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.

[DogFish]

[Craigthor]

Wish you had a par meter, I had thought about going this route with my 150 but not sure I could get the light I need to the bottom of the tank.

Craig

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by Craigthor

Wish you had a par meter, I had thought about going this route with my 150 but not sure I could get the light I need to the bottom of the tank.

Craig

I'm curious about the Par reading myself. I wonder if I could rent one somehow?

[Naekuh]

Originally Posted by DogFish

I'm curious about the Par reading myself. I wonder if I could rent one somehow?

the thing is i can get lux meters... but not par meters...

:O

no one i know has a par meter.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by Naekuh

the thing is i can get lux meters... but not par meters...

:O

no one i know has a par meter.

Sorry, the extent of my electrical genius, is running wire & hooking up boxes.

[Hoppy]

You can use Lux meters for a reasonably accurate PAR reading: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...ml#post1603516 Of course this has to be used out in the air, not underwater, but it would tell you about how much PAR you will get in water too (about 10-20% more than in air).

[DogFish]

Hoppy, thanks for the link.

It would be interesting to know for discussion & help others. For me it still comes down to how my plants will grow. Between the dimmer & the ability to raise the lights I should be able to dial it it fairly easy.

I got my minimalist look in a way that doesn't look like Aquarium lighting.

[mistergreen]

Be aware that a PAR meter will only read light wavelengths between 400 - 700 nm (around that). A lux meter will vary drastically depending on what photo resistor/diode it uses.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by DogFish

Hoppy, thanks for the link.

It would be interesting to know for discussion & help others. For me it still comes down to how my plants will grow. Between the dimmer & the ability to raise the lights I should be able to dial it it fairly easy.

I got my minimalist look in a way that doesn't look like Aquarium lighting.

You certainly did that! I like that look, but I would probably use different "shades", most likely round ones. This is one more very nice way to light a tank using off the shelf hardware.

Originally Posted by mistergreen

Be aware that a PAR meter will only read light wavelengths between 400 - 700 nm (around that). A lux meter will vary drastically depending on what photo resistor/diode it uses.

If we wanted to use a lux meter for a variety of different types of lighting, or for some array of LEDs with a mix of reds, blues, greens, etc. it would likely not be accurate enough. But, if we stick to cool white, neutral white, etc. LEDs, or 6500-10,000K fluorescent lights, or similar color temperature MH lights, it should do well enough for our purposes. We don't need extreme accuracy, and we don't even get that with a PAR meter. The Quantum meters aren't perfectly accurate for low light either. They read in whole digits only, so a reading of 10 micromols is only good to about +/- 1 micromol, or 10%, and errors in technique add still more inaccuracy.

I haven't tried using a lux meter yet, but that's something I hope to do later.

[Naekuh]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

Be aware that a PAR meter will only read light wavelengths between 400 - 700 nm (around that). A lux meter will vary drastically depending on what photo resistor/diode it uses.

yup... which is why my friend said no go for the application i want.
I would get the other spectrum which arent needed inside the lux, and wouldnt represent anything.. minus how well the camera would take its picture at what flash setting

Originally Posted by Hoppy

I haven't tried using a lux meter yet, but that's something I hope to do later.

Ohhhh if u figure out a way hoppy let me know..
My friend whose a professional photographer said he would totally loan me his lux meter. But as i said, he said it was pointless for what i wanted.
He knows what a par meter is, and said get a cheap par meter.

Problem tho, a Par meter costs 200 dollars!!!
I still want my dual stage regulator b4 a Par meter.

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by Naekuh

Problem tho, a Par meter costs 200 dollars!!!

More like $300+

[aretreesfree]

interested in seeing what this would look like set up with water. i've wondered if this is a good route, but for a long tank like a 55g would this not be ideal? what about a 40B? would one bulb be sufficient for a 40B low tech?

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

You certainly did that! I like that look, but I would probably use different "shades", most likely round ones. This is one more very nice way to light a tank using off the shelf hardware.

Hey, thanks for the kind words. You know with all these projects we do it gets down to making a solid & realistic plan.

The shades, I can't believe how much time I "Invested" trying to find shades that would have enough air flow for the bulbs, look like they belong in the room and didn't cost more that the Tank & the stand.

The thing I learned pretty fast is if I liked it...it was over $100

IKEA also had an aluminum pendant that was modern looking and would have looked good if I would have rattle canned it white. But, it's december in ChicagoLand and spray paint season is over. I'm sue I'll eventually swap them out.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by aretreesfree

interested in seeing what this would look like set up with water. i've wondered if this is a good route, but for a long tank like a 55g would this not be ideal? what about a 40B? would one bulb be sufficient for a 40B low tech?

Hit that subscript button then.

This tank is 36x15x16 it will be keep pretty simple, Power Sponge filter & a Heater. I use dirt floors and this will be planted with crypts, java ferns & moss.