225 Gallon DIY LED BUILD Tank Shots with New True Violet Modification.
 

Hello,

So I finally saved enough money and got the approval from the wife to build me a DIY LED Fixture. (took about year and a half) biggrin.gif

Specs of the tank
5ft long X 3 ft wide X 2 ft deep approx 225 gallon
Planning to keep SPS & LPS Or whatever I find in the future LOL
Can mount the lights any height no restrictions
So far I bought 4 used heatsinks from Ebay which measures 20"X14"X1.5"

total heatsink is going to be 40" long X 28 wide X 1.5" height" (industrial grade aluminum heatsink which weights in at 60 lbs) Heavy

So far for LED I need the total amount I will need and will place them this week with www.ledgroupbuy.com
Cree XP-G Cool White - 112 (not sure if I need more)
Cree XP-E Royal Blue - 168 (not sure If I need more)
Cree XP-G Neutral White R3 - 28 (Not sure how many????)
Cree XP-E Blue - 24 (Mainly for moonlights with no optics)
All will have a 60 degree optic unless somebody has a better angle to choose.

I am going to go with TRP Drivers but need help choosing them too. I was looking for dimmable (0-10v)
Was looking at the dimmable 200 watt , 700 mA, 143-285 VDC , model TRC-200S070DT.

http://www.thomasresearchproducts.co...es09-06-10.pdf
Will this work or over kill?

I want 90 X Cool White off 1 driver @ 700ma
1 X 84 Royal Blue off 1 driver @ 700ma
1 X 84 Royal Blue off 1 Driver @ 700ma
28 NW + 22 CW off 1 driver @ 700ma (I think this needs to be the 150 W Dimmable)
run all the Blue "(moonlight) off 1 driver @ 700ma (I think this needs to be 75W Dimmable)

i think that will make sense. ??? anyone want to tell me a better way I'm all for it.

Also I can add a fan on the heatsink if need be, I will post a picture of the heatsink

4 X Aluminum Heat Sink
Approximate Dimensions: 20" x 14" x 1 3/8"
43 Dissipating Heat Fins
Some Holes And Indent For Mounting Components
Used
Normal Wear From Normal Use
2 Fins Are Slightly Bent On End
What Is Pictured Is What You Will Receive

So I will put them 2 inch on center away from each other so from 40" X 28" ( i figured 20 LEDs across by 14 LEDs wide) therefor 20 multiply 14 is 280 LEDS I will randomly place the other 24 blue moonlights somehow and add the NW in somewhere with the CW. I will be dimming with either a PLC or an APEX (have ACIII now but no 0-10v dimming)

not sure how much heat heatsink will take but i thought mass plays a factor and the 4 heatsinks weighs in at 60 lbs and that's aluminum. I will also add a huge low rpm fan on the top to cool abit. Also this will be an open top canopy. floating above the tank

I'm am not a Guru or anything but have good soldering skills and took this along time ago in school. Hope someone can help me out. Also let me know if I need more LEDS, Drivers, etc etc. Researched and never found one this big so this is all new to me.
Thanks again and I will keep you posted
erick

tagging along i wanna see this through
:lol:

MEEEE TOOO
 

I sent the heatsink to my brother in the states and it will cost him 230$ to ship it here cause of the weight so i have to wait a month till I get the heatsink. but other than that I can have everything ordered and just build on a long weekend.

hopefully I can get more info and help from everyone

thanks in advance

thanks
erick

WoW that is a big setup.
i am placing my order of drivers from TRP in the morning.
they don't carry all drivers on hand so get yourself a list of what you are interested in then call them.
i could easily help you with the drivers but you need to find out the total LED you need.
I am going with XPG and XPE only. powerfull AC fan USA heat sink i believe 8X12 and placing 40 LED on each heatsink.

TRP Drivers
 

I'm posting on all reef forums for help and hopefully can get a total led amount. not sure if I need more or less but I will be probably getting the 200 watt TRP so I can go bigger on my next tank build. I might overbuild now so when I upgrade I can. LOL

Let me know what the cost for the drivers are? I haven't :=(


thanks
erick

if you go with the 200W TRC-200S070DT you could run max of 82 LED in a string with 3.5v forward at a 700ma
for any of the 200w drivers they need aprox 6to 8 weeks for build.

I am driving my LED to the max royal blue at 1050ma and the cool white at 1400ma.(not recommended for everyone though)

WTF!!! 6-8 weeks WOW.

Okay well, I calculated 3.0 volts instead of 3.5volts. That's fine I will use 82 LEDs per string. thanks

Just add the other leds on the other drivers.

But man 6-8 weeks I better order now. !!! Damn good thing I'm in school till end of month. LOL

Yes I would run them at a higher mA rating but I rather have my LEDS last a little longer.
This build is like gonna be about $2500 and it's not even complete yet. OUCH!!!

Did you get a price on the TRP drivers?

let me know

thanks
erick

FINALLY!!! No turning back now! :D
 

So the order has been placed. Should get it in couple of weeks.
I still need to order my LED drivers. Will call this week.


Your Order Contains:

* 121 x CREE XP-G Cool White (This product is available for pre-order only)
* 24 x CREE XP-E Blue (This product is available for pre-order only)
* 320 x XP-* Optic
(Degree: 60) (This product is available for pre-order only)
* 4 x Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive 5g
* 168 x CREE XP-E Royal Blue (This product is available for pre-order only)
* 32 x CREE XP-G Neutral White R3 (This product is available for pre-order only)

I ordered extra LEDs just incase I go bigger. Or if any burns out I have replacement.


Will keep you guys posted on the progress. In school till end of month so don't expect anything till April sometime.

thanks
erick

well its about time man you did some work. good to hear that you are doing one up.

LOL
 

I haven't changed bulb in over a 1.5 . It's about time. Also my tank is setup I'm just to lazy to do a write up and take photos. Wait till I get my PLC (programmable logic controller) to do my water changes. Once everything is up and running I will do the write up and take photos. By that time I might be moving back to winnipeg. hahaha

Then to my next big tank project. :D

Stay in touch I'll update when I can

thanks
erick

tagging along! Pictures!

Thanks Milad
 

Thanks Milad

I will take photos and post them online when I get everything. Hopefully I get my stuff in the next month.

I need to buy my TRP drivers still. I will call them tommorrow. I will keep you posted.

thanks
erick

I would like to see this one! Tag.

Just placed my TRP Drivers
 

Just ordered my TRP drivers. hopefully will get everything by end of month

I will keep you guys posted

thanks
erick

Just ordered my Apex Controller and PM1 Module. Also seems like my LEDs will be shipped here soon. Still have to wait till end of month to get my heatsink but I should be starting soon.

I'll keep you posted

thanks
erick

did you order the LEDs or are they on back order? the reason I ask and I wish I saw this sooner is you don't need 4 different colors and it is going to contrubute to more color spotting. general opinion on colors of LEDs now is to forget about blue (doesn't do anything for you realy) and go with just a nutral white and royal blue at a ratio of two RB to 1 nutral white.

I am in the process of ordering a couple royal blue, couple cool white and a couple nutral white so I can do some color testing befor I do a big order.

Steve

Thanks for the info
I'm really only using 3 colors which is CW,RB,NW. I will have them on all seperate dimmable drivers.

The 24 blue LEDS are purely for moonlights which also has it's own driver. I kinda wanted to play around with the differnt color spectrum so that's why I ordered so many types.

84 CW on 1 Driver
84 RB on 1 Driver
84 RB on 1 Driver
44 CW mixed with NW on 1 driver

24 Blues for moonlights on 1 driver

Something like this setup I will tally all the numbers up once I recieve the products.

I ordered from Milad from http://www.ledgroupbuy.com/. I ordered alot so some pieces weren't available but told him to hold off till everything arrives and just ship it as one. That way saves shipping cost.

I had a really hard time finding the TRP drivers about (10 week wait) but luckily found someone from Reefcentral who is ordering direct from manufacturer and got my order in on friday. Supposedly it's been ordered and should be here in 2 weeks. I also got a 75 Watt from nanotuners which I will get at the end of the month.

I am now waiting for my heatsinks from my brother in the states which I will get end of April. I will take them to a machine shop to get them drilled. Freak too much holes for me about 600. Then I will start my build.

I've been researching on G11 or acrylic to prevent creepage but not sure which one or where to order yet.

I'll keep you guys posted.

thanks
erick

Congrats on getting this build going. I too will be doing a large LED build...already have my LED's from Milad.
I have to admit that I'm a little worried about your choice to use the drivers that you've chosen in a serial LED string format. Unless you are doing parallel strings...doing large serial strings like that leaves a lot of risk for being electrocuted during your build.

If you look on RC, you will find several threads where people have been speaking of doing large strings on high voltage Thomas Research drivers...but the experienced electricians always warn them that this could be the last project they ever do. One of the most common issues during these builds are shorts to the heatsink...in using those high voltage drivers...you run the risk of getting injuured from touching the heatsink.

I can't profess to being an electrician...I just did a lot of research before ordering my LED'S. The continued warnings of the really good DIYer's on RC have got me convinced that large serial strings are not worth the risk. I hope that you research this some more before your parts all arive.

Thanks mseepman

I'm cureently a third year Powerlineman apprentice with an Electrical engineering tech background. I deal with highvoltage everyday and have access to materials that will help me protect myself like rated rubber gloves, volt meter, etc and also have a lot of soldering experience. (benefits of working in my Field :D)
I also have a high powered microscope for soldering the LEDs to see if I left any solder.
The only thing I'm not sure about right now is the Voltage creepage. That's got me researching. I want to use G11 or even acrylic and pot all the LEDs like nuclearHeli in reef central but not sure where to get them from in Canada.

I plan on putting a Resistor and a Fuse inline with each string (maybe 850mA or so) So if anything does go wrong it will hopefully blow before I lose my LEDs. Not sure how much current will be so not sure about the fuse sizes. Also I get alot of help from people at work and the engineers. Always bug them about questions.

I looked into parallel strings but was worried about 1 string blowing up and sending current in the other strings. So I figured Series would be alot easier (+ to -). Also I have a driver per string so I will know which one is messing up.

I do agree with you about the dangers of High voltage. Don't get into it unless you have the right equipment and knowledge. I think that Nuclearheli has been great with his build and I will try to copy it exactly. Probably not as neat but we will see. LOL

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1975251

I'm still learning but have a basic understanding of the whole LED build. Hopefully I can learn from my mistake and help someone else. Crossing my fingers XOXOXO

Oh and don't ever forget the OHM & diode Checks. 4 times atleast.

thanks
erick

$230 to ship a heat sink? what does it weigh?

I have 6 heatsinks and all weights in at 100 lbs. So my brother is going to bring it to winnipeg and I will pick it up instead of shipping. hopefully end of April

thanks
erick

Just got my Apex Controller
 

Well I just got my Apex controller and PM1 module. I didn't realize that the PM1 only lets me control 1 PH/ORP I needed 2. So I just ordered another PM1. but since JLaquatics has all the Apex on sale I also got a PM2, Conductivity Probe and Temp Probe. Mind as well. Freak this HOBBY IS EXPENSIVE. :O Hopefully that's all I will need for now.


GO BIG OR GO HOME !!! LOL

:D
Erick

should have waited - the new apex jr is coming out next month, lol.

http://reefbuilders.com/2011/04/05/n...stems-apex-jr/

Can the Jr dim too? I need it to Dim LED lights

Doesn't say anything about that?

Interesting and cheap will like to see it when it comes out.

thanks
erick

Deltec Protien Skimmer
 

So I found my next skimmer. LOL. This is a crazy skimmer. I will buy this one day. Just wait till my LED lights is paid for. LOL

WOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2opYkKBVP3M

thanks
Erick

Got my LEDS. YAY !!!
 

Hey Guys

Got my LEDs yesterday. Thanks MILAD. Just waiting for my Drivers and Heatsink now.

I was surprised at how small the LEDs were. It's about the size of a quarter. All the photos I've seen made it look so much larger. haha. no wonder people have a hard time soldering these things. Good thing I have my microscope. :D

Also have the new Apex complete with 2 X PM1 module, 1 X PM2 module and hopefully will get up and running soon.

other than that I will keep you guys posted

Thanks
Erick

Eric, are you in wainwright by choice or were you sent there? :mrgreen:

Steve

Both, moved for work, then quit that job now 4th year apprentice so want to stay here till I finish. Not military. How come you know anyone from here?

Erick

I grew up about 20 min west of there in Hardisty.

Steve

Try turning one on. Put two AA or AAA batteries in series and hook them up to one LED and see what happens (negative to negative of the series and positive to positive of the series). Now multiply that by how ever many LEDs you bought.

GOT MY DRIVERS YAY !!!
 

So I finally got my 200 Watt TRP Drivers (sort of TRP). Freaking thing was going to take TRP about 7 weeks to get but this guy I met online got them to me in less than 2 weeks. All the way from China. He went Directly to the Manufacturer. I am just waiting on the heatsink which I will pick up end of the month.

I also got an acrylic sheet for potting my LEDs. I was going to use G11 but can't find it. So acrylic will work the same. I will keep you guys posted. Also I might be able to get more of the TRP Drivers if anyone is interested. I'm not sure if this guy will order more or I was the last one. Let me know

thanks
erick

WOW !!! Are they ever BRIGHT !!!
 

I just powered one on and They are so bright I might have to down size the Design. LOL

I attached 2 X AA batteries in series and attached it to a RB LED and WOW. I got dizzy so did my wife and I only looked at it for 4 secs. It's extremely bright and might have to downsize. We will see.

Also If anyone is interested in LED Drivers let me know he will see what is in stock and let me know when the next order is.

thanks
erick

Finally got my Heatsink
 

Okay so I finally got all my heatsinks with the holes drilled. I will post a photo. Got a CNC milling machine to drill me about 1200 holes.(Really $$$) LOL pricey but looks clean and professional. I was lucky enough to find me a place to do the CNC machining in Winnipeg while on vacation.

I also got my SS self tapping screws and plastic washers.

Okay the photo is of one Heatsink drilled and the other is all 4 connected before the holes where drilled.

I will try to find time the next 2 weeks to start and build everything. Really busy with work now so we will see when I get started.

Thanks
Erick

Does anyone know how I can upload more photos?
 

Trying to upload more photos but can't cause I exceeded my limit of 4. Is there a way to increase my upload limit? Let me know got more photos for the build but don't know how to post them.

thanks
erick

easy picture posting:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=70155

Thanks Milad
 

Will try tommorow

thanks
Erick

who is the guy getting you the drivers? Is he getting them from Inventronics? TRP is the worst company to deal with. They kept leading us on for 3months to setup a partner ship to sell their products, finally they got us ahold of some guy in the states that tried to sell me business marketing subscription instead of drivers. It was probably the worst experience ive had with a vendor and in my business I deal with tons of vendors.

I just spit my coffee all over the place :lol:

The Build Begins !!! Photos Included
 

Okay so I finally got off my butt and started to Build this $$$ light setup. :D

I have some photos and is a working progress. Enjoy. I will let you know how things work out. Please don't ask when this will be done cause I have no clue. LOL

If you got questions let me know I will try to help you out.

Comment and suggestions would be nice. :D

I have to stop the build today till I get more Artic Silver 5 I will get some on Tuesday.

Photos:

http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/29981...BUILD?h=77ee11

Hope that works and if so Thanks so much milad!!! much easier.

Thanks
Erick

That looks like a lot of fun actually!