(Another) DIY LED Build - Linear Design - Page 4

bamf25 · 01/03/2011, 10:28 PM

I have never wired stuff like this before. Do you have an explaination or diagram on how you wired your dimmers, to your drivers, to your power supply in the box?

daveonbass · 01/03/2011, 11:07 PM

dumb question here....

Can you paint a heat sink and still have it work properly? I actually LIKE the look of the concept drawings you did with the blue and white bars. (thanks BTW that was awefully nice of you) I know it was just for visual reference but it's kind of cool looking and I like how it would look when the lights are off.

So I was just wondering...

katchupoy · 01/03/2011, 11:40 PM

Dave, I really dont know if it will work. I guess it might impede the heat dissipation? not an expert on that side. I guess it will work.

katchupoy · 01/04/2011, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamf25

I have never wired stuff like this before. Do you have an explaination or diagram on how you wired your dimmers, to your drivers, to your power supply in the box?

Here is a basic wiring diagram... Im sorry i dont have any.

daveonbass · 01/04/2011, 02:15 AM

yeah that might just be a pipe dream... :/

kcress · 01/04/2011, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveonbass

yeah that might just be a pipe dream... :/

No. A U-channel dream.

A thin coat of paint won't be a problem.

katchupoy · 01/04/2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcress

No. A U-channel dream.

A thin coat of paint won't be a problem.

There you go Dave.
Even better if you can have it anodized with the color you want...
http://www.alphametal.com/services/anodizing/155
or
http://anodizingservice.com/colorano.htm

pimped led light...

Rapid LED · 01/04/2011, 11:49 PM

Powder coating or anodizing will both work, can't really comment on paint b/c we've never tried that before (I tend to agree with kcress though, a thin layer probably wouldn't hurt). But there's basically no heat difference when we've powder coated or anodized the heatsinks.

daveonbass · 01/05/2011, 12:42 AM

I only ask because I paint for a living...and could do that...but I'm afraid that the heat would deteriorate the paint, or the paint would deminish the effectiveness of hte LED system (too hot).

I may know a guy that can powder coat it for me...hmm...

kcress · 01/05/2011, 01:05 AM

Nope the paint would not have any problems at all with the temperatures. The LEDs would croak on excessive temps loooooong before paint would.

daveonbass · 01/05/2011, 01:48 AM

Awesome!

kcress · 01/05/2011, 02:33 AM

Make sure you show us any cool powder coating job!!

daveonbass · 01/05/2011, 02:39 AM

all I can do is paint...no powder coating can be promised yet.

TheFishMan65 · 01/05/2011, 08:45 AM

IIRC I read somewhere that black is actually better than plain aluminum because it dissipates the heat faster. Also IIRC where the LED is attached you must sand off the paint or powder coating, because it hinders the transfer to the aluminum. If I am remembering correctly then a dark blue might be a benefit, but white might actually be bad.

katchupoy · 01/05/2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveonbass

I only ask because I paint for a living...and could do that...but I'm afraid that the heat would deteriorate the paint, or the paint would deminish the effectiveness of hte LED system (too hot).

I may know a guy that can powder coat it for me...hmm...

Dave, go for it. Then show us your pimped heatsink. Is it going to be like mine on a strip? Dont worry about the temp. With 3" spacing, it only goes up to 100F max. Lower on the blues since they run at 750 ma.

If you go tighter than 3 inch then make your tube/channel bigger.

Remember that this 3" spacing is between leds. But between tube/channel, then thats a different story. I believe you can make is as close as possible, just add some tiny air gap between them for air circulation.

good luck.

kcress · 01/05/2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katchupoy

But between tube/channel, then thats a different story. I believe you can make is as close as possible, just add some tiny air gap between them for air circulation.

Make it about 1/4" minimum. Less than that and air flow is curtailed a lot.

1Snapple · 01/05/2011, 05:13 PM

Hello, awesome thread. I am wanting to do this for my pico tank and I was wondering how many LED's should I use? i am going to make my own heat sink and everything.
I was thinking 3 rows of 4 LED's that alternate W,RB,W,RB ect. ect.
I want to keep SPS also.

bamf25 · 01/05/2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Snapple

Hello, awesome thread. I am wanting to do this for my pico tank and I was wondering how many LED's should I use? i am going to make my own heat sink and everything.
I was thinking 3 rows of 4 LED's that alternate W,RB,W,RB ect. ect.
I want to keep SPS also.

I have heard the current reccomended ration is 60% rb and 40% white is your are using the XP-E's and XP-G respectively. Not sure if using cool vs nuetral white changes that however since that would drop your color spectrum down some.

1Snapple · 01/05/2011, 05:40 PM

i plan on using cool white, maybe 10-12 LED's? do 3 rows.
Front
Royal Blue 40* optics
Cool White 60* optics
Royal blue 40*optics.
Would that work? it's a reallt small tank.....

TheFishMan65 · 01/05/2011, 06:39 PM

How many gallons and size?

1Snapple · 01/05/2011, 10:33 PM

Pico, so 3 gallons, and it's 11.8" x 8.9" x 8.1"

daveonbass · 01/06/2011, 05:02 AM

wow...a 3 gallon tank will not need 12 leds. One PAR38 bulb would probably be able to fry most corals. And those range between 5-7 leds. If I were you I'd do 6 to start...like this:

B W B
W B W

and still use a dimmer on each different color, then tone down the Whites so that you get a nice blue effect. Also dim them all by about 50% to start with. So 50%Blue and like 25%White. Then ranmp up the corals. Odds are you will never need 100% on any of the LEDs.

TheFishMan65 · 01/06/2011, 09:06 AM

+1 on what daveonbass said

kcress · 01/06/2011, 02:33 PM

daveonbass; Your suggestion doesn't include how to drive only 3 LEDs with a driver. You can't with the standard Meanwell.

TheFishMan65 · 01/06/2011, 03:01 PM

Buckpucks would do it or the CAT4101.

01/03/2011, 11:07 PM	#77
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	dumb question here.... Can you paint a heat sink and still have it work properly? I actually LIKE the look of the concept drawings you did with the blue and white bars. (thanks BTW that was awefully nice of you) I know it was just for visual reference but it's kind of cool looking and I like how it would look when the lights are off. So I was just wondering... __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

01/04/2011, 02:15 AM	#80
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	yeah that might just be a pipe dream... :/ __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

01/05/2011, 12:42 AM	#84
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	I only ask because I paint for a living...and could do that...but I'm afraid that the heat would deteriorate the paint, or the paint would deminish the effectiveness of hte LED system (too hot). I may know a guy that can powder coat it for me...hmm... __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

01/05/2011, 01:48 AM	#86
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	Awesome! __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

01/05/2011, 02:39 AM	#88
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	all I can do is paint...no powder coating can be promised yet. __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

01/03/2011, 10:28 PM	#76
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	I have never wired stuff like this before. Do you have an explaination or diagram on how you wired your dimmers, to your drivers, to your power supply in the box?

01/03/2011, 11:40 PM	#78
katchupoy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,548	Dave, I really dont know if it will work. I guess it might impede the heat dissipation? not an expert on that side. I guess it will work.

01/04/2011, 11:49 PM	#83
Rapid LED .Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 30	Powder coating or anodizing will both work, can't really comment on paint b/c we've never tried that before (I tend to agree with kcress though, a thin layer probably wouldn't hurt). But there's basically no heat difference when we've powder coated or anodized the heatsinks.

01/05/2011, 01:05 AM	#85
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	Nope the paint would not have any problems at all with the temperatures. The LEDs would croak on excessive temps loooooong before paint would.

01/05/2011, 02:33 AM	#87
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	Make sure you show us any cool powder coating job!!

01/05/2011, 08:45 AM	#89
TheFishMan65 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,618	IIRC I read somewhere that black is actually better than plain aluminum because it dissipates the heat faster. Also IIRC where the LED is attached you must sand off the paint or powder coating, because it hinders the transfer to the aluminum. If I am remembering correctly then a dark blue might be a benefit, but white might actually be bad.

01/05/2011, 05:13 PM	#92
1Snapple Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 171	Hello, awesome thread. I am wanting to do this for my pico tank and I was wondering how many LED's should I use? i am going to make my own heat sink and everything. I was thinking 3 rows of 4 LED's that alternate W,RB,W,RB ect. ect. I want to keep SPS also.

01/05/2011, 05:40 PM	#94
1Snapple Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 171	i plan on using cool white, maybe 10-12 LED's? do 3 rows. Front Royal Blue 40* optics Cool White 60* optics Royal blue 40*optics. Would that work? it's a reallt small tank.....

01/05/2011, 06:39 PM	#95
TheFishMan65 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,618	How many gallons and size?

01/05/2011, 10:33 PM	#96
1Snapple Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 171	Pico, so 3 gallons, and it's 11.8" x 8.9" x 8.1" __________________ 3g pico w/ zoas 95g in the works

01/06/2011, 05:02 AM	#97
daveonbass Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: texarkana, TX Posts: 1,364	wow...a 3 gallon tank will not need 12 leds. One PAR38 bulb would probably be able to fry most corals. And those range between 5-7 leds. If I were you I'd do 6 to start...like this: B W B W B W and still use a dimmer on each different color, then tone down the Whites so that you get a nice blue effect. Also dim them all by about 50% to start with. So 50%Blue and like 25%White. Then ranmp up the corals. Odds are you will never need 100% on any of the LEDs. __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 58g reef, 60 total gallons including rocks and sand, 36" 6 bulb ATI Powermodule, DAS skimmer, Bio pellets, 2 MP10 vortechs

01/06/2011, 09:06 AM	#98
TheFishMan65 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,618	+1 on what daveonbass said

01/06/2011, 02:33 PM	#99
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	daveonbass; Your suggestion doesn't include how to drive only 3 LEDs with a driver. You can't with the standard Meanwell.

01/06/2011, 03:01 PM	#100
TheFishMan65 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,618	Buckpucks would do it or the CAT4101.

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