DIY LED lighting for aquarium

**peihao83** · 9th Oct 2009, 15:02

Hi all, i am looking at DIY LED for my tank..

Will be using this LED. SCC P4 Z power 3 watts led..
http://www.acriche.com/en/product/prd/zpowerLEDp4.asp

My plan is to have approx 22 LEDS (consists of white and blue) in a row x 4 rows. My problem is that i do not know how to connect them? and any other stuff that i need?

I also need to connect all these LEDs to power socket.

Pls advise.. Thanks..

**tawauboy** · 10th Oct 2009, 17:35

have you check out the price for each led?
it is costly. farnell sells them at >$20 each.

other than leds, you'll need
a) power supply of >264 watts
b) metal-core printed circuit board (pcb) to mount the leds
c) heat sink and fans

**ervinelin** · 14th Oct 2009, 13:35

Have you looked here: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=59437 this was how I modded my lights into high powered LEDS

**sheng** · 14th Oct 2009, 14:00

May i know what tank-size are you using for your DIY Light?

**ervinelin** · 14th Oct 2009, 14:56

Originally Posted by sheng

May i know what tank-size are you using for your DIY Light?

Not sure if you are asking me or the TS, for me it's a nano tank.. 1.5ft long only...

**sheng** · 14th Oct 2009, 15:09

For small tank, i dont see why we need so high-output LED. i got DIY LED light for my 2ft & 1ft tank using normal LED. It will be cheaper

**peihao83** · 16th Oct 2009, 09:48

Originally Posted by tawauboy

have you check out the price for each led?
it is costly. farnell sells them at >$20 each.

other than leds, you'll need
a) power supply of >264 watts
b) metal-core printed circuit board (pcb) to mount the leds
c) heat sink and fans

i manage to find the led @ $9.. with star PCB and heat sink..

**peihao83** · 16th Oct 2009, 09:49

Originally Posted by sheng

May i know what tank-size are you using for your DIY Light?

my tank will be 4 x 2.5 x 2.5...

**ervinelin** · 16th Oct 2009, 10:43

Originally Posted by peihao83

my tank will be 4 x 2.5 x 2.5...

Woah.. you'll need A LOT of LEDs...

**tawauboy** · 16th Oct 2009, 20:49

Originally Posted by peihao83

i manage to find the led @ $9.. with star PCB and heat sink..

based on your desired configuration of 4x22 leds, your cost for led alone is $792. and you'll still need a big heatsink to mount those star pcb.

the maximum light output is about 21000 lumens; equivalent to 5x 54w t5ho.

**ervinelin** · 18th Oct 2009, 00:53

Originally Posted by tawauboy

based on your desired configuration of 4x22 leds, your cost for led alone is $792. and you'll still need a big heatsink to mount those star pcb.

the maximum light output is about 21000 lumens; equivalent to 5x 54w t5ho.

Don't need a big heatsink.. I think you can just thermal epoxy or screw them down onto aluminium channels will do...

But still.. it's going to be back breaking wiring up all 22 of them!

**tawauboy** · 18th Oct 2009, 22:48

what are aluminium channels?
have you tried the setup you suggested?

**ervinelin** · 20th Oct 2009, 16:44

Originally Posted by tawauboy

what are aluminium channels?
have you tried the setup you suggested?

Here's an example of an aluminium channel and no I'm not using this because I modified my existing lights instead.

**sheng** · 21st Oct 2009, 13:35

Does anyone here know where to source for normal White 5mm LED. Manage to get 1 source at Sim Lim Tower at good price, but always mix with other colour or of different size.
Thanks

**tawauboy** · 26th Oct 2009, 07:55

Originally Posted by ervinelin

Here's an example of an aluminium channel and no I'm not using this because I modified my existing lights instead.

if you drive those leds with < 350mA, you may be able to get away with these aluminium channels.
however, if you plan to drive those led at 1000ma (max for the leds), you definitely need much bigger heatsinks.