Any info on DIY LED lighting?

[coolsurf]

I've been thinking that I might just build my own LED lighting but was wondering if anyone had plans for building their own? I found some sources for the LED's themselves but it would be a big help if I knew which colors were the best and had an actual schematic to follow. Thanks.

 

[coolsurf]

The moon lights look great! Can't beat the price either. I need to find some LED Christmas lights...hmmm?

I'm looking at building the regular lights as well and found a nice layout. The estimated price seems to be somewhere around $450.00 for a 48" but for my 30 gal hex, I think I can do it around $200.00. This would give me the same lighting as a MH and the LED's last for roughly 50,000 hours or 11 years. The cost savings in bulbs can't be beat and the heat is a whole lot less. I still need to search out for the lowest priced LED's I can find.

As I get closer to doing this project, I may be PM'ing you for help. I appreciate all your input. Thanks.

 

[coolsurf]

dawgdude;449353 wrote: These should help:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=186982">http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=186982</a>

[IMG]http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=200335">http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=200335</a>[/QUOTE]


Good information...thank you. :up:

 

[coolsurf]

The Cree whites I found for just shy of $16.00 each..the royal blues around the same. For a 48", 24 each are needed...for my hex, I estimate 12 of each. Buckpucks are around $60.00 for 24. I would like to find all of it at a lower price to make it worth my while. If I can build it successfully for my hex, I might then take on my main DT.

If I can't find lower priced LED's, I may just have to scrap the idea like you mentioned plus the thought of..."will it work"?

 

[coolsurf]

Here's a link to LED Supply...http://www.ledsupply.com/">http://www.ledsupply.com/</a>

The Crees I was looking at are MCE/430 Lumen. The XRE are 100 Lumen. BTW..they retail there at 30.00 each...YIKES!

Thoughts?

 

[coolsurf]

ares;449408 wrote: Id use XRE, MREs are just 4 XRE dies in one LED. I dont think this is a pro though, as mentioned, I think that could be too much intensity from 1 point source, requires better cooling, and Ive always heard the drawback to LEDs were the spotlight effects higher in the tank, fewer LEDs would only be worse I think.

2 ways to the same result, and MREs are probably cheaper as it would be less optics to work with, but I think it would be a drawback in every other way.

Some good points. I'm definately not going to dive head first into this. thanks for your input...it's appreciated.

 

[reeftankjunkie]

You should check out this article. Very interesting.