A Complete Idiot's guide to make an LED lighting unit

[IWANNAGOFAST]

wowzers you really went all out with this LED build! Good stuff!

[GraphicGr8s]

Curious about this. It ran you $400 or so. What does a comparable prebuilt run? No. Not baiting you. I simply haven't researched LED fixtures since right now my avatar takes all my spare $$$$$. That and I really have no clue what's available anymore.

Educate me.

[sumer]

Those red wires were making it look shabby. Finally I found SGVA extension cable.
Its the wire which we use for connecting Computer monitor to CPU. It has 15 pins.

I cut the female part out-




And then found this 8"x6"x3" project box. That kitchen ziplock container was not an appropriate container to house my DIM4 controller.






And then housed everything inside it. Cut some spaces for air circulation-

[sumer]

Originally Posted by GraphicGr8s

Curious about this. It ran you $400 or so. What does a comparable prebuilt run? No. Not baiting you. I simply haven't researched LED fixtures since right now my avatar takes all my spare $$$$$. That and I really have no clue what's available anymore.

Educate me.

Umm even I didnt research much on the commercially available units.
If yo talk about ray2, it would cost around $100. People have had good results with it.
But as you'll go in the advance world of LEDs, the prices will be $300 +. A unit like this, with sunset/ sunrise controller and 3 different series of lights, (1 white, 1 Royal Blue, and 1 for OCW), it'd definitely cost more than $500.

[GraphicGr8s]

So when do you start your production line?

[sumer]

2500+ views..
Seems like my LED unit is getting famous
Well just to update you all- Plants are growing carzy. And people who say LEDs cant grow red plants- They are so wrong. Red plants are so so red in my tank. Polygonum k. is doing great. Just keep your N under control.
Plants are loving this light.

[RobMc]

Wow, super clean build. Really diggin the serial tail. Have you noticed any more or less algae to plant growth ratio with this light?

[dtejeda.arias]

What are you lighting with all those Crees?(just skimmed didn't read much) Great step by step guide. Also very clean and neat setup. How do I make a quick link to this to post on the 100 DIY led post?

[sumer]

Here's what I'm growing with this light-










I'm not sure what is 100 DIY led post but you can just copy and paste the link.

Rob- thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I'm soon gonna attempt one like you have made.
I dont have any algae issues after a few in initial phase and a spirogyra infestation. But now my tank is mature and plants are blooming. Reds are red.. Who says LED cant grow red plants.

[PhillyMurse]

This is awesome! Thanks for putting in the time to create this. Hopefully I can give it a go when time permits.

[sumer]

If you're planning on a new light unit, this is worth spending time for.

[jccaclimber]

Very nice. I may have missed it, but what size tank is this over, and at what height?

[Nubster]

From the looks of it, your light is definitely doing the job. Any idea how much a bare bones unit like this would cost to build? Nothing fancy, on and off, enough lights to get into high light range, small tank, like 24"W x 14.5"H.

[sumer]

Originally Posted by jccaclimber

Very nice. I may have missed it, but what size tank is this over, and at what height?

My tank is an ADA- 60P. Its about 17 Gallons. And right now it is at 12" height from the water surface.

Originally Posted by Nubster

From the looks of it, your light is definitely doing the job. Any idea how much a bare bones unit like this would cost to build? Nothing fancy, on and off, enough lights to get into high light range, small tank, like 24"W x 14.5"H.

I got your point. Just a simple LED unit with on/off with the same lights and driver would be $200 +/- 25 (No fancy heat sink, controller).
Rotala mini Butterfly is as red as Tom sent me. Egleria fluctuans is growing madly. This is enough to put a light unit into "successful" category i think. I'm pretty satisfied with the built.

[Nubster]

Definitely...it looks good as does the tank.