Author Topic: 10 gallon LED set up (Read 2324 times)

j80 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2012, 21:45:47 »

What color blues did you use?

lazylivin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2012, 22:10:53 »

Very nicely done

micki · « **Reply #3 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.

Mussin · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2012, 00:36:06 »

Nice.... I should have built one for my 10G set-up...

HUNGER · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2012, 09:23:45 »

looks good

micki · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2012, 10:25:11 »

Now to get them for my tanks! LOL, I'm sure that will be a long while...

Todd W. · « **Reply #7 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?

micki · « **Reply #8 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

Blown76mav · « **Reply #9 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.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2012, 18:48:32 »

Quote from: Blown76mav on January 15, 2012, 18:36:34

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.

Blown76mav · « **Reply #11 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.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2012, 20:28:41 »

Quote from: 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.

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.

Blown76mav · « **Reply #13 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.

micki · « **Reply #14 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.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #15 on:** January 15, 2012, 22:17:02 »

Quote from: 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.

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.

micki · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2012, 07:38:21 »

Quote from: 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?

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.

jeremy · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2012, 00:26:22 »

Quote from: 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.

I'm running 6 CREE LEDs on a 4"x4.5" heatsink at 1000ma. Ambient temp is 65 degrees. I let this 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.

wyssj · « **Reply #18 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?

micki · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2012, 17:29:59 »

Quote from: 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?

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

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: 10 gallon LED set up (Read 2324 times)