Hi bro,
I want to do a DIY LED system too.
I am planning on a 3-tubes lighting, but my concern is whether is it possible to connect all these 3 LED tubes under one switch?
Thanks.
light specs - T5 LED tube 12w 90cm blue
color 455nm 180 pcs LEDs
- T5 LED tube 12w 90cm 6500k
1200lm 180 pcs LEDs
Attachment 32890
im using plywood and 3 set of 3 gang switches
total 9 individual switches. 2 for fan and 7 for led lights
Attachment 32891
Bottom side of the light casing.
Right side black rectangular box is the wiring box.
Attachment 32892
finished top side.
Attached with 4 AC fan.
covered with black plastic board.
Attachment 32893
Lights set mount on tank
Attachment 32894
This is my tank about 3 months
with the new lights
Hi bro,
I want to do a DIY LED system too.
I am planning on a 3-tubes lighting, but my concern is whether is it possible to connect all these 3 LED tubes under one switch?
Thanks.
yes, you can but i recommend you to connect the led individually.
If you connect it individually you can control the lighting but if you connect it all in one switch you cant control the lighting.
For example if you set up, 4 led tube with individual switch,let say
led 1 led 2 led 3 led 4 and your tank only need to use 2 tubes.
You can switch on led 1 and led 3 on the first week
and then switch to led 2 and led 4 on the second week.
For my tank tank i have 8 led tubes but i only use 4 tubes,
i do the led switching weekly.
One thing you should know about led light is how the light shine,
unlike an incandescent lamp,which has a filament that emits light in 360deg,
led only emits light in one direction,led manufacturers place a lens on top of the led
to either narrow or widen the light.
So if your tank is heavily planted its best to switch the led tube like i mention so that
all the plants will get lights evenly.
It also act as a back up,let say in case of led driver failure in any one of the eight tubes,i have a back up tube ready
to be switch on.
Mine doesn't require LED driver at all, i presume they have built-in driver inside the tubes.
If i opt for one switch only, can i arrange the circuit in a way that one tube failure will not affect the other two?
I do remember learning it in school that this is possible, but cant remember what is it called.
BTW, are yours those commercial types of LED tubes with many small leds?
If yes, how are they doing for your plants so far?
yes you can opt for one switch.Anyway i wont affect the other tube
if one failed.
My led are specifically for plants
T5 LED tube 12w 90cm blue
color 455nm
T5 LED tube 12w 90cm 6500k
1200lm
My plants so far so good but i can see a bit of algae growing
So now i am adjusting my lighting and my hours.
parallel circuit connection will enable all 3 tubes to be controlled from 1 switch.
also, failure of 1 tube will not affect the other tubes.
thomas liew
Bro, what is your total cost to make one?
Actually not that expensive,because in total i have 8 led tubes.
The expensive item are the tubes, i got it from hongkong.
You probably can get it at sim lim Tower i think basement and 3rd or 4th floor
but confirm sim lim tower you can get it.
But the problem with led is the driver.
I have a total of 20pcs of led tubes so far 5 of it didn't light up because of the driver.
I am still figuring out how to replace them because the driver are enclose in the casing.
On the good side, its only 12watt and i only use 3 to 4 tubes for my 322.
Here are my lights pics
http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9cdaca2c.png
http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/...ps203502ab.png
Thanks for the info on this.
http://www.decoledlight.co.uk/led-tubes.asp
Bookmarks