Ive seen a few posts on here concerning diy led lighting for aquariums. A lot of them involved soldering or seemed like they would take a little while to complete. Well I got a wild hair and decided to do something to my aquarium hood.
Equipment needed:
1) DC Transformer. I used an old 12 volt one from a boot dryer.
2) Switch, I went to autozone and purchased a push pull type switch for roughly $3.00. http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Term-40180-Switch-Euro/dp/tech-data/B000CIRJ8G
3) LED Light. Once again I went to autozone and purchased the flexible waterproof light strip. Something like this http://www.amazon.com/30cm-Flexible-Waterproof-Light-Strip/dp/B0052JD9H0.
4) Lighter, I use a lighter to strip thin wires, really simple method and takes a second. It also doesnt cut any strands of copper.
5) Shrink Tape or electrical tape.
Steps:
1. Take your old hood off.
2. Drill two holes in the back of the hood, 1 approxiamately ¼,, just enough to get the two wires in coming from your transformer. The second is for your switch, the package should state how large of a hole to drill.
3. Run the wires from your transformer through the hole. Connect positive wire to the switch. Slide shrink tape over the negative wire.
4. Strip the wires coming off the LED bars by heating the part you want stripped with the lighter and then pulling the sheathing off. You should only need to apply the flame a few seconds. Twist the negatives together with the negative wire from the transformer. Slide the shrink tape over the connection and heat with the lighter.
5. Twist the positives together and connect to the other side of the switch.
6. Clean the surface on the hood where you are attaching the led strips, I used rubbing alcohol.
7. Remove the 3m tape and attach the strips and twisty tie the remaining wires together and hide in the extra space in the hood.
8. Re-install the hood.
Old Light
Old light with new LED
LED Only
Honestly, it took longer to write this up, than to do all the work.
Equipment needed:
1) DC Transformer. I used an old 12 volt one from a boot dryer.
2) Switch, I went to autozone and purchased a push pull type switch for roughly $3.00. http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Term-40180-Switch-Euro/dp/tech-data/B000CIRJ8G
3) LED Light. Once again I went to autozone and purchased the flexible waterproof light strip. Something like this http://www.amazon.com/30cm-Flexible-Waterproof-Light-Strip/dp/B0052JD9H0.
4) Lighter, I use a lighter to strip thin wires, really simple method and takes a second. It also doesnt cut any strands of copper.
5) Shrink Tape or electrical tape.
Steps:
1. Take your old hood off.
2. Drill two holes in the back of the hood, 1 approxiamately ¼,, just enough to get the two wires in coming from your transformer. The second is for your switch, the package should state how large of a hole to drill.
3. Run the wires from your transformer through the hole. Connect positive wire to the switch. Slide shrink tape over the negative wire.
4. Strip the wires coming off the LED bars by heating the part you want stripped with the lighter and then pulling the sheathing off. You should only need to apply the flame a few seconds. Twist the negatives together with the negative wire from the transformer. Slide the shrink tape over the connection and heat with the lighter.
5. Twist the positives together and connect to the other side of the switch.
6. Clean the surface on the hood where you are attaching the led strips, I used rubbing alcohol.
7. Remove the 3m tape and attach the strips and twisty tie the remaining wires together and hide in the extra space in the hood.
8. Re-install the hood.
Old Light
Old light with new LED
LED Only
Honestly, it took longer to write this up, than to do all the work.
