L.E.D. light build - ongoing

[byee]

Nice build!!!

I considered the LED Group Buy heatsink for my build but decided it was just easier to buy the Kessil for my 45gal Oceans by Design cube.

Keep the photos coming.


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[brandonpauley]

Of course buying a premade light is easier For me though, I can't justify spending thousands of dollars on lighting a 6 foot long tank, when I can build something for under a thousand which is fully customizable, fully rebuildable and fully upgradable. I'm really interested to see what the OP will be doing with his DIY heatsink!

[kamloops_reefer]

update - here is a picture of a 4/5th's complete of the LED's bonded to the heat sink. I have clustered them together as close as possible in groups to avoid "spotting" which I've heard about. as well - this will be similar to so many lights on the market anyways (having clusters like this).

[kamloops_reefer]

Here is a conceptual view of the finished product. I will have my old sources on the WETcoast waterjet cut and form up the aluminum or stainless housing which will accomodate (3) 5" fans, louvers for venting, attachment to the heat sink, and the mounting of the Storm X controller. I plan to have the 500 watt power supply run externally to reduce additional heat.

[brandonpauley]

Wow looks awesome! Wish I had thr resources to make the heatsink like you did...going to look great when its done

[kamloops_reefer]

I really haven't been catching much of a break on price or anything for the material I'm using, just the know where to get it. and also know how to do drafting to make a plan on how to put it all together.

I find these projects are best suited for those who can wait. I've been tinkering on this for a month now! and have had the LED's for almost a year, sitting in a box!

This will still cost $1,200 bucks, and some think that I would have been better of getting two radions or something, but theoretically, nothing will compete. Its kind of like hot rodding, Give me 30k to spend on a 10k used vehicle and I'll blow any production car that cost 100k out of the water.

I just have one of those personalities that cant justify spending that much money on those lights when I could do something similar, and at the day be more confident with the performance of the product (true or not).

[brandonpauley]

Not too far off from how much mine was to build...mine was about a grand total to build with the premade heatsink. I had the same thought that anything I buy will not compete with what I can build for the price. I measured the current draw at full power and found that my system is 300 watts of actual operating power and I have to have it turned down to about 100 watts to prevent bleaching of my zoas and brain corals. My tank is only 18" deep so I wont have to do any upgrading when I upgrade tanks...just turn up the power! Another plus is DIY setups are infinitly upgradeable and easily repairable