tube lighting

[Viperchaos]

Another point is ive had 1 set of LEDs for three years being on for 8 hours a day and there intensity never decreased i was the best idea i ever had took me 2 hours to make.

[00youknowit00]

Great! And see, these are just moon lights, I have my normal lights, but have always wanted to have a moon light, so I thought why not

[00youknowit00]

Did this sound right?
With a 6V supply and each led needs 3.2, I'm running them in parallel now, I have 47k ohm resistors. I put a resistor before each led to be safe, right?

Here is a diagram:



And for every LED after that, I'd put another resistor on the positive, right? (at least that is what I read)

[Viperchaos]

Yes that is exactly right, i like your cool little diagram

And 6v sounds more than sufficient
Homemade stuff ocean rocks!!

[00youknowit00]

Okay, so in the end I wired it up in series, I didn't have enough power so I doubled up to 12V, and a 150 resistor. It works great! After hot glueing the necessary parts to the board to insure it all stays put, I wrapped it all in plastic wrap, part to water seal, part I couldn't put foil directly on it cause it conducts electricity.















Love the outcome! It was really easy and cost about $25 (at most, less if you don't mess up at first like me :P). It is exactly the amount of light I was looking for too! Very pleased!

*edit*
Ugh, yet again I forgot to hit ”insert inline”..

[Viperchaos]

Oh they are awsome , everything looks functional and safe. Youve done a pretty awsome job there LEDS do a great job when being used for moon light, as they arent too intense.

Heres a picture of my 20Litre with 6 black widows, 1 opaline gourami,and a few guppy fry.

[Viperchaos]

Stupid app never wrks when you want it too

what do you keep in that tank?

[00youknowit00]

I like your tank currently I have an albino bristlenose pleco, 2 corys (I know I need a couple more, I had a bad experience with GWK's and lost 2 corys and 8 rasboras), and a GBR.

[Viperchaos]

ooooooh lala, sounds like a good idea with the GBR certainly will do fine with.bristle noses, i have a 8" gibbiceps coolest fish ive ever owned,
I had trouble with another type of catfish called a samoan yoti plectosmus, so i redecorated and got red belly pirahnas

[00youknowit00]

Originally Posted by Viperchaos

ooooooh lala, sounds like a good idea with the GBR certainly will do fine with.bristle noses, i have a 8" gibbiceps coolest fish ive ever owned,
I had trouble with another type of catfish called a samoan yoti plectosmus, so i redecorated and got red belly pirahnas

Oh that sounds really nice!! I'll have to google the gibbiceps and the pleco

[Link119]

If i were you, i would power it with 3v and i would wire it in parallel. I have a good knowledge of electricity and circuitry. With my setup no resistor is required because your using a lower voltage. I am also an rc flyer...

[00youknowit00]

Originally Posted by Link119

If i were you, i would power it with 3v and i would wire it in parallel. I have a good knowledge of electricity and circuitry. With my setup no resistor is required because your using a lower voltage. I am also an rc flyer...

See, I think that'd what I did the first time, but they were extremely dim until they got the full 3.2v. I'm happy with what I have now really but thanks for the advice! If I do it again I'll probably go that way!