Seth's DIY Cree XM-L LED build

[Seth81]

Originally Posted by Seth81

I'll be running these off of an industrial PLC (Programmable logic controller) using two seperate 0-10 Vdc outputs, 1 for white, another for blue.

Ha ha how did you know!? Yeah I got a S7-1200 serries CPU with some I/O modules. Ebay is a wonderful thing!

[Seth81]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

There is a massive LED aesthetics thread on RC you might want to read before you go with cool whites. Lots of people complaining the light is very flat, and they add reds and greens trying to improve the color.

I went with about 2:1 royal blue to neutral white and to color is gorgeous. After only 2 weeks it's still too early to say anything about algae growth, but I believe corals also need red spectrum.

Curse you for pointing me to that thread! I read through like 30 pages of it!! holly crap! Well after reading the whole thing I may end up swapping 50% of my cool whites with Natural whites. But I think I will wait till I'm actually done building my tank!

[Reefer Rob]

LOL, I forgot to mention you need at least a case of beer for medicinal purposes while reading that thread. It keeps your head from exploding. Almost too much information!

Try this, I think it sums it up pretty good.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=246394

[cinci]

where did you get your drivers? i have been looking for some 200w dimmable inventronics or thomas reasearch without any luck. i wanted to use 2100ma and 700ma drivers.

[Seth81]

Originally Posted by cinci

where did you get your drivers? i have been looking for some 200w dimmable inventronics or thomas reasearch without any luck. i wanted to use 2100ma and 700ma drivers.

I got my drivers directly from Thomas Research, price was alright $85 for 100 Watt dimmable, and shipping was fast. They do make a 2100 mA 200 Watt driver, but its not dimmable. I think the largest dimmable version in that current range is 100 Watt.

[The Grizz]

I got 120w dimmable drivers from Modular LED and he can get 200w dimmables as well.

[cinci]

not anymore i guess. tried him. he refered me to future electronics who told me to use google to find high power led drivers. emailed the exact part numbers but no reply.
guess business must be good.

[The Grizz]

Interesting, Martin just dropped off my 5 - 120w drivers about a week ago. Must be supply issues.

[Seth81]

Well good news and bad news...Good news is I got photos bad news is I think I fried half of my Royal Blue LEDs!! The output wire from the blue driver came lose, I plugged it back in while the driver was on...and now all the Royal blue LED's I had connected won't work, and using my meter on diode check fail, they show a short circuit on on the Blue LED's I had connected.

Well at least I have an excuse to change up my led arrangments.

So here is a white paper with 9 Royal Blue and 12 Cool white LED's.



White paper with just the cool white LED's



LED Array


Top side of one of the fixture


Under side

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

coming along nicely
Sorry to hear about your fried led (sure don't take much to fry)
one rule is good to use check 2twice before plugins (I did the same thing but only with 6 led)
If by any chance you are planing to buy more let me know as I could use to buy a few pcs.
You picked the right drivers (thomas research, that's what I am using for over a year now with no problems)