Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Reef Discussion => Topic started by: micki on January 14, 2012, 20:24:55

Title: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 14, 2012, 20:24:55
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Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: j80 on January 14, 2012, 21:45:47
What color blues did you use?
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: lazylivin on January 14, 2012, 22:10:53
Very nicely done
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 14, 2012, 22:20:59
Thanks Brian.

4 Cree royal blue
4 Cree cool white
4 Cree bright white

The pics don't do any justice to how they look.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Mussin on January 15, 2012, 00:36:06
Nice.... I should have built one for my 10G set-up...
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: HUNGER on January 15, 2012, 09:23:45
looks good
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 15, 2012, 10:25:11
Now to get them for my tanks!  LOL, I'm sure that will be a long while...  :)
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Todd W. on January 15, 2012, 14:01:53
That is pretty sweet how you incorporated them into the existing light housing.  What fans did you use if any?
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 15, 2012, 14:43:33
Yes we used a fan. Its on the very top center. When Randy gets back home I'll ask him what size it is. It looks tiny to me but I don't think that is a measure of size lol
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Blown76mav on January 15, 2012, 18:36:34
You don't have a digital temp gun(point and shoot type) do ya?  I'd be real curious about temps (with and without fans).  I see everyone using aluminum for heat sinks but LED's don't get hot so its a little confusing.  I think I'm going to make a small LED setup for my superman tank and put a bunch of softies in it.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Wall_Tank on January 15, 2012, 18:48:32
I see everyone using aluminum for heat sinks but LED's don't get hot so its a little confusing.

Sure they are not Halide heat generators, but LED's generate a fair amount of heat.   LED's need to stay cool.  If you can't comfortably put your hand on the Metal, it is way too hot.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Blown76mav on January 15, 2012, 20:11:27
Unless I'm missing something we use LED's all the time in plastic housings and they never melt.  As a matter of fact I have a drop light with CREE LED's around 35-40 never gets got and super bright.  This is why its confusing and I would love to see some temps to support the need for a aluminum heat sink.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Wall_Tank on January 15, 2012, 20:28:41
Unless I'm missing something we use LED's all the time in plastic housings and they never melt.  As a matter of fact I have a drop light with CREE LED's around 35-40 never gets got and super bright.  This is why its confusing and I would love to see some temps to support the need for a aluminum heat sink.

How hard are you driving your LED's?    The reason for the aluminum is to pull the heat away from the LED.    All the Cree spec sheets say is that anything over 25 degrees C, the light output starts to drop......   The drop is fairly low as the temperature increases, and it's too soon to say how the temperatures affect the life of the LED.   

   
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Blown76mav on January 15, 2012, 20:34:43
We drive them with 12v,  this isn't a homemade drop light but a prototype from a company, plugs into the 12v socket or I can hook it up directly to a battery .  SUPER bright and 0 heat ( well less than shop), used a temp gun on it never above 79* which is what we keep the shop at.  Again I'm just askin so I know if I really need the alum. heat sink they sell.  I see Micki used two strips which I have plenty of so I guess it won't hurt to use them but I'd rather not if I don't have to.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 15, 2012, 21:12:56
I need to ask Randy about all of this, but I know when he first set it up the metal was HOT to the touch! Hence he added the fan. I'll get a more detailed information and post what he says.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: Wall_Tank on January 15, 2012, 22:17:02
We drive them with 12v,  this isn't a homemade drop light but a prototype from a company, plugs into the 12v socket or I can hook it up directly to a battery .  SUPER bright and 0 heat ( well less than shop), used a temp gun on it never above 79* which is what we keep the shop at.  Again I'm just askin so I know if I really need the alum. heat sink they sell.  I see Micki used two strips which I have plenty of so I guess it won't hurt to use them but I'd rather not if I don't have to.

What are your mounting options?     If you only drive a cree at say 350ma, it won't generate near as much heat as if you run it at 800-1000ma.

You need to watch those temp guns.....the take an average reading of an area.    I would just use your finger to see if it's warm.
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 16, 2012, 07:38:21
That is pretty sweet how you incorporated them into the existing light housing.  What fans did you use if any?

Todd its a 40mm 1 9/16 12VDC from Radio Shack.  The smallest he could find to fit in the existing hood and fit perfectly. 
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: jeremy on January 31, 2012, 00:26:22
You don't have a digital temp gun(point and shoot type) do ya?  I'd be real curious about temps (with and without fans).  I see everyone using aluminum for heat sinks but LED's don't get hot so its a little confusing.  I think I'm going to make a small LED setup for my superman tank and put a bunch of softies in it.

I'm running 6 CREE LEDs on a 4"x4.5" heatsink at 1000ma.  Ambient temp is 65 degrees.  I let this (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47029684/Pics/Aquarium/IMG_20120117_121045.jpg) run 5 hours with the fan off and the highest reading I got using the laser thermometer thing was 102. 10 minutes with the fan on brought the temp back down to match ambient.




Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: wyssj on January 31, 2012, 04:05:15
I am going to be setting up a 10g frag tank here soon and I wanted to use LEDs. What was the estimated cost of your setup?
Title: Re: 10 gallon LED set up
Post by: micki on January 31, 2012, 17:29:59
I am going to be setting up a 10g frag tank here soon and I wanted to use LEDs. What was the estimated cost of your setup?

I think around $80-90.  Honestly I would consider this one for the same $$$ and already built.  http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/EX-8223.html (http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/EX-8223.html)