$20 LED Build

[mseepman]

It would be interesting to know where you get your LED's.

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by mseepman

It would be interesting to know where you get your LED's.

Ditto

[JetJumper]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

Ditto

Ditto the Ditto! Never seen them that cheap.

[mike31154]

I'm currently watching a 100 watt multi-chip LED on eBay that's less than $30. Already have my DIY fixture built using 27 of the 10 watt multi-chips, but it's still a lot of wiring. If I could do 3 or 4 of these 100 watters, use optics & mount them higher..... it would be a pretty cost effective build with much less wiring. There's a thread on RC with multi chips where they are actually getting a manufacturer to custom design a multi-colour 100 watt chip for them. But I think that's going to be pricey at the start. Still be interesting to see where that goes.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by mike31154

I'm currently watching a 100 watt multi-chip LED on eBay that's less than $30. Already have my DIY fixture built using 27 of the 10 watt multi-chips, but it's still a lot of wiring. If I could do 3 or 4 of these 100 watters, use optics & mount them higher..... it would be a pretty cost effective build with much less wiring. There's a thread on RC with multi chips where they are actually getting a manufacturer to custom design a multi-colour 100 watt chip for them. But I think that's going to be pricey at the start. Still be interesting to see where that goes.

Knowing how intense the 10w emitters are already, I can't imagine installing 100w emitters over my reef tank.

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Knowing how intense the 10w emitters are already, I can't imagine installing 100w emitters over my reef tank.

You don't have to run the 100 watters at full power and they are mounted quite high with optics compared to where I have my 10 watters without optics. With good quality optics & heatsink with fan, the 100 watt emitters mounted high are a good option if you like an open look above, with easy access to the tank. Manufacturers like Orphek & Kessil are leading the way with this form factor. Definitely an alternative to a multitude of 3 watt emitters mounted on large heatsinks without fans.

[Chowder]

It would also be interesting to see some pictures Doug.

Chris

[pinhead]

Originally Posted by mseepman

It would be interesting to know where you get your LED's.

LEDs are from String Lights http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-pcs-3W-Ex...14%26rk%3D2%26

But I also bought 10 from Tubelight. http://www.ebay.com/itm/370617903311...84.m1497.l2649

Both Vendors sent them in under 10 days.



Drivers are from electronic convienient 4 you

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180860696551...84.m1439.l2649

Listed price has gone up to $4.98 but they will accept an offer of $4.50. Drivers are only 3 inches long and fit easily in the Biocube hood.

[monocus]

are they a waterproof driver?i just picked up 4 waterproof drivers -same wattage for 39.96 to fix one of my lights

[pinhead]

Originally Posted by monocus

are they a waterproof driver?i just picked up 4 waterproof drivers -same wattage for 39.96 to fix one of my lights

The drivers are mounted in the hood and siliconed to keep out the moisture. I might be swapping them out for some DIY drivers that will support PWM dimming that I can hook up to an Arduino controller.

LED's in Biocube hood under splash guard. Aluminum U channels are about 4 inches wide and were riveted together.


Tank is actually more blue than the picture shows.



Fluval edge attached to some CPU heatsinks. This was my first try with these LED's and are overkill because they run very cool.



Full tank shot of the Fluval. Planted tanks need around 8000k so they are a combination of 6500k and 10000k