DIY LED FAQ - Where to begin?

jcgd · 07-08-2012, 03:52 AM

Schneeball
Salmon's with Dim4
Fizzout's with XMLs
Jose's Discus build *one of the early build, still one of the best (scroll down)
Tharsis's T5 to LED retrofit
Sink's Improved Arduino LED Lighting Code
H2oaggie's 29 Gallon LED Build
Short Discussion on LED Choice for 180 Gallon
IWANNAGOFAST's DIY LED for 90cm/36 inch 48 gallon tank with Par Readings
Hoppy's LED Quantity Calculator + Design Considerations

**theblondskeleton** · 07-08-2012, 04:09 AM

Now, that's the good stuff

Thanks, jcgd! I'll poet them in the appropriate areas.

jcgd · 07-08-2012, 04:22 AM

Yeah, I'll keep throwing them your way. Sorry I didn't sort them by type, I'm just too lazy and haven't gotten familiar with your layout.

The king of DIY drivers, controllers, etc., here is the O2Surplus collection:

Built another DIY led driver!
SNEAK PEAK- O2Surplus' 300 watt LED lighting retrofit
Just built a DIY LED Controller
DIY PCB's for DIY LED Systems

Aaron was a fantastic help to me personally and built the drivers/ controllers for Jose's build, as well as my own.

talontsiawd · 07-08-2012, 04:29 AM

Thank you so much. I am seriously considering trying my first LED fixture and though it's pretty simple, there is almost too much info that can be overwhelming in planning. This is really easy to read and understand but lets you get into the "details" as well. Great thread.

**theblondskeleton** · 07-08-2012, 04:29 AM

Nice! That poor guy is probably going to get bombarded by pm's after this, haha...

Seriously - you're making me think you enjoy this stuff as much as I do, haha!

**theblondskeleton** · 07-08-2012, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

Thank you so much. I am seriously considering trying my first LED fixture and though it's pretty simple, there is almost too much info that can be overwhelming in planning. This is really easy to read and understand but lets you get into the "details" as well. Great thread.

Thanks, man! If you find anything we've missed so far, let me know, and I'll add it in! I just investigated the Philips Luxeon line today, so I'm adding things all the time!

**Hoppy** · 07-08-2012, 04:36 AM

Moderator, moderator, wherefore art thou moderator? This needs to go in the stickies in place of my old one. Please!

jcgd · 07-08-2012, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblondskeleton

Nice! That poor guy is probably going to get bombarded by pm's after this, haha...

Seriously - you're making me think you enjoy this stuff as much as I do, haha!

Haha, yeah, sometimes I feel bad myself for asking so much of him. I think he enjoys it as well though, and sees building electronics as fun. He also helped out greatly with Mistergreen's Close enough par meter.

DIY PAR meter, Yeah you heard me
Par Meter Options
Convert Lux Meter to Par Meter

I do love this stuff too. Can't get enough if it myself. I'm really glad you started this thread, because it really is a lot of info and it's about time someone to put it together. The incredible thing is, when many of these threads were made, the authors used every scrap of info they could find, and now there's threads with multiple sources of info, that have multiple sources of info.

I think I might make or try to dig up a DIY fixture enclosure thread for ideas of fixtures to make yourself. I got very lucky with mine, and I was having trouble thinking what I should DIY before I found my aluminum housing.

**theblondskeleton** · 07-08-2012, 05:06 AM

Yeah, that was my biggest issue. There are a bunch of really great sites and threads that explore one or two aspects of a build really deeply, but barely touch on others. Few were as comprehensive as Hoppy's original sticky-build. The trouble there was that the tech is changing so quickly that a lot of it was obsolete, or just unavailable.

I thought since there are so many things to think about when you build an LED that it would be great to consolidate it all. I originally asked about creating a subforum (as you know, haha), and SOMEBODY suggested I make a thread about it. I already had a ton of notes from my own research, so it was really just a cut-and-paste job. I polished it up a bit, and here it is.

They say the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone. I suppose after a few months of this I might grow to be an expert after all!

I think that's a great idea, by the way. A lot of these builds are very practical and utilitarian, and yours is so polished, it would be great to share some ideas to finish some of the very nice fixtures out there - make them wife-friendly

jcgd · 07-08-2012, 06:12 AM

Haha, wife friendly.

Found one more:
Sns26's Build with Cherry Wood Enclosure

makutaku · 07-08-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcgd

I got very lucky with mine, and I was having trouble thinking what I should DIY before I found my aluminum housing.

We do need the information about your "aluminum housing" in this FAQ.

I am sure there's at least one person very curious to know.

**theblondskeleton** · 07-16-2012, 05:50 AM

Any new info out there? I just updated the controller section, and I'm looking into adding a link to some info on the new Cree XP-G2.

Jcgd, if you'd like I can add a housing and finishes section to the heat sink post that could outline some options for finishing fixtures. We could just post pics here as well, I suppose. I'd like to invite anyone with a fixture to post photos here so we can start collecting ideas. Post your builds!

makutaku · 07-17-2012, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblondskeleton

I'd like to invite anyone with a fixture to post photos here so we can start collecting ideas. Post your builds!

I haven't started my build yet but if I started today I would probably use 80/20 erector set to not only hold the heatsinks together but also provide a solid structure for suspension. 80/20 also have black anodized profiles that look nice.

**theblondskeleton** · 07-17-2012, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makutaku

I haven't started my build yet but if I started today I would probably use 80/20 erector set to not only hold the heatsinks together but also provide a solid structure for suspension. 80/20 also have black anodized profiles that look nice.

Oh, I didn't know it came in anodized black as well. That was something I was looking for in my heat sink - anodized in color. Black is likely what I would have gone with, but other options would be nice too. One of the builds in the build list used the 80/20 as the heat sink/structure and it made a very attractive fixture. I'll have to browse again to remember which one, though.

Which reminds me of another factoid I recall from my research...

EDIT: it was Fizzout's build that used the 80/20, for those who want to check it out.

Invisigoth · 07-17-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblondskeleton

Jcgd, if you'd like I can add a housing and finishes section to the heat sink post that could outline some options for finishing fixtures. We could just post pics here as well, I suppose. I'd like to invite anyone with a fixture to post photos here so we can start collecting ideas. Post your builds!

here's the build i just finished (larger images available):

07-08-2012, 03:52 AM	#31
jcgd Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,983	Schneeball Salmon's with Dim4 Fizzout's with XMLs Jose's Discus build *one of the early build, still one of the best (scroll down) Tharsis's T5 to LED retrofit Sink's Improved Arduino LED Lighting Code H2oaggie's 29 Gallon LED Build Short Discussion on LED Choice for 180 Gallon IWANNAGOFAST's DIY LED for 90cm/36 inch 48 gallon tank with Par Readings Hoppy's LED Quantity Calculator + Design Considerations __________________ Follow your Impulse, click here.

07-08-2012, 04:22 AM	#33
jcgd Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,983	Yeah, I'll keep throwing them your way. Sorry I didn't sort them by type, I'm just too lazy and haven't gotten familiar with your layout. The king of DIY drivers, controllers, etc., here is the O2Surplus collection: Built another DIY led driver! SNEAK PEAK- O2Surplus' 300 watt LED lighting retrofit Just built a DIY LED Controller DIY PCB's for DIY LED Systems Aaron was a fantastic help to me personally and built the drivers/ controllers for Jose's build, as well as my own. __________________ Follow your Impulse, click here.

07-08-2012, 04:29 AM	#34
talontsiawd Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 2,409	Thank you so much. I am seriously considering trying my first LED fixture and though it's pretty simple, there is almost too much info that can be overwhelming in planning. This is really easy to read and understand but lets you get into the "details" as well. Great thread. __________________ -Matt Eheim Pimp Club # 382 The Fraternity of Dirt #53 13 Stones Journal 6 Gallon Betta Tank

07-08-2012, 04:36 AM	#37
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (54/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,215	Moderator, moderator, wherefore art thou moderator? This needs to go in the stickies in place of my old one. Please! __________________ Hoppy

07-08-2012, 06:12 AM	#40
jcgd Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,983	Haha, wife friendly. Found one more: Sns26's Build with Cherry Wood Enclosure __________________ Follow your Impulse, click here.

07-08-2012, 04:09 AM	#32
theblondskeleton Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA, USA Posts: 516	Now, that's the good stuff Thanks, jcgd! I'll poet them in the appropriate areas.

07-08-2012, 05:06 AM	#39
theblondskeleton Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA, USA Posts: 516	Yeah, that was my biggest issue. There are a bunch of really great sites and threads that explore one or two aspects of a build really deeply, but barely touch on others. Few were as comprehensive as Hoppy's original sticky-build. The trouble there was that the tech is changing so quickly that a lot of it was obsolete, or just unavailable. I thought since there are so many things to think about when you build an LED that it would be great to consolidate it all. I originally asked about creating a subforum (as you know, haha), and SOMEBODY suggested I make a thread about it. I already had a ton of notes from my own research, so it was really just a cut-and-paste job. I polished it up a bit, and here it is. They say the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone. I suppose after a few months of this I might grow to be an expert after all! I think that's a great idea, by the way. A lot of these builds are very practical and utilitarian, and yours is so polished, it would be great to share some ideas to finish some of the very nice fixtures out there - make them wife-friendly

07-16-2012, 05:50 AM	#42
theblondskeleton Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA, USA Posts: 516	Any new info out there? I just updated the controller section, and I'm looking into adding a link to some info on the new Cree XP-G2. Jcgd, if you'd like I can add a housing and finishes section to the heat sink post that could outline some options for finishing fixtures. We could just post pics here as well, I suppose. I'd like to invite anyone with a fixture to post photos here so we can start collecting ideas. Post your builds!

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