DIY 2ft LED Lightset

[qngwn]

nice rail , behind can hide the wiring as well

Yes! That was what I thought so only after I got it. Initially I got it as it's readily available and kind to my wallet..

[qngwn]

Thanks, I'll go and ask around the hardware shops near my house. I actually already have a Maxspect Razor/Mazerra above all my tanks, but even at 100% on all channels, I still would prefer more light. Figured I could make some 2ft lights to supplement the Maxspects to give me more flexibility in taking nicer shots. Cheaper than buying many remote flashes, especially since I already have 2x 3-12 LED drivers (700mA) sitting around from a previous project I dismantled.

Connecting the LEDs is quite straightforward I must say. Compared to thinking about how you are going to mount the DIY to your tank or existing lightset, which is a real headache when it comes to looking presentable and neat with no excess wires hanging about.

[qngwn]

I used to get Crees from www.dx.com sku 2394. The color temperature looks close to 6500K and it's free shipping!

Buy more than 3+ to get discounts.

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Yes, crees are readily available everywhere nowadays. However I heard there are fakes going around, and alot are being made in China nowadays.. So I'm not sure if I'll be getting the real deal if I'm paying for that price..

So I went ahead with the normal cheapo LEDs which work as well. But as for reliability, that will be something that we all will be looking out for..

[qngwn]

Bro, you can get a slick one at Ikea, that where i get mine to do my DIY lighting.

The ones at ikea look real slick and nice. But at they're more for home use, the brightness and intensity might not be sufficient depending on the requirements of the user if it's for aquarium photoshoot..

And they don't come that cheap too..

[qngwn]

Bro, I really can't do this. I used to do diy led for my modded pc chasis. Guess what I cooked? You may see my charcoal burnt (chao tar) face if I do it again.

I think if you don't want it there will be people who want to grab it. Unfortunately my CEO controls what I can do at home too, insisting a co2 cylinder almost got me death sentence!


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Hahaha most probably did not connect properly, causing short circuit, or excessive current causing the blow.. Important to get just enough and not over what you need..

I burnt a few LEDs initially as well.. Learnt my lesson after the whole led from yellow become black!

[AQMS]

The ones at ikea look real slick and nice. But at they're more for home use, the brightness and intensity might not be sufficient depending on the requirements of the user if it's for aquarium photoshoot..

And they don't come that cheap too..

He!he!he! what i meant was the curtain rail at ikea is nice and slick not the led..

[qngwn]

He!he!he! what i meant was the curtain rail at ikea is nice and slick not the led..

Oh oops! But is it expensive? I got 6ft of mine for $5 only.

[AQMS]

Oh oops! But is it expensive? I got 6ft of mine for $5 only.

yes, it is a little bit pricey compare to yours. That is a good deal 6ft for $5sgd.

[qngwn]

yes, it is a little bit pricey compare to yours. That is a good deal 6ft for $5sgd.

I guess it's just the normal price for standard curtain rails. They also helped me saw into the pieces and length I wanted too, so makes things easier for me..

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[thebaldingaquarist]

hi qngwn,
I was at your other thread, noticed that at viewing height, the lights from the LED can be too glaring. perhaps its a good idea to add in some shades at the front and back? Maybe in the form of another railing front and back, just to block the LED bulbs.

[qngwn]

hi qngwn,
I was at your other thread, noticed that at viewing height, the lights from the LED can be too glaring. perhaps its a good idea to add in some shades at the front and back? Maybe in the form of another railing front and back, just to block the LED bulbs.

Haha that is for front tank shot, where I'll need to squat and bend down to take a picture..

Adding railing at the side will block the spread of the lightning.

Yea I'll be thinking of a way to reduce the front.. But maybe leave it be for the back.. The LEDs are creating nice ripple effects on my wall!

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[dabaixiang]

Or maybe a black tinted acrylic pasted 45 degree outwards

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[thebaldingaquarist]

Or maybe a black tinted acrylic pasted 45 degree outwards

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will look fabulous!

[qngwn]

Replaced 14 out of the 18 bulbs with 6500K 3W LEDs.
Special thanks for bro dales for passing me the remaining LEDs from his project: DIY 3W LED

Some pictures of the driver that i'm using, as well as the thermal plaster.






Work in progress shot.
Pulled out the LEDs from the heatsink. Scrapped off the hardened thermal paste to apply the new ones for better adhesion. Turns out that the thermal paste is a silicon like material. Possible that it is silicon doped with thermal paste, for it to be a "plaster" type of compound.




Spot the difference!

Before:


After:


Can see which are the ones that i have changed..




Good thing about DIY, you can change as and when you like.. Actually have deep red LEDs, but maybe not using yet..

[limz_777]

why deep red led instead of blue ?

i see that razor maxspect configuration quite good for planted tank

[qngwn]

I wanted to try red instead of blue as I don't like the bluish tint to the water. Makes everything look funny and out of the world. But red wavelengths are not able to penetrate great depths and from studies show that the intensity of the red light drops by 50% after approx 0.5m of water.

Thats why I decided to use all white in the end.

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[qngwn]

Attachment 40378

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[Freddyprince]

Hi, mind me asking where did you purchase the dimmer from? And how much is it?

[qngwn]

I purchased the dimmer from eBay with the price of approx 8 dollars. However it does not work as the driver does not allow dimming.

[Freddyprince]

I see. Thanks alot. I am not sure if i should try. Btw how do you know that its ur transformer is restricting the dimmer function? Last time when i was at ubi led shop. I also overheard the auntie say some led will not works with dimmer. But i google around and saw alot people doing it.