coolwaters Posted July 12, 2007 Author Share Posted July 12, 2007 "thats the plan and im sticking to it now..." nvm -____- 10 LED array for a 10g is good enough. for thos coral with a little more light requirement i'll use a lense and place it right below the LED near the surface. since im pretty sure it was the current that killed the LED im going to use a regulator like Coyote said. i'll probably lose about 3 watts from each series but w/e... i kinda have an idea of the hood. its going to be 2" thick (cuz of the heatsink and i want air to circulate effectively. going to use 2 hard drive fans since its seems compact for this project. thats going to be another $15... lol noticed that the only time other people replay to threads is when somebody uploads pics... Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 alright i finally got my hands on the car and went to tap plastics today. i bought the supplies to make the hood now. along with some other stuff. its going to be black at 5" X 20"...and 2" tall still a lot to do Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 still havent glued it yet....been buzy with work and other stuff... planning to do it when i come home. hope it doesnt look too ugly... i wish i havent blown out one of the LEDs.... oh well lets hope that its a white LED =p so i can make it a 50/50 light. its going to be pretty weak but w/e. thats the last time im getting K2s...its only about 40lm/W while Seoul P4 goes almost 100lm/W but is about 2 times more... and i found only white leds so far... does anyone know any sites that sells blue-colored LEDs? Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 ok i finally got time today to glue my hood together...it was a pain since i got the wrong size pieces so i had to hacksaw pretty much everything...and use weld-on 16 since 3 was too thin to work with... now i need to fine a way to reinforce the heatsink on the hood. turns out its really heavy...too heavy for a 1/8" acrylic hood. im planning to add 15 LEDs to make a 60 watt set. placement is an issue...so most likely 10 on the 10g and 5 on the 3g. i got my resistors just need the leds and regulators... Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 i was talking to the guys at Advance (people who made the LED driver) and they said that i dont have to use regulators and resistors. IF im powering 15-20 K2 LEDs or 1 amps LEDs. but since iv barely have 15 LEDs...im going with 10. i hope i get everything 2day... When i upgrade i'll change the LEDs into either the Rebels (if i can work with them) or thoes new 100 lm/W LEDs. Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 alright i got everything i need to light this hood up!!! funny how they sent me all the parts in 5 different boxes... the lense are like diamonds...wish i bought more... anyways does anyone know if the LM317 bottom piece (the metal base part with the big hole) should be electrically isolated? or is it like a heat sink that doesnt have any current? Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 if anyone wants to do this check out this site about wiring the LM317 and resistors. it has the equations that u need. http://users.pandora.be/davshomepage/current-source.htm i was looking at my rebel and dam thats small...dont think i can solder that...but i'll try =p im planning to mount that on the edge to avoid the postive and negative touching the heatsink. i'll probably end up duct taping it down to the heatsink with heatsink compound... i rarely do pics just because it takes me forever to upload...first i take the picture then download it to my computer and then convert it to jpg and then upload it to photobucket and then upload it here...a pain in the butt. i found out that the bottom piece of the LM317 is also the output so i guess i'll have to flip that over.... the wire is still hecka confusing @.@ but i guess i can manage... hopefully i'll have time after 7 PM... Link to comment
Scucci Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I'm still following along. Can't wait to see what you have when you're finished. Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 i just wish i didnt mess up so badly on the hood but i think i can cover that up nicely tho... the slick black acrylic is really sexy... for the 3g i think i'll use the 30 degree lenses that i bought. i want to use 6 LEDs but dont think i have enough...white LEDs... i'll but using the multi-meter to test every circuit before i fire them up...cant afford to blow even one LED... i'll probably end up using just Blue LEDs as actinic for the 26w PC...got to narrow down that light... Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 its taking me a lot long then i expected.... i got the LEDs mounted just need to wire them and hook them up... wiring up the regulators on the resistors was a nightmare...im just glad that i bought a lot... if your going to do it with regulators make sure u know how to solder.... Link to comment
TurboBrett Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 It's really awesome to see more people playing with high power LEDs. I'm assembling parts for a high power LED project myself. I'm adding actinic to my 250w 14K lit 30g cube. (lots of LEDs ) Though you appear to be almost done, I've found info on instructables (likes this one for example http://www.instructables.com/id/ERVLPDU5XVEWOF31U3/ ) to be really helpfull. Only pics I have so far are of the test LEDs (luxeon stars and K2's, two blue two Royal blue): Dont want to clutter the post with too many pics so here's the links http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3712.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3713.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3714.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3715.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3716.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3717.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3721.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3723.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3731.JPG Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 i was scared that i didnt wire the array right so i tested one of the series with a AC adapter. it wasnt as bright as i wanted them to be but im guessing its the lack of power that my AC adaptor gave off. at least its wired correctly...im guessing im about 90% done. just need to wire the rest and fire it up. btw TurboBrett r there lenses on thos K2s? Link to comment
strangelove Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 It's really awesome to see more people playing with high power LEDs. I'm assembling parts for a high power LED project myself. I'm adding actinic to my 250w 14K lit 30g cube. (lots of LEDs ) Though you appear to be almost done, I've found info on instructables (likes this one for example http://www.instructables.com/id/ERVLPDU5XVEWOF31U3/ ) to be really helpfull. Only pics I have so far are of the test LEDs (luxeon stars and K2's, two blue two Royal blue): Dont want to clutter the post with too many pics so here's the links http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3712.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3713.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3714.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3715.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3716.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3717.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3721.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3723.JPG http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/LED/IMG_3731.JPG Wow look at those corals glow, like that last photo, what is it? Explain what you did so others can learn. Also www.instuctables.com is a cool site have you ever checked out www.make.com? i was scared that i didnt wire the array right so i tested one of the series with a AC adapter.it wasnt as bright as i wanted them to be but im guessing its the lack of power that my AC adaptor gave off. at least its wired correctly...im guessing im about 90% done. just need to wire the rest and fire it up. btw TurboBrett r there lenses on thos K2s? Also coolwaters, lets see your progress too. Photos of all the components before assembly would be cool. More pics please Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 alright guys major set back...all because i didnt run the fans... but all i lost was a blue LED light which i have plenty... the heat sink go so hot that it melted my acrylic top (well it made it bend) other then that my mylar reflector was melted by the resistors... its kind of my fault because i jump on this project.... im just so glad that i bought extra regulators and resistors because i think either the resistor or regulator was fryed...going to test them 2morrow...im calling this a day... heres some pics before everything went down hill. people this is what your all w8ing for!!! im just going to upload all my pics and if u have question people dont quote the pics its a nightmare for the 56K'ers =p Ty it just came to me a while ago that the LEDs im using arent efficient... only giving off about 45 lumes per watt so in the future im going to switch to a new rebel or seoul LEDs (or anyother 100 lumens per watt leds) Link to comment
neanderthalman Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 people still use 56K? Don't forget to grease the wheels on your chariot before trundling off to the Roman senate for work. Less work on your horses and kills that annoying squeak. Link to comment
crazinezz978 Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Haha! The leds project is cool. Been there done that. Use Extra large 1/2 inch leds, they are a lot brighter. And spread them out! Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 if i spread them out the most of the light is going to leave the tank. wow wat a disaster i was kind of afraid of this... it probably needs the whole 15 LEDs. or K2 LEDs just sux... i'll see what i can do to upgrade the LEDs... Link to comment
strangelove Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Looks good, sorry to hear the technical difficulty, hope you get it worked out. Link to comment
Scucci Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Looks good, sorry to hear the technical difficulty, hope you get it worked out. With lenses would you even need a reflector? Looks like it was going good until the almost-fire... Well, atleast all the wiring is done and you have the basic setup, so the rebuild shouldn't be that bad. Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 im throwing out the idea to light my 10g since the LEDs sux...so im going to use 6 LEDs for my 3g on one intel processor fan. Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 im having a hard time isolating the LED from the heat sink... i crammed 6 LEDs on one of the heat sinks. but it should fine. i'll try again later cuz im getting really mad... Link to comment
Socalsuperhero Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 im having a hard time isolating the LED from the heat sink... i crammed 6 LEDs on one of the heat sinks. but it should fine. i'll try again later cuz im getting really mad... Here's one trick i use. Go to the autoparts store and get some of the high temp 1500 degree header paint. Clean the heatsink up really good with rubbing alcohol and then spray it with the header paint. Trick is to make it nice and thin while still thick enough to provide adequate electrical insulation. Follow the directions on the back of the can for curing the paint in an oven. Then you can use thermal epoxy to attach the leds to the heatsink. Link to comment
coolwaters Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 thanks i'll keep that im mind next time... as for the project im quiting cuz its just too stressful...sorry to disappoint you people but i really tried. the circuits just isnt regulating the LEDs.... in the future i'll use a different ballast with a pre-made array. Link to comment
strangelove Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 thanks i'll keep that im mind next time... as for the project im quiting cuz its just too stressful...sorry to disappoint you people but i really tried. the circuits just isnt regulating the LEDs.... in the future i'll use a different ballast with a pre-made array. Don't quit, just chill for the weekend, have some fun, then when Monday rolls around figure out what you did wrong and try, try again. I agree with Supercal that a heat sink with good contact with the LEDs is primo important. Design the lights, circuits and fan around that. Heat is probably your issue and it should be easy for you to handle it, since heat wants to travel up. CPU heatsinks might not be big enough for what your array. I've seen car PCU heat sinks that might fit your array better. You could go to a pick and pull car parts a pick up the piece for cheap. FYI the heat sinks on a Solaris are upside down so the fins are in contact with the LEDs and the flat side of the heat sink is on top. Fans blow air horizontally over the flat side of the heat sink. Link to comment
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