DIY LED light 10W

**Taz1** · 13th Jan 2010, 00:19

Hi,

I just completed modifying my old 2ft 18W FL lighting set into a 4X2.5W power LED light.

The power LED came as a set, what I did was get a 2ft aluminium bar, drill 4 holes, screw the LED onto it, wire up the LEDs, that it I got myself a 2ft LED light.

Beside the 4 power LED I also added 8 normal blue LED for night light.

Please see attached pics for detail.

**stormhawk** · 14th Jan 2010, 01:22

Nice work Taz1. How much did it cost you in total, and where did you get the LEDs from?

**Aquanoob** · 14th Jan 2010, 09:06

Taz1,
I am just being KPO, but I saw that you have a painting of roaring water
running down the mountain behind your fish tank. Don't know if you believe in fengshui, but one shouldn't put such a "powerful" picture in a house unless it is utterly necessary to correct some "sha" or else the effect may be bad for the house owner. No offence. I am just being KPO.

**bossteck** · 14th Jan 2010, 09:27

Hi,

Nice DIY!
Can you share with us where the materials were bought and price? Thanks!

**Taz1** · 14th Jan 2010, 09:45

Originally Posted by bossteck

Hi,

Nice DIY!
Can you share with us where the materials were bought and price? Thanks!

The material are rather simple :-
1. 7V to 12V DC power supply, ~S$20
2. 4 pc of LED sets, got it from my friend shop, checking the price he intend to sell, ~$100
3. OLD light set casing, free.
4. Blue LED, ~$5

**edwardchuajh** · 1st Feb 2010, 11:45

Hi,

Can I ask how you wired/power up your 8 normal blue leds? are they connect to the same power supply as the High Power LEDs?

**Taz1** · 1st Feb 2010, 15:55

Originally Posted by edwardchuajh

Hi,

Can I ask how you wired/power up your 8 normal blue leds? are they connect to the same power supply as the High Power LEDs?

The Blue LEDs are connected in parallel to seperate 5V supply, with a current limit resistor.

**ervinelin** · 1st Feb 2010, 16:03

Interesting, and the LEDs are self driven? You just connect the power supply to it?

**Taz1** · 1st Feb 2010, 16:29

Originally Posted by ervinelin

Interesting, and the LEDs are self driven? You just connect the power supply to it?

You cannot directly connect 5V supply to the LED, you will blow it , you need a limiting resistor, in my case it is a 22 Ohms 1/4W resistor.

**edwardchuajh** · 1st Feb 2010, 16:44

i see, thanks!

been bothering me how I can connect the moonlights and High Power LEDs to the same power supply. I guess separating the power supplies is simpler.

Thinking of adding a small fan to the light too actually.

**Taz1** · 1st Feb 2010, 22:46

Originally Posted by edwardchuajh

i see, thanks!

been bothering me how I can connect the moonlights and High Power LEDs to the same power supply. I guess separating the power supplies is simpler.

Thinking of adding a small fan to the light too actually.

If the heatsink you have is "big" that can conduct away the heat you do not need a fan which is noisy.

**slowcat** · 21st Mar 2010, 11:00

Good stuff. I've seen a few LED lights and I am keen too; I have a few questions:

(1) Hobbyists usually measure the output of the light of a tank in wattage, so how that this is drastically decreased, the correct measurement should be in k or lumen?

(2) Are the spectrum of these lights good enough to support flora in aquariums?

These are really cool lights, and the lower power is really an attractive point.

Cheers

**tawauboy** · 22nd Mar 2010, 07:29

k and lumens are different measurements
k is colour temperature or colour of light perceived by the eye.
lumens is a measurement for luminous flux or power of light perceived by the eye.