DIY 20W LED - Cut to 4 feet long

**bravobb** · 20th Mar 2013, 23:17

**bravobb** · 21st Mar 2013, 08:29

Yesterday night was too late for me to provide more details on this for those interested to know more.

I used the plastic board from popular store, cut two pieces around 24 inches by 1 inch and tape them together.
Then cut my 5m 5050 LED to 4 feet length and paste the 4 feet 5050 LED to the plastic board.
After that just put the finished product on top on the glass cover, connect power !
Simple and easy.

Anyone wants a video or picture on the finish product just let me know.

**bravobb** · 23rd Mar 2013, 21:56

This is a fauna only tank.
First time see my video ? .... so you know what i mean right ...

**tco** · 23rd Mar 2013, 23:59

Thanks for sharing, you are using 60 led per meter strip? Look abit dim from the video, why not add on another 4ft strip since you brought the 5 meter reel.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

**bravobb** · 24th Mar 2013, 08:36

yes, it is the 60LED per meter 5050.
if i add on another 4ft led, the total power consumption will be around 40W.... is there any electricity saving as compare to 4tf T5 of this brightness ??.... hmm..... need to calculate...

**seudzar** · 24th Mar 2013, 17:00

Great job...! I find these LEDs strips works well for tanks that is less than 30cm depth. Anything deeper than 30cm it would be best to use multiple 1watt LEDs or 3watt LEDs. Take note of the heat dissipation especially from the 3watt LEDs.

**bravobb** · 24th Mar 2013, 22:15

3 watt leds ? Not sure about that.
You should see my diy led... it is basically no heat... maybe the adapter.
I will do another 4ft 5050 LED for the other tank which currently using 2 sets of 2ft T5 submersible type but i put it on top of the glass cover... (it was previously used for my 2ft tank).
I just measured the power consumption of the 2ft T5 and it is also around 20W, although the adapter indicate 24W.
So the total power consumption used for 2 sets of 2ft T5 is 40W, that will be same if i use 2 sets of 4ft 5050 LEDs.... not much power saving.

**seudzar** · 25th Mar 2013, 08:40

I have used the 5050 LED strips before and I do not really like it. Especially the LED starts to dim down after 6 months of usage, at first i thought it is the faulty power supply, end up i found out it is the LED strips when i replace the whole LED strips with a new one. Perhaps the LED strips that i bought is of lower grade. After that i give up and got the LEDs lights from aquazonic and green element.

**bravobb** · 25th Mar 2013, 08:57

Originally Posted by seudzar

I have used the 5050 LED strips before and I do not really like it. Especially the LED starts to dim down after 6 months of usage, at first i thought it is the faulty power supply, end up i found out it is the LED strips when i replace the whole LED strips with a new one. Perhaps the LED strips that i bought is of lower grade. After that i give up and got the LEDs lights from aquazonic and green element.

You used it for planted tank ?
For me, i only want to use this to take picture and video since i do not have a suitable 4 or 5 feet T5.
Also, i find T5 casing too big for me and troublesome if i want to open the glass top.

Anyway, never try never know, if it does not work for you or becomes faulty, time to change it...

**bravobb** · 31st Mar 2013, 02:08

Just an update on the 2nd addition 5050LED.

First 10 seconds with 0.7W LED, after 10 seconds or so, i switch on one set of 5050LED, lastly switch on the 2nd set of 5050LED.
This video just want to demonstrate the effectiveness of the whitelight 5050LED.

**seudzar** · 31st Mar 2013, 10:52

Originally Posted by bravobb

You used it for planted tank ?
For me, i only want to use this to take picture and video since i do not have a suitable 4 or 5 feet T5.
Also, i find T5 casing too big for me and troublesome if i want to open the glass top.

Anyway, never try never know, if it does not work for you or becomes faulty, time to change it...

I try on my shrimp tank with some moss. Moss does grow well but my tank only 20cm deep. Lol

**erwinx** · 13th Apr 2013, 19:49

I have several 5m strips of 5050 and 3528 around the home for various lighting purposes.
I think the 5050 are problematic because of the heat the give out. If you buy 5050 with the waterproof covering, that makes the LED even hotter as prevents heat from escaping. 3528 has less problem because of lower heat, just have to use more of it to get the same light intensity.

I'm also planning to make a 3528 Led strip for aquarium, but instead of single strip, I will put multiple strips in parallel. but need to find something suitable to mount the parallel strips of LEDs on.

**bravobb** · 13th Apr 2013, 23:03

Originally Posted by erwinx

I have several 5m strips of 5050 and 3528 around the home for various lighting purposes.
I think the 5050 are problematic because of the heat the give out. If you buy 5050 with the waterproof covering, that makes the LED even hotter as prevents heat from escaping. 3528 has less problem because of lower heat, just have to use more of it to get the same light intensity.

I'm also planning to make a 3528 Led strip for aquarium, but instead of single strip, I will put multiple strips in parallel. but need to find something suitable to mount the parallel strips of LEDs on.

Good to know you are having fun with these LED...
I am not sure about the heat as i only use them for few hours maximum.. and i am sure the T5 will be even hotter as compared to this....
Anyway, i have no intention to use on planted tank so these LED will not be switch on for long duration a day.
Will post any issue if i come across.
Actually i intend to get more 5050LED but it seems to be out of stock.. so got to wait.

By the way, since you got the 3528, are you able to tell me what is the power consumption as compare to 5050 ?
Thanks.