DIY Blue LED lighting?
- Thread starter Kaiden
- Start date
Alright here ya go I made up a little drawing to show you how to wire everything up.
You will have to decide if you want to keep the drivers inside the fixture or hide them somewhere under the stand. I think it would be easiest to attach them under the stand somewhere so you don't have to worry about trying to jam everything inside your fixture.
Here's how everything works. The 20 w drivers have a AC in so just try and hook half of the wire that goes into the wall to all of the left part of all of the drivers and the other half of the wire to the right side of the drivers just like the picture. The blue lights are going to run off one driver. The positive of the 10w driver goes into the +in part of the dimmer. The negative dc wire connects into the -in on the dimmer. Then two wires are going to come out of the +out one red wire to one of the blue lights and one red wire to the other blue light. Same for the -out on the driver one black wire to each light.
If the LEDs don't come attached to the heatsink you can either drill a hole in the heatsink and add some thermal compound then screw it in or you can attach it using something like JB weld.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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You will have to decide if you want to keep the drivers inside the fixture or hide them somewhere under the stand. I think it would be easiest to attach them under the stand somewhere so you don't have to worry about trying to jam everything inside your fixture.
Here's how everything works. The 20 w drivers have a AC in so just try and hook half of the wire that goes into the wall to all of the left part of all of the drivers and the other half of the wire to the right side of the drivers just like the picture. The blue lights are going to run off one driver. The positive of the 10w driver goes into the +in part of the dimmer. The negative dc wire connects into the -in on the dimmer. Then two wires are going to come out of the +out one red wire to one of the blue lights and one red wire to the other blue light. Same for the -out on the driver one black wire to each light.
If the LEDs don't come attached to the heatsink you can either drill a hole in the heatsink and add some thermal compound then screw it in or you can attach it using something like JB weld.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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Just so I have this correct...I'm supposed to wire all the white LEDs together with their drivers then just plug it to the wall? Do I need to get an adapter for the wall outlet or does that come with the drivers? Is there an on/off switch for it? My power strips are actually in a very tight place at the back of the stand. So if there's a way to get a switch, that would be convenient.
As for the blue LEDs, will the dimmer act as the switch to turn it off/on in addition to it being able to dim? Do I also need to get an adapter for the wall outlet? Since they're going on two separate 36" fixtures, would it be better if I get another dimmer/driver so I can separate the two when needed? Also, if I want to hide them in the fixture, what's the best way to do it?
Thanks for all your help, Trick! I'm very excited to get this DIY started.
As for the blue LEDs, will the dimmer act as the switch to turn it off/on in addition to it being able to dim? Do I also need to get an adapter for the wall outlet? Since they're going on two separate 36" fixtures, would it be better if I get another dimmer/driver so I can separate the two when needed? Also, if I want to hide them in the fixture, what's the best way to do it?
Thanks for all your help, Trick! I'm very excited to get this DIY started.
Yup just wire each individual led with its own drive. Then attach all the drivers to the cord that plugs into the wall ( this is just any cord that plugs into the wall. You could use the one from the fluorescents, or anything you have laying around that you don't use). It doesn't come with a switch but you can get one at like RadioShack or a store like that. I have mine hooked up to a timer so they just turn off at the set time.
Yes the dimmer is basically an on off switch plus a dimmer. When the dimmer is all the way as low as it can go this will be off. The blue lights will always be on (plugged in) you can set them to desired level and when the white lights are turned off the blue ones will still be on as moonlights. This is also just another cord from something that you don't use or you can buy them from a store I'm sure home depot and stores like that sell power cords.
I've only put the drivers and everything in the fixture once and it takes awhile to get everything to fit. There really is no good way to do it besides try and keep everything nice and organized. I found that only having the lights in the fixture was a lot easier. You can put heatshrink over the wires coming out of the fixture to keep water off of them and to make it look professional. They also sell things called project boxes at RadioShack to keep all the drivers and stuff in if you wanted to do that.
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Yes the dimmer is basically an on off switch plus a dimmer. When the dimmer is all the way as low as it can go this will be off. The blue lights will always be on (plugged in) you can set them to desired level and when the white lights are turned off the blue ones will still be on as moonlights. This is also just another cord from something that you don't use or you can buy them from a store I'm sure home depot and stores like that sell power cords.
I've only put the drivers and everything in the fixture once and it takes awhile to get everything to fit. There really is no good way to do it besides try and keep everything nice and organized. I found that only having the lights in the fixture was a lot easier. You can put heatshrink over the wires coming out of the fixture to keep water off of them and to make it look professional. They also sell things called project boxes at RadioShack to keep all the drivers and stuff in if you wanted to do that.
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Thanks!
I'll look up that project box you mentioned. My concern about putting all the drivers under the stand is because when I do my water change, I have to take out the hood and lights so I can gravel vac the whole tank. If the wires are going all the way down to the stand from the fixture, it's going to be hard taking them out when I need to do my water change. If I can fit the LED+heatsinks and drivers in the fixture, what would be the best way to go about doing it? Solder them? Use Gorilla Glue? Also, should I get another driver + dimmer so I can keep the two blue LEDs separate in case I need to take down the fixtures during water change?
I'll look up that project box you mentioned. My concern about putting all the drivers under the stand is because when I do my water change, I have to take out the hood and lights so I can gravel vac the whole tank. If the wires are going all the way down to the stand from the fixture, it's going to be hard taking them out when I need to do my water change. If I can fit the LED+heatsinks and drivers in the fixture, what would be the best way to go about doing it? Solder them? Use Gorilla Glue? Also, should I get another driver + dimmer so I can keep the two blue LEDs separate in case I need to take down the fixtures during water change?
Hey Trick, got a question for you.
My dad mentioned that they sell these things called Under cabinet LED lights. Would that work for an aquarium with plants?
Here's how it looks like:
http://www.elementalled.com/high-power-brushed-aluminum-under-cabinet-fixture.html
My dad mentioned that they sell these things called Under cabinet LED lights. Would that work for an aquarium with plants?
Here's how it looks like:
http://www.elementalled.com/high-power-brushed-aluminum-under-cabinet-fixture.html
Yeah i think they would but you you would probably need at least 4 of them for a tank your size. And that's just a guess they could be super bright of they could be really dim.
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I found a website out of California that sells some pretty decent looking under cabinet lights called Inspired LED.
They have some nice looking products including dimmers but the only thing I have bought from them was a light to mount to the back of my flat panel TV so I cannot say how bright they are but they look pretty good.
Here is a link if you want to check it out.
http://www.inspiredled.com/
They have some nice looking products including dimmers but the only thing I have bought from them was a light to mount to the back of my flat panel TV so I cannot say how bright they are but they look pretty good.
Here is a link if you want to check it out.
http://www.inspiredled.com/
I finally got the blue LEDs today! I got all the materials except the white LEDs. I think I'm going to start building them tomorrow just so I can see how the blue LEDs look like. I'm so excited! I'll post pics once I get everything setup. I hope I don't screw up. 
Just to double check, the list of items I need aside from those I ordered are:
- Soldering iron (What's this for?)
- Solder doesn't matter what type
- Wire, doesn't matter what gauge
- Twist on wire cap?
- Wall outlet plug
Does that sound right? I also bought two dimmers and drivers for the blue LEDs so I can keep them separate. I always have to take out the lights/hood when I do my weekly water change so I figured that would make my life easier.
Just to double check, the list of items I need aside from those I ordered are:
- Soldering iron (What's this for?)
- Solder doesn't matter what type
- Wire, doesn't matter what gauge
- Twist on wire cap?
- Wall outlet plug
Does that sound right? I also bought two dimmers and drivers for the blue LEDs so I can keep them separate. I always have to take out the lights/hood when I do my weekly water change so I figured that would make my life easier.
