29 gallon LED build

[Dragonfish]

Actually, I read in a huge thread on LEDs over at reef central that ANY paint/coating actually increases the heat dissipation. Go ahead and paint it.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by Dragonfish

Actually, I read in a huge thread on LEDs over at reef central that ANY paint/coating actually increases the heat dissipation. Go ahead and paint it.

That's because no material can have both a high reflectivity and high absorptivity of light. Aluminum is naturally very reflective, so it is a poor emitter of radiant energy. Painting it improves the "blackness" of aluminum surfaces. But, for convective heat transfer, from blowing air onto the surface, the paint has to at least slightly reduce the heat transfer.

[cggorman]

Sand blast and black anodize.

[reybie]

Good info guys. Thanks, I'm building the fixture in my head for now. Once I put it on paper (or electronic format) it will get expensive.

[h2oaggie]

Here are some not very good images of just the fixture itself. I will be installing the LEDs later today.

[sink]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

That's because no material can have both a high reflectivity and high absorptivity of light. Aluminum is naturally very reflective, so it is a poor emitter of radiant energy. Painting it improves the "blackness" of aluminum surfaces. But, for convective heat transfer, from blowing air onto the surface, the paint has to at least slightly reduce the heat transfer.

Exactly.

[jt-79]

Originally Posted by h2oaggie

I received all my LEDs today, so be looking for build pictures here soon. The fixture itself it's finished and looking mighty nice.

I might be too late but i just changed my G series LED lens from 65 to 80 and have no use for them if you like you can have them.

Yes painting then black wouldn't effect much to the heat transfer rate on AL. Might look better but that pretty much it lol. Yeah get yourself a quietPC fan. I got a large 170mm fan on my setup and the business end of the LED is cool the the touch.

CASE FAN XIGMATEK| XLF-F1706 RT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233065

Good fan and since it only spinning at 800 rpm its super quiet.

Jonathan

[h2oaggie]

I might be too late but i just changed my G series LED lens from 65 to 80 and have no use for them if you like you can have them.

Thanks for the offer, but I really like the 40 degree optics I have.

Just finished the fixture and it looks great. I need to get one more item from Lowes tomorrow to finish the hanging, but then I will start posting pictures.

[reybie]

What are you going to do for heat dissipation since the aluminum doesn't have fins that I can see? Sorry if you've already mentioned it in previous posts.

[Hoppy]

If you don't run the LEDs near their maximum power they don't get hot enough to worry about having or not having finned heatsinks. At 50% power, or less I don't think even a cooling fan is essential. The aluminum channels have two "fins" so they are better than plain aluminum bars.

[reybie]

Thanks! Good to know.

[h2oaggie]

Yep, I only plan to run them at 700-1000 mA, where their maximum power is 1300+ mA. I really doubt heat will be an issue.

[h2oaggie]

These iPhone pictures will have to suffice until my real camera battery finishes charging. The fixture looks incredible.

[radioman]

That looks really good!

[monkeyruler90]

looks great!!