JP's DIY LED Fixture

[billyzbear]

Great thread. I have read else where that you can run 14 LEDs on these drivers. Can you run 2 x 14 stripes in parallel series? 12 across 5 ft doesn't seem enough for a 6 ft tank.

[imagex]

i've ran 15 xp-g across but they have a lower forward voltage then the xr-e... but yea 14 is very possible.. but i've ran these in parallel without the resistor and jumper sucessfully without problems for 2 years.. is the resistor and fuse to up the eln series to run a max of 1a each string?? also why is everyone using screws to mount thats main reason for all your guys shorts.. just use thermal epoxy and be done with it.. it's actually cheaper then using screws and thermal epoxy..

[Gold Stripe]

Remember that the more voltage you try to draw, the less current you will have available. I believe JP ran 2 strings of 11 and could push them near 1000mA each but if you run strings of 14 then you probably wont be able to drive more than 650mA or so and you will be running near 100% capacity which may generate more heat and shorten the life of the driver. Best to leave a little breathing room.

[billyzbear]

I'm planning on XP-E royal blue. JP used 12, I believe.

[Gold Stripe]

Datasheet for RB shows FV at 3.2 running 350mA and 3.5 running 1000mA. At 700mA you may be near 3.4 which would be 47.6V total. Just under the driver max rated capacity. If they peaked at 3.5 then you would be at 49V total. Exceeding driver max rated capacity. Not much room for error, especially running 2 strings.

[TheFishMan65]

The ELN can be turned up to 52.8 volts. It won't be able to run to parallel strings at that voltage, but one should work. Now if you also push the current to the max (1.3 amps) you may stress the ELN and have an early failure.

[billyzbear]

I work on cars for a living. I understand some of this but not much. So, I shouldn't use 14 but 12 would be ok?

[kcress]

Yes. 12 is guaranteed to work, 14 might work...

[jbannick18]

Great thread, glad I came upon it. I have a 75 gallon I was thinking about putting led's on but I wasn't sure if 48 would be enough coverage but your video says otherwise

[billyzbear]

I have no exp. with leds. Do you think having the leds spaced 4" apart with no optics is going to be ok? I don't want it looking like spot lights.

[TheFishMan65]

If oyu raise them high enough you will not have spot lighting, but you may also not have enough light for what you want to keep.

[billyzbear]

I forgot, they'll be around 6-7" off of water.

[TheFishMan65]

I think that will be to close. Katchupoy just posted a picture that will let you see what is going on.

[SC Reefaholic]

Kress, if you're out there, which of these would I want to use on my 2 x strings of 11 XP-G driven by HLG-100H-42B (42V at 2.23A)

Digi-Key
025501.5M-ND
025501.5NRT1-ND
025501.5NRT2-ND
025501.5NRT3-ND

The strings should max out at 1120mA and the XP-Gs are supposed to handle 1500mA so I figured a 1.5A fast blow would be ok for these strings.

Thanks!

[ovrboost]

this is the best thread i have read about diy'ing leds. It is very informational and detailed.

[kcress]

Originally Posted by SC Reefaholic

Kress, if you're out there, which of these would I want to use on my 2 x strings of 11 XP-G driven by HLG-100H-42B (42V at 2.23A)

Digi-Key
025501.5M-ND
025501.5NRT1-ND
025501.5NRT2-ND
025501.5NRT3-ND

The strings should max out at 1120mA and the XP-Gs are supposed to handle 1500mA so I figured a 1.5A fast blow would be ok for these strings.

Thanks!

I'd prefer using something closer like 1.3A but they appear far and few between.

Your references aren't working for me. I doubt you need 5000 of them.

Use this one or a similar one:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...&name=F2319-ND

At over an amp you might want to use 0.1ohm resistors instead of 1ohm ones. Just remember to move the decimal point when checking the current by measuring the voltage across them.

I suggest this resistor: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...ame=0.1ACCT-ND

[SC Reefaholic]

Thanks! Just placed the order.

[SC Reefaholic]

This is going to be a really dumb question but...... on the ELN-60-48D, the brown wire (ACL) is positive and the blue wire (ACN) is negative and there is no ground right?

[kcress]

Correct terminology is "ACLine" and "ACNeutral". No ground it seems.

[SC Reefaholic]

Thanks!

[streak]

I just wanna say you have a great build and with laymans terms that i can even understand but when i decide to get stuff for my 75g I was wondering and have been reading alot about led builds. I would like to know how many leds you would need for a 75 I have read that monster led thread already but he didnt use optics. I would like to so i can grow any type of coral. Also i was looking for bluish 20k look. My problem is comming up with the amount of Led's I was thinking around 96? with 2:1 ratio. Any help or link would be appreciated.

Oh and how many drivers would i need to pull this off. I have looked at the various ledsupply reefleds but they just have prepackage stuff no real info.. That i could understand.

[TheFishMan65]

I have 48 over a 75 I don't think you would need more than 72. Depends on how you wire it with 4 ELN or 2 HLG would probably be best.

[patmack]

JP, You do have a great build thread. I had to refer back to this when I was balancing my strings. Thanks!

[SC Reefaholic]

Look at the Thomas Research drivers. They have a pretty good variety of dimmable drivers. I couldnt work out a setup using MeanWells because of the number of LEDs I am going to have on each string but I found the exact thing I was looking for with Thomas Research. Plan on ordering them in the next 2 weeks.

Edit that. There are some Meanwell HLGs that compare but still trying to get some feedback on their operation as far as ramping and how smooth/far they go.

[patmack]

Ill let ya know how my HLG 185-B's work later this weekend.