DYI LED Questions

[Learning_The_Hard_Way]

Anyone with LED exp,

I am laying out my build and I am planning on trying to run as ecconomical as I can and mainly LPS and Fish maybe a little of the SPS.  I was talking to rapidled and he said I can run 14 per driver, so its close but I can run 3 drivers for a total of 42 and its 100 bucks cheaper than ordering the 48 kit.  I plan to get 1 XPG cool white to 2 XRE royal blue all dimmable to tune in the color to what I like(note sure yet) 80 de g optics ont he blue none on the white.  I have a bowfront so im converned about the spread as I plan to install in a canopy with 6 in above the tank light height.  In the pic 2 options, the cheap way with 1 row of whites or just get the kit and make 4 panels of the second pic.  I wanted to get the thoughts about my LED # options and will it spread front to back as you can see the carboard is my tank and the heatsink placement in white.  I can make custom heat sinks, but I have the overflow that I dont want to light, so I made them that size and most people space the LED2 2 and below to eliminate the spotlighting.

Thanks,
Chris

[cyberwollf]

WHOA... When i read the title it looks like IED build...

[Blown76mav]

WHOA... When i read the title it looks like IED build...

+1

[Learning_The_Hard_Way]

Sorry Guys got excited can Admin put DIY LED Questions? 

[slandis3]

Fixed

[HUNGER]

got to love the ieds

[Wall_Tank]

1st, you don't want to put whites and blues next to each other in a straight line.  Light from LED's is more linear, and you will end up with white sections and blue sections.  Just alternate them.

Yes, I run 14 LED's on my ELN60-48D drivers for a total of 5 drivers..... no problems.   I use the 8.5" x 16" heatsinks.   You have a 75 bowfront....right.   Would think you could get away with 56 LED's.   Unless your shooting for lower light level that I need for SPS.

[Learning_The_Hard_Way]

Wall,

Understood on the lights.  I was trying to get away with 42 leds.  Not sure if that will be enough.  What do you mean lower light level for SPS?  I would think you need more LEDS for that?  If you run 8.5 what is the width of your tank?  I was concerned about where to put it as mine gets wider in the middle.

[Wall_Tank]

With 35 on my fixture, I was shooting for PAR values equivalent to somewhere between a 250 and 400 W Halide.

I have a standard 90, 18" Width.    I think 42 might be a bit to few.

[kattz]

Wall_Tank, I was going with 72 leds on my 90 after talking to JJoos at the CORA frag swap, 36 per bay, and going to use 80 deg optics everywhere except the outer perimeter, where I was going to use 70's.  6 ELN60-48D's to be used.  Advice?

Kev

[Wall_Tank]

Wall_Tank, I was going with 72 leds on my 90 after talking to JJoos at the CORA fag swap, 36 per bay, and going to use 80 deg optics everywhere except the outer perimeter, where I was going to use 70's.  6 ELN60-48D's to be used.  Advice?

Kev

70 LED's fully uses 5 ELN-60D's.   I run 2 Drivers for the Blue, 2 Drivers for the white.  Then one driving a mix of 8 white and 6 blue.   I use 70deg optics, and have PAR readings of 200 on the sand bed.

Your going to get an extra 2 LED's with an extra $35 Driver.   If you really want 6 drivers, I would go ahead and just go to 84 LED's.

Just be aware, that much light is going to a lot of LPS.

[kattz]

Sorry, were you saying that much light would be bad for LPS?

[Learning_The_Hard_Way]

DId you XRE on both white and Blue?  What was the mix 1 to 1? 

Does anyone run XPG and XRE on the site? what is your mix? 2 to 1?

If I have to go to 4 drivers then I will spend the little more to get 56 LEDS.  I wonder if this will be too much light for the 72?  I have the ablility to make my own sinks so I can machine any shape I need so maybe follow the profile of the bowfront and spread out the LEDs?  Im trying to decide if this is really worth the trouble or just make 2- 8.5 X 22 sinks.  You run three of your on your tank right?

[Learning_The_Hard_Way]

If there are others looking to buy, he said we can get a 5-10% discount if we associate each other and get several people to buy at 1 time.  Rapid LED.com.  Katz you bought your LEDS yet?

[Wall_Tank]

Sorry, were you saying that much light would be bad for LPS?

In general, yes.  Some you can acclimate.   But most don't like intense lighting.

I am running all XR-E LED's.  I did that for even brightness.

Some rough inspection of the charts,  at a driving current of 1000ma, the XP-G is about 30% brighter than the XR-E.   And the XP-G's can go to 1500ma.   I'm not sure that much extra brightness is required for a normal depth tank.   An LED is very linear light, directed in a focused beam down.  I think your going to get too much of a beaming effect.   I still think I'd have to recommend all XR-E.   If you still want the XP-G's, I would get some extra blue's.....  I think 2-1 is too much white.

[kattz]

Katz you bought your LEDS yet?

Not yet.  Want XR-E's.

[Learning_The_Hard_Way]

Who makes the best cooling fans and what size are most using?  I was looking at a 60mm fan on rapidled site, but thought there might be better one out there?  what about the lighted ones? I thought ti would be nice that way you know if they are operational.

[HUNGER]

i got some great fans at mendalsons for like 5 bucks there 120 volt and work great