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Thread: DIY - LIGHT 6 x36 W and 6xBlue Hyperbright LED

  1. #1
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    DIY - LIGHT 6 x36 W and 6xBlue Hyperbright LED

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    As I said I would like to show you how i have done few things.

    First project is:

    Light DIY for 36 W T8 fluorescent bulbs and night light:


    You must have:
    • 12 x protected lampholders(in case those are a.a.g.stucchi lampholders)
    • 2,5 m of PVC cable trays 30 mm
    • 6 compact bulbs 36 W
    • about 30 m of cable 0,2-0,5 cm (i have used 0,5 cm cable but it is way to thick)
    • 6 x Blue 5mm LED hyper bright (5000 mcd) 5mm
    • some time and patience



    Drill a hole with 5 mm twist drill, to be able to push in the LED



    I have connected the LEDs parallelly and it is built for 3 v








    You must gently push up the cover of the bulb, take the electronic part and now the hard part of the project ....

    ....you must solder the cable to the electronic part from the compact bulb
    • 1 and 2 goes to 230 v
    • 3 and 4 is one side of the fluorescent bulb
    • 5 and 6 is the other side of the fluorescent bulb
    • it is important to pay attention how you solder and where are the cables being solderd. In my opinion there is the only way to do it right, you mast have two colour cable and it must be soldered to the electronic in order : colour 1- colour 2 - colour 2- colour 1. (as shown on the picture below). I have also shown below how to connect the electronic bulb.






    The hood will be built from wood so this all what is here will be attached with screws to the hood.
    If there are questions I will answer to all of them.


    Radek Wątorski
    When things become tough........remeber it can always get tougher

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    Radek,

    You must have spend alots of time doing this. Care to show us picture of the final produce?

    IMO, the 2 row of lights are placed too far apart. What is the tank size to be used with the light? For that kind of wattage (432w), your tank maybe 6 to 7 ft long. Am I right?

  3. #3
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    kc,

    if you look carefully, those are not 2 rows of light but 2 rows of fluoresecent tube end holders (waterproof). Effectively, Radek will have 6 tubes which will give 216W. The distance between the two end holders will be about 1200 mm.

    Am I correct Radek?
    Zulkifli

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    Radek,

    Economically, I think it will be cheaper to use your method than to get an electronic ballast. My only concern is safety. Can it withstand long hour operation? The length of the wires might contribute to added resistance? Just being curious .

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    kc wrote:
    IMO, the 2 row of lights are placed too far apart. What is the tank size to be used with the light? For that kind of wattage (432w), your tank maybe 6 to 7 ft long. Am I right?
    No you are not right :wink: . My tank is 123cmx50cmx55cm. As for the rest - zmzfam gave the right answer

    kc wrote:
    Care to show us picture of the final produce?
    Yes i will do it soon. Next week??hmm if everything goes right

    turaco wrote:
    Economically, I think it will be cheaper to use your method than to get an electronic ballast. My only concern is safety. Can it withstand long hour operation? The length of the wires might contribute to added resistance? Just being curious

    Yes it is cheaper and it will withstand long hours of operation, i have made 6 months ago one ballast like this but for T8 18 W, and it is working sometimes for 12-14 hours. You can use electronic even from the burned compact bulb, the electronic should be working for next few years


    Radek Wątorski[/quote]
    When things become tough........remeber it can always get tougher

  6. #6
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    Radek,

    That's an outstanding project. We'll be looking forward to seeing pictures of the final product. I will move your project to the "Interesting Posts" sub-forum when you complete it. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

    Loh K L

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    Radek,

    Nice project!
    I can imagine that the complete work would be a neat one.

    Questions...
    1) Why would you boder to have the LED (to indicate light on?) since the lamps would be obvious when they are turned on?
    2) I guess your hood would completely cover the tank top with a narrow cover for feeding the fishes. How do you remove the heat produced by the the lamp? Or your room ambient temperature is already low (say below 25 degree celcius)?
    3) Silly question but are they for planted tank? If yes, what plants are you keeping
    4) Are aquatic plants easily available in Poland? How is the price like (please provide an example)?

    In my opinion, the lamps are ideally spaced for a 4 ft tank with 55cm width. 6 lamps are more than sufficient for most plants.

    Thank you for sharing.

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    Hi Radek, that's a very innovative design.
    Are you going to put in reflectors to optimise the lighting? How?

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    Good idea of converting the "ballast" of compact PL light and use it for FL.


    Quote Originally Posted by fc
    Radek,
    Questions...
    1) Why would you boder to have the LED (to indicate light on?) since the lamps would be obvious when they are turned on?
    The LED is for the night-light.
    Next question... Is six number of LED bright enough to create the night effect for a 4ft tank?

    Cheers,
    Eric

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by fc
    Nice project!
    Thanks. I was trying to do my best
    Quote Originally Posted by fc
    1) Why would you boder to have the LED (to indicate light on?) since the lamps would be obvious when they are turned on?
    It is the night light. The LEDs are blue, i was trying to imitate stars :wink:
    It is to give a chance to watch, what my fishes are doing at night. It will be on, for 1 h - 2 h.
    Quote Originally Posted by fc
    2) I guess your hood would completely cover the tank top with a narrow cover for feeding the fishes. How do you remove the heat produced by the the lamp? Or your room ambient temperature is already low (say below 25 degree celcius)?
    I am going to instal 3 PC FANs 12 v
    Quote Originally Posted by fc
    3) Silly question but are they for planted tank? If yes, what plants are you keeping
    Yes it is going to be a planted tank. As soon as it is started i am going to show you all the plants in it and the whole tank.
    Quote Originally Posted by fc
    4) Are aquatic plants easily available in Poland? How is the price like (please provide an example)?
    I think they are easily available. This is the offer of a polish firm:
    1 Acorus decorum
    2 Acorus gramineus
    3 Aglaonema simplex
    4 Alternanthera reinecki
    5 Alternanthera roasefolia
    6 Alternanthera rubra
    7 Alternanthera splendida
    8 Anubias affzeli
    9 Anubias Barteri
    10 Anubias congensis
    11 Anubias hastifolia - rośl. mateczna
    12 Anubias lanceolata
    13 Anubias nana
    14 Anubias species
    15 Aponogeton crispus
    16 Aponogeton crispus bulwy
    17 Aquafern
    18 Bacopa amplexicaulis
    19 Bacopa monieri
    20 Cabomba aquatica
    21 Cabomba asiatica /żółta/
    22 Cabomba plaueyensis /czerwona/
    23 Cardamine lyrata
    24 Chlorophytum
    25 Cordyline red compacta
    26 Cordyline red edge
    27 Cryptocoryna wendtii
    28 Cryptocoryne balansae
    29 Cryptocoryne ciliata
    30 Cryptocoryne nevilli
    31 Diphenbachia
    32 Dracena deremensis"COMPACTA"
    33 Dracena sanderiana-gold /żółto-zielona/
    34 Dracena sanderiana-white /biało-zielona/
    35 Echinodorus ocelot
    36 Echinodorus "Apart"
    37 Echinodorus "Marble Queen"
    38 Echinodorus "Tropica"
    39 Echinodorus Afflame (czerwony)
    40 Echinodorus amazonicus
    41 Echinodorus andreuxi
    42 Echinodorus barthii
    43 Echinodorus bleheri
    44 Echinodorus Green Ocelot
    45 Echinodorus horizontalis
    46 Echinodorus latifolius
    47 Echinodorus leopard
    48 Echinodorus macrophyllus
    49 Echinodorus major
    50 Echinodorus micheii
    51 Echinodorus opacus
    52 Echinodorus osiris
    53 Echinodorus peruensis
    54 Echinodorus radicans
    55 Echinodorus rose
    56 Echinodorus rubin
    57 Echinodorus rubin narow laevs
    58 Echinodorus rubra variegata
    59 Echinodorus tenellus
    60 Echinodorus tenellus minima
    61 Echinodorus tricolor
    62 Echinodorus uruguaensis
    63 Eichornia crassipes (Hiacynt wodny)
    64 Elodea densa (Moczarka)
    65 Fitonia
    66 Glosostigma elatinoides
    67 Gymnocoronis
    68 Hemigraphis colorata
    69 Hemigraphis exotica
    70 Hemigraphis repanda
    71 Hottonia species
    72 Hydrocotyle leucocephala
    73 Hygrophila corymbosa
    74 Hygrophila corymbosa "compacta"
    75 Hygrophila glabra
    76 Hygrophila polysperma
    77 Hygrophila "Rafaelo"
    78 Hygrophila salicypholia
    79 Hygrophila species
    80 Hygrophila thailand
    81 Iresine species "Red"
    82 LILAEOPSIS (trawka drobna)
    83 Limnophila aquatica
    84 Limnophilla sesiliflora
    85 Lobelia cardinalis
    86 Ludwigia arcuata
    87 Ludwigia natan
    88 Ludwigia peruviana
    89 Lysimachia
    90 Micrantemum umbrosum
    91 Microsorium pteropus
    92 Myriophyllum matogrossene /czerwone/
    93 Nesea crassipes
    94 Nomaphilla red-stricta
    95 Nuphar japonicum
    96 Ophiopogon jaburan
    97 Ophiopogon jaburan variegatum
    98 Ophiopogon japonicum
    99 Pistia
    100 Riccia fluitans (porcja)
    101 Rośliny mateczne Echinodorus x.........
    102 Rotala macrandra
    103 Rotala rotundifolia
    104 Sagitaria natan
    105 Sagitaria platyphyla
    106 Saururus cernuus
    107 Spatyphylum willisi
    108 Synema triflorum
    109 Syngonium species red (czerwone)
    110 Syngonium species white (białe)
    111 Trichocoronis rivularis
    112 Valisneria spiralis
    113 Vallisneria gigantea
    The prices are from 1 zl - 50 zl (1 us$=4,5 zł) it depends what plant and what size. For egzapmle: anubias barteri v nana - (size s-m) 10 zl (in shops the price is 12-20zł)

    Quote Originally Posted by junggler
    Are you going to put in reflectors to optimise the lighting? How?
    Yes i am going to stick the whole hood with a reflection foil.

    Quote Originally Posted by greentea
    Is six number of LED bright enough to create the night effect for a 4ft tank?
    I think it would be sufficient number of LED I saw in same Tank the night light with"only" 4 LED, and it was a stunning view

    Radek Wątorski
    When things become tough........remeber it can always get tougher

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    Hi
    I have made the whole hood. I don't know if you will see something from this photos, i am not a good photograph :wink: I am useing now only 4 of 6 lamps because it is only the 3 week old tank.



    this is my filter, the filter media is not complet yet











    under this is the electronic which makes lamps work
    When things become tough........remeber it can always get tougher

  12. #12
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    That's a very nice hood Radek, you sure have good hands.

    BTW, since the tank is now enclosed, do you have any problems with temperature in the tank?
    Zulkifli

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    Hi Radek,
    That is a very nice light setup.

    How do you like the blue LEDs? I have two of the Coralife Moonglow blue LED moonlights, and they look awful in my 56 gallon planted tank. My other three tanks have white LED moonlights, and they look natural.

    Blue is an unnatural color for the freshwater planted tank. White looks like the moon in a pond or stream. The blue LEDs are used primarily in reef tanks, as the blue causes the corals to flouresce.

    I am switching them out to white next week.
    Regards,
    David Grim

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    Radek's hood

    Hi Radek,
    The new hood makes your tank look like a handsome piece of furniture!
    How ingenious using the compact bulb base instead of buying an expensive
    electronic ballast I don't believe I saw that part in your list, just the (6)
    36watters. This is a project I definitely want to try when I move to Thailand
    where they have 220-240 volt electricity, too. In the US, we have 110-120
    volt: just wondering if the same project could be done here in the US and if any alterations need to be made. Nice clear pictures on the soldering! I
    think I can do everything but the hood itself--will have to hire a cabinet
    maker for that!

    Very well done, Radek, and thanks for sharing with us!

    Regards,

    Bill
    farang9

    ps KL, please take down any of my DIY stuff, Radek has definitely raised the watermark!

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    Quote Originally Posted by zmzfam
    BTW, since the tank is now enclosed, do you have any problems with temperature in the tank?
    Now the temperature is still low outside in Poland. It should be warm but this year we have cold summer . If the temp goes up i will install pc fan 12v to cool the tank.

    Quote Originally Posted by discusdave
    How do you like the blue LEDs
    Ups :wink: I was waiting who will ask first :wink: I have made a mistake and put power suply with to much ampers and all leds went to the air I will take your advise about LEDs and buy white LEDs

    Quote Originally Posted by farang9
    just wondering if the same project could be done here in the US
    I think that you can do it now just buy normal compact bulb and take out the electronic part like i did. How i did it you can see on the first pictures in this post. But, there is a but . I saw that this alectronic parts doesn't give much power to the bulbs and thay don't glow as brigth as is should. The electronic should be from much powerfull compact bulbs(i don't know if there is somthenig like 40 w compact bulb). I think that it is best way for smaller bulbs to 18 w. For 18 w tube you ust take 21-24 w compact bulb(it was mesured by a guy in other forum with special equipment)


    Thanks for good words :wink:

    Radek Wątorski
    When things become tough........remeber it can always get tougher

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    Quote Originally Posted by aquazeebo
    I have made a mistake and put power suply with to much ampers and all leds went to the air I will take your advise about LEDs and buy white LEDs
    Radek,
    Nice hood and neat light setup. The tank look owesome.

    I guess you are using the normal LED. If yes, it can be operated at between 1.6 ~ 3 volts. However, you need a simple resistor, better still, a potentometer to control the current/brightness. Since you have 6 LEDs, you may wish to use a common DC transformer with 12 Volts. Connect the 6 LEDs in series will yield 2 volts for each LED. If you find that they are too dim (most lightly), then connect the LED in 2 parrellel circuits with each having 3 LEDs in series. That would yield 4 volts for each LED - here a resistor/potentiometer is recommended to avoid overcurrent.

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    I use hyper bright LED 5 mm. Now i'll connect them to a battery not a DC transformer :wink: . I don't want to "play"again
    When things become tough........remeber it can always get tougher

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    Radek,
    When you get the LEDs installed, will you be showing pics of tank lit at
    night? Curious.

    Regards,

    Bill
    farang9

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    I can tell you that it is difficult to get a decent digital pic of a tank lit by white moonlight LEDs. I have tried it with my Fuji Finepix digi without any luck. It would be nice to see. My camera is good, but not super high quality.
    Regards,
    David Grim

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    Light DIY for 36 W T8 fluorescent bulbs and night light:

    Great project , Radek.

    I have a couple of comments, as an old (retired) US electrical engineer.

    First is the LED night lights. Proper operation of LEDs requires careful attention to the current running through them. The voltage is not what needs to be controlled. A common practice is to use a 12V supply and a dropping resistor to convert that to the desired current level. Never drive a LED with a constant-voltage supply without the limiting resistor. One for each lamp, in parallel operation.

    You can reduce the (wasted) resistor heat by using a smaller one and several LEDs in series, or drive a series setup with a constant-current supply (usually not an off-the-shelf product).

    US operation of this system should be easy. The circuit board has 120Vac input instead of the 240V of some European supplies. Otherwise the only worry is that these cheap CF boards haven't always been that reliable, here. I also doubt if you will find a cheap 40W CF so the T8 lamps you chose will be under-driven with the 36W units. It might be better to use the T5 "U"-tube Compact Flourescents in 36W, as those should be fully driven. They lend themselves to efficient reflector design. See the AH Supply web site for those:

    http://www.ahsupply.com/.

    IMHO, it would be more reliable to just use one (or more) of his Fulham Workhorse ballasts designed for the number of lamps you will be using.

    Keep the ballasts well-ventilated, too, or they won't last very long.

    Like Bill, I really envy your wood-working skills. I hated wood shop in high school, so learned very little.

    Wright
    01 760 872-3995
    805 Valley West Circle
    Bishop, CA 93514 USA

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