DIY PAR38 LED Track Light

[DogFish]

These are my PAR38 LED CREE 18W 5500K DIMMABLE 12LEDS, 30degree lens.in a Home Depot Track Light

Pics & parts of this thread have been incorporated into my 40 Journal thread, link in my sig. line

This is 25' away, with two-18watt PAR38 LEDS at full power.
The other cord having in the pic are the pull chains for the ceiling fan

For pics go to:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...53#post2040653

The bottom of the bulb is 12" off the top of the tank, 28" off the stand top.

As you can see this tank is not running yet and the distance is just a starting point.

I bought the Track from Home Depot by the pc. a 4' track, the outlet box adaptor, and two pendant lights. I went to IKEA and bought the shades and two of their $3.99 Hemma Cords. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10175810/# The clear cords that came with the Home Depot pendants didn't look right in that room.

NOTE- You are not buying the pendant for the light, you are buying for the base that connect to the track so find something make down that was for at lead a 60wt blub as you should get a heavier gauge wire. I was unable to locate a pendant to track adaptor.

Al pendants come with lots of power cord that isn't hard to trim & rewire.

With my house The easiest electrical run was up along that sliding door behind the tank. So, put a local switch there and installed my dimmer.

NOTE - Find an LED dimmer, low way bulbs don't always work on all dimmers. he typical dimmer normally has 600W of power and requests a minimum of 60W of power used in order to be stabilized, with less than this power usage, it is under loading condition and is not the original dimmer designed for. Single LED light bulbs are hardly over 20W, so if the user can install minimum of 4 LED light bulb, the performance will yield a visible difference.

I wanted to put in a double box and install a digital timer there too. But, access will be to hard behind the tank to see back there to set the timer. I'll be installing a timer inline in the basement next to my breaker box. Easy access, and besides that is only adjusted 2Xs a year or after a power outrage.

The hardest part to this has been finding a Dimmable PAR38 LED in the 5000-6700K temp range, that was affordable.

I found a seller at that "e" place. $65 ea.

Lots of talk about a 60degree spread being the desired lens. I went with 30degrees and I think I have more in the tank. I'm sure 60degees would give a lot of light spill.

I was able to get everything up & wired for well under $75. Total job in under $200. Of course I did the work.

I wish i had a light meter to take a reading.