CHEAP DIY Moonlights

Whattup32526 · 01/04/2009, 11:23 AM

So I was working on my car yesterday, and had to run to Advanced Auto Parts, and figured I would look at the neon tubes for your car, cause Ive seen pictures of people that have put them in their canopys as moonlights and its looked pretty good. Well at the very bottom of the shelf I saw these...... there are 8 super bright leds that can be placed anywhere, the only problem is.....It appears they are battery operated. I held them about 4 ft off the floor and they still put off bright light that hit the floor... The are $20 for the set and they have white blue red and green!!!!

hellssephiroth · 01/04/2009, 12:17 PM

i made a thread on them , i still use em they work great!

hellssephiroth · 01/04/2009, 12:18 PM

oh i bought the house plug in deal ... lemme see if i can find my thread, search is down ill try again in a bit

hellssephiroth · 01/04/2009, 12:28 PM

the above are on my 55, the lower on my 120 which is deeper. it might come up huge on the page... just snapped it quick to get a picture for you.

when i made the thread no body believed me the pics were the moon lights, but im sure you will believe me lol those things are bright!

Whattup32526 · 01/04/2009, 12:43 PM

Yea man those are awesome I couldnt believe how bright they were

hellssephiroth · 01/04/2009, 12:48 PM

lol one word of warning, wherever you stick them... you will have to cut them off if you want to move them, when i put them from my 55 to my 120 i had to cut them off and epoxy them on my 120

96p993 · 01/04/2009, 04:02 PM

Hells you say you bought the home kit for them...Is this something that was at the auto parts store too or did you get them from somewhere else?

THolleyH46 · 01/04/2009, 04:13 PM

Fish see blue light ya do know, I wouldn't want them too bright - they will never think its dark. They are blind to red though.

oldsaltman · 01/04/2009, 06:41 PM

I made a light from a set of those a few years ago and they worked fine! I am doing an upgrade now and am going to use a simular type light again. I have already made my lightbar and will post a photo of it later.

saltydog64 · 01/04/2009, 07:39 PM

Hells.......

Look forward to the link, as I think this would make great DIY project, as for brightness looks good....please update when u can.

I also was wondering, as they are 12V, wouldn't a simple 110v to 12 v converer work ???

JACOXVIII · 01/04/2009, 11:22 PM

i got those they start to dim faster then you might think
so you might want to put them on a timer or turn off when you go to bed

but it might just be mine just a thought

hellssephiroth · 01/04/2009, 11:42 PM

the invertor was just a streetglow one that they had on clearance at advanced auto it converts 110 to 12 specifically for this. i think i got it for like 5 bucks if i remember right. as for being too bright? i think it would depend how big your tank was, i still see my fishies sleep, my goby sleeps right on top of my center rock all night with one of my clowns.

hellssephiroth · 01/05/2009, 01:47 AM

here is my original thread on them, prices may be different now. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1506540

jimnrose · 01/05/2009, 12:44 PM

Does anyone know the wattage of the LED's? I'm told their isn't a direct correlation between wattage and light energy (PAR) but am wondering how many of these LED's would it take to provide the primary tank lighting. PAR meters are $275, so I'm not going that route. Jim

donald altman · 01/05/2009, 01:28 PM

With it being just after the holidays. I am wondering why you cant go get a small set of of blue led Christmas tree lights. They are probably on clearance at wal-fart for a couple of bucks and already made to plug into the wall socket.

jimnrose · 01/05/2009, 02:36 PM

Donald, I picked up two sets of blue LED's (60/set) from Target and built light bars around the perimeter of the light fixture. They look great for a blue night light but the total wattage is 9.6w. I'm told a full array of 80mw led's wouldn't have the intensity (PAR readings) required for reef growth. Jim

donald altman · 01/05/2009, 02:43 PM

The larger LED outdoor lighting might be more suited to what your looking for and weather resistant.
I work in the trucking industry and we have several white multibulb light strips that are very very bright. You should go to a fleet supply store or a chrome shop for CDL trucks.. you would be surprised at the amount of LED lights they have. I bet you could rig some up for reef lighting. I thought this was a post for just cheap DIY moonlights and was thinking clearance isle.

oldsaltman · 01/05/2009, 03:04 PM

The first lights I made for my 55g were about the same as those of yours. I just started my 90g upgrade and bought these from the same place. I liked them because they can be mounted in the holders you see in the photo. 8 lights were $20 and the holders were about $6. I already had enough 12vdc power supplies. I mounted mine on a strip of 1" x 48" aluminum from lowes. I like them!

rosebud161616 · 01/06/2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hellssephiroth
oh i bought the house plug in deal ... lemme see if i can find my thread, search is down ill try again in a bit

I stopped and bought some of this last night and the guy looked at me like I was crazy when I asked about the 110v house adapter thingy. Any more info on what you bought?

Could you hook these up with a solar panel that charges off MHs in the canopy? I was trying to find a way to do this last night, but I don't have a clue what to look for. I thought of maybe purchasing a $15 solar powered LED Christmas strand. Then cut off the solar panel/photo sensor/rechargeable battery and wire it up to these. think that might work?

hellssephiroth · 01/06/2009, 12:00 PM

wow heres the adapter http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AQkZ2zj...n-Adapter.html
im glad i got mine on clearance!

rosebud161616 · 01/06/2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hellssephiroth
wow heres the adapter http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AQkZ2zj...n-Adapter.html
im glad i got mine on clearance!

Wow that is steep!!! Wonder if I could just take a 12V power adapter, cut the end off and twist it onto these guys?

Wish I knew more about electrical stuff...

saltydog64 · 01/06/2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldsaltman
The first lights I made for my 55g were about the same as those of yours. I just started my 90g upgrade and bought these from the same place. I liked them because they can be mounted in the holders you see in the photo. 8 lights were $20 and the holders were about $6. I already had enough 12vdc power supplies. I mounted mine on a strip of 1" x 48" aluminum from lowes. I like them!

"oldsaltman"......hey one ole salty to another...nice job, if I could ask, what power adp. did u use....I mean wattage???? actual Voltage ???? or is just 12V Ok???

oldsaltman · 01/06/2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltydog64
"oldsaltman"......hey one ole salty to another...nice job, if I could ask, what power adp. did u use....I mean wattage???? actual Voltage ???? or is just 12V Ok???

I have a bunch of old 12v adapters around I never throw one out. This one is a 12vdc output rated at 500ma. I don't think the amps matter as long as it has enough to power the lights.

saltydog64 · 01/06/2009, 08:28 PM

got it and thanks..............that's what I thought u where using I must have some hanging around......heck I never throw anything way..

01/04/2009, 11:23 AM	#1
Whattup32526 Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pensacola Posts: 77	CHEAP DIY Moonlights So I was working on my car yesterday, and had to run to Advanced Auto Parts, and figured I would look at the neon tubes for your car, cause Ive seen pictures of people that have put them in their canopys as moonlights and its looked pretty good. Well at the very bottom of the shelf I saw these...... there are 8 super bright leds that can be placed anywhere, the only problem is.....It appears they are battery operated. I held them about 4 ft off the floor and they still put off bright light that hit the floor... The are $20 for the set and they have white blue red and green!!!!

01/04/2009, 04:13 PM	#8
THolleyH46 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 210	Fish see blue light ya do know, I wouldn't want them too bright - they will never think its dark. They are blind to red though. __________________ TOM "No, I didn't spill any water on the floor near any electrical cords!" Current Tank Info: 120 Tall reef tank

01/04/2009, 06:41 PM	#9
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	I made a light from a set of those a few years ago and they worked fine! I am doing an upgrade now and am going to use a simular type light again. I have already made my lightbar and will post a photo of it later. __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

01/05/2009, 01:28 PM	#15
donald altman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida/Georgia Posts: 632	blue led alternatives With it being just after the holidays. I am wondering why you cant go get a small set of of blue led Christmas tree lights. They are probably on clearance at wal-fart for a couple of bucks and already made to plug into the wall socket. __________________ -donaltman3 Current Tank Info: 100 gallon reef... Last edited by donald altman; 01/05/2009 at 01:36 PM.

01/05/2009, 02:43 PM	#17
donald altman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida/Georgia Posts: 632	The larger LED outdoor lighting might be more suited to what your looking for and weather resistant. I work in the trucking industry and we have several white multibulb light strips that are very very bright. You should go to a fleet supply store or a chrome shop for CDL trucks.. you would be surprised at the amount of LED lights they have. I bet you could rig some up for reef lighting. I thought this was a post for just cheap DIY moonlights and was thinking clearance isle. __________________ -donaltman3 Current Tank Info: 100 gallon reef...

01/04/2009, 12:17 PM	#2
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	i made a thread on them , i still use em they work great!

01/04/2009, 12:18 PM	#3
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	oh i bought the house plug in deal ... lemme see if i can find my thread, search is down ill try again in a bit

01/04/2009, 12:28 PM	#4
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	the above are on my 55, the lower on my 120 which is deeper. it might come up huge on the page... just snapped it quick to get a picture for you. when i made the thread no body believed me the pics were the moon lights, but im sure you will believe me lol those things are bright!

01/04/2009, 12:43 PM	#5
Whattup32526 Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pensacola Posts: 77	Yea man those are awesome I couldnt believe how bright they were

01/04/2009, 12:48 PM	#6
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	lol one word of warning, wherever you stick them... you will have to cut them off if you want to move them, when i put them from my 55 to my 120 i had to cut them off and epoxy them on my 120

01/04/2009, 04:02 PM	#7
96p993 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mckinney, Tx Posts: 1,130	Hells you say you bought the home kit for them...Is this something that was at the auto parts store too or did you get them from somewhere else?

01/04/2009, 07:39 PM	#10
saltydog64 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: UpState NY Posts: 503	Hells....... Look forward to the link, as I think this would make great DIY project, as for brightness looks good....please update when u can. I also was wondering, as they are 12V, wouldn't a simple 110v to 12 v converer work ???

01/04/2009, 11:22 PM	#11
JACOXVIII Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KC MO Posts: 248	i got those they start to dim faster then you might think so you might want to put them on a timer or turn off when you go to bed but it might just be mine just a thought

01/04/2009, 11:42 PM	#12
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	the invertor was just a streetglow one that they had on clearance at advanced auto it converts 110 to 12 specifically for this. i think i got it for like 5 bucks if i remember right. as for being too bright? i think it would depend how big your tank was, i still see my fishies sleep, my goby sleeps right on top of my center rock all night with one of my clowns.

01/05/2009, 01:47 AM	#13
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	here is my original thread on them, prices may be different now. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1506540

01/05/2009, 12:44 PM	#14
jimnrose Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Villages, Florida Posts: 1,093	Does anyone know the wattage of the LED's? I'm told their isn't a direct correlation between wattage and light energy (PAR) but am wondering how many of these LED's would it take to provide the primary tank lighting. PAR meters are $275, so I'm not going that route. Jim

01/05/2009, 02:36 PM	#16
jimnrose Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Villages, Florida Posts: 1,093	Donald, I picked up two sets of blue LED's (60/set) from Target and built light bars around the perimeter of the light fixture. They look great for a blue night light but the total wattage is 9.6w. I'm told a full array of 80mw led's wouldn't have the intensity (PAR readings) required for reef growth. Jim

01/05/2009, 03:04 PM	#18
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	The first lights I made for my 55g were about the same as those of yours. I just started my 90g upgrade and bought these from the same place. I liked them because they can be mounted in the holders you see in the photo. 8 lights were $20 and the holders were about $6. I already had enough 12vdc power supplies. I mounted mine on a strip of 1" x 48" aluminum from lowes. I like them! __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

01/06/2009, 12:00 PM	#20
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	wow heres the adapter http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AQkZ2zj...n-Adapter.html im glad i got mine on clearance!

01/06/2009, 08:28 PM	#24
saltydog64 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: UpState NY Posts: 503	got it and thanks..............that's what I thought u where using I must have some hanging around......heck I never throw anything way..