You are going to want to get a heat sink if you are running 42 LEDs. It is an extra cost but compared to having the x dollars of 42 leds burning up prematurely would cost a lot as well. I am designing a set up for my new reef tank and just building it in strips. This way you can expand as you need more light and the narrower heat sinks are much cheaper. you could also find a computer recycle place and get a bunch of smaller heat sinks from computers and install them in a line on some aluminum channel.
LED lighting project
- Thread starter Neogenesis
- Start date
The1and only;3990865; said:
thanks thats exactly what I needed, was someone to tell me no" thats not going to work lol
In my head I kind of figured that but Im so anxious to do this I ignored what I thought was right. Ok im going to have to look into finding a cheap heatsink, thanks for the info 1n only. this diy project is starting to get up there in $$$$$$$$.
Question for Scott or anyone else who's used these LEDs: are the optics adjustable in terms or directionality or must they point directly down once installed on the LEDs? ie. could you have the beam of light directed downwards at an angle?
You could mount them at different angles. I am going to try this on my next project. Use angled blocks of aluminum to mimic the Sun at like 10am and 4pm, then place them on a timer to come on respectively. You could invent an adjustable heat sink of some kind.
I love the idea.
I love the idea.
Yes, I was hoping to emulate shafts of sunlight coming down through a canopy. Just to clarify, you're saying you'd have to modify the mount itself to do this? You couldn't just have the lens/optics mounted on the LEDs at slightly varying angles?
They make optics that send light out at different angels and in different patterns. Like elliptical vs just a round one. Yes you would either have to mount the led at an angle or cut the optic to have it glue flush at a particular angle.
I like the sun idea which is why I designed mine to light up in pucks one at a time across the tank instead of in a strip. The problem is I have no money for materials at this point.
I talked with a friend this weekend that does high end computer programming and he said we could use an old desktop to control the lights to dim up and down and mimic the sun as they rose across the tank. The problem for me yet again is this idea requires more stuff so more of the money I don't have right now. From the sounds of it though is it can be done relatively easy wiring wise. I will post how to do it after this weekend on how if I am not to drunk to remember how after I see him.
I like the sun idea which is why I designed mine to light up in pucks one at a time across the tank instead of in a strip. The problem is I have no money for materials at this point.
I talked with a friend this weekend that does high end computer programming and he said we could use an old desktop to control the lights to dim up and down and mimic the sun as they rose across the tank. The problem for me yet again is this idea requires more stuff so more of the money I don't have right now. From the sounds of it though is it can be done relatively easy wiring wise. I will post how to do it after this weekend on how if I am not to drunk to remember how after I see him.
Not sure if it's against forum rules to post this but here's an implementation of something similar to what you're talking about:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...42-led-experimental-tank-started-later-6.html
No variations in angles, but you can see how the tank looks when it's lit up starting from one end and moving to the other, simulating the progression of the day. I think the effect looks awesome on his tank. If the bar that the LEDs are mounted on was a curved arc it would probably look even better.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...42-led-experimental-tank-started-later-6.html
No variations in angles, but you can see how the tank looks when it's lit up starting from one end and moving to the other, simulating the progression of the day. I think the effect looks awesome on his tank. If the bar that the LEDs are mounted on was a curved arc it would probably look even better.
It is Ok to post links to other forums from what I have seen. That is exactly like what I have drawn up just on a larger scale.
According to my friend who is way smarter than I you can have each one dim up and dim down in sequence instead of just on and off. This would be probably the best way to mimic the sun.
I have also considered something like this as a money saver. I like all the info in the video. The relevant info for this is around 5:06 mins in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op559oMrJrg&feature=fvw
According to my friend who is way smarter than I you can have each one dim up and dim down in sequence instead of just on and off. This would be probably the best way to mimic the sun.
I have also considered something like this as a money saver. I like all the info in the video. The relevant info for this is around 5:06 mins in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op559oMrJrg&feature=fvw
Making them dim up & down in sequence is not nearly as difficult as you guys are making it... Yes you could use an old computer to do it, but you'd need more gear in between to make the computer interface with the power supply. Anyhow, go to this link http://acclaimlighting.com/#/drivers/4534820139 & pick which driver/power supply suits your application best. Then, PM me & tell me what you want it to do. I will get you a price, then if you do want it I can order it (you cant unless you're a dealer) & program it (you cant unless you also get the $200 command unit & learn DMX-512). That offer goes for any other other Acclaim LED product as well.
