high power led lighting

matt barry · 12/24/2008, 01:18 PM

Building a high power led light system is very easy though the parts are not cheep. The LED's are 7 -10 bucks an led. If you buy in quantity of 250 or more, the price drops below 3 bucks each. I want to build a light for my 90 gallon though I only need 72 leds. These are the same ones PFO uses. The rest of the assembly requires a little electronic knowledge and a power supply. If anyone would like to go in on an order to bring the price down, please answer this thread and we'll talk. If I can get the price of the led's down, my total cost to build my light would be under $500.00.
Thanks.

smsreefer · 12/24/2008, 01:23 PM

Hey Matt,
What are the specs on the led's ?

Michael · 12/24/2008, 01:27 PM

hi matt have a look at this link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1506797

and

To Reef Central

you have been a member 5 years and this is your first post

matt barry · 12/24/2008, 01:30 PM

Their K2's built by phillips, go to phillipslimileds.com. The distributor is FutureElectronics.com. cool white and royal blue. part number LXK2-PR14-q00 and LXK2-PW14t00. You also need the lens and heat sink, also available on Future electronics. Total cost per led, lens, spacer and heatsink is about 6 bucks if you buy quantity. Power supply is about $50 each. Check it out.

areze · 12/24/2008, 01:53 PM

cree is more popular, cheaper, more light, just FYI. the K2s are great LEDs for sure, but the cree XRE is just a bit cheaper per lumen.

with that said, Im not sure if you can get a PSU capable of driving 72 LEDs for 50$.... maybe...

either way, good luck with your build, and post pics if you complete it. just an FYI, plan to put 2 blue LEdS for every 3 white to get a nice color balance on it, and dont factor the blue into your lumen calculations.

evilc66 · 12/24/2008, 01:54 PM

You do not want to go with a single heatsink per LED. Go big. Get something that is going to span the length of the tank. The extra mass and surface area will make cooling the LEDs much easier.

Also, you may want to look at other LEDs that will give you similar if not more performance. Cree's XR-E series is a good choice, and I'm sure you can find them cheaper than the K2 in the specific quantity you are looking for without having to buy 250 units.

evilc66 · 12/24/2008, 01:56 PM

areze, you shouldn't be doing lumen calculations anyway. If you match lumen for lumen compared to MH, you will scorch corals. Think of LEDs as high PAR, low lumen devices. Royal blue LEDs per watt produce the same PAR as a Q5 white.

newexotic · 12/24/2008, 02:05 PM

Thank you for all you experts's help, you guys are great and know it all.
Without you we will have no clue about lighting system.
Have a happy holiday.

smsreefer · 12/24/2008, 02:34 PM

Matt Barry ,
What kind of BIN codes have got from FutureElectronics on the cool white ?
Briefly, it looks like to get 8000k to 10,000k it would need to be a " YO "or " YA " designation on the BIN code.
I'm still interested .

areze · 12/24/2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by evilc66
areze, you shouldn't be doing lumen calculations anyway. If you match lumen for lumen compared to MH, you will scorch corals. Think of LEDs as high PAR, low lumen devices. Royal blue LEDs per watt produce the same PAR as a Q5 white.

yeah, I know lumens are somewhat worthless for comparison purposes(though LED lumens would be fine since we care about their whole spectrum, its the other lights that we cant use lumens from) but with that said, I was under the impression that the blue just filled out the spectrum that the white was somewhat "lacking"(to our eyes anyway) so 1 white and 1 blue kind of equaled a total spectrum.

shaggy14 · 12/24/2008, 03:42 PM

tagging along

matt and tracy · 12/24/2008, 09:38 PM

Ok, I checked out Cree today. I can't get the pricing of the XR-E till after Christmas though now I want to pick everyone's brain.
The only issue with Cree led's is they require reflow soldering. I read this can be done using a toaster oven though now I will need to make my own circuit board. This seems doable and I think I can get help from the local high school for equipment.
Has anyone made one of these lights. I would like to know some pitfalls to avoid along the way. Any info would be helpful. I'm going to make this light, it's just a matter of when. Sick of the heat from MH and sound of the chiller.

jimnrose · 12/25/2008, 11:48 AM

Matt, thanks for sharing your project. I'm a 'newbie' and have buildt a 6' light reflector for 6 T5's but now want to follow your path with LED's. It will be a while before I need high intensity so I'm going to load the surface with low power LED (christmas LED's at post holiday prices) buyt leave the strips for HP LED's when the price is lower and the technolgy is fine tuned. Now for my question: What is the width of each Led strip? I realize they have to be mounted to a hest sink, soo, the second question is what is the width and depth of your heat sinks?
Thanks & Happy Holidays, Jim

12/24/2008, 01:18 PM	#1
matt barry Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	high power led lighting Building a high power led light system is very easy though the parts are not cheep. The LED's are 7 -10 bucks an led. If you buy in quantity of 250 or more, the price drops below 3 bucks each. I want to build a light for my 90 gallon though I only need 72 leds. These are the same ones PFO uses. The rest of the assembly requires a little electronic knowledge and a power supply. If anyone would like to go in on an order to bring the price down, please answer this thread and we'll talk. If I can get the price of the led's down, my total cost to build my light would be under $500.00. Thanks. Last edited by matt barry; 12/24/2008 at 01:59 PM.

12/24/2008, 01:27 PM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	hi matt have a look at this link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1506797 and *To Reef Central* you have been a member 5 years and this is your first post __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

12/24/2008, 01:30 PM	#4
matt barry Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	high power led Their K2's built by phillips, go to phillipslimileds.com. The distributor is FutureElectronics.com. cool white and royal blue. part number LXK2-PR14-q00 and LXK2-PW14t00. You also need the lens and heat sink, also available on Future electronics. Total cost per led, lens, spacer and heatsink is about 6 bucks if you buy quantity. Power supply is about $50 each. Check it out.

12/24/2008, 01:53 PM	#5
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	cree is more popular, cheaper, more light, just FYI. the K2s are great LEDs for sure, but the cree XRE is just a bit cheaper per lumen. with that said, Im not sure if you can get a PSU capable of driving 72 LEDs for 50$.... maybe... either way, good luck with your build, and post pics if you complete it. just an FYI, plan to put 2 blue LEdS for every 3 white to get a nice color balance on it, and dont factor the blue into your lumen calculations. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

12/24/2008, 03:42 PM	#11
shaggy14 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: denison texas Posts: 620	tagging along __________________ 215g display, 80g melev sump, 60g melev frag tank, 2x mp40w's, mag 12 return pump, 3 modded 6025, 1 6065, koralia magnum 8, 2x250 phoenix hqi's, 1x250 phoenix SE, 2x160w actinics, MRC dual chamber calcium reactor with Ph controller, MR1 phosban reactor, Red sea ozonizer 200mg/hr with ORP controller, royal exclusive alpha cone 250 skimmer, reefkeeper elite on its way 80+ species of SPS and counting Current Tank Info: 215g display, 60g frag tank, 80g sump

12/24/2008, 01:23 PM	#2
smsreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Trussville,Al Posts: 329	Hey Matt, What are the specs on the led's ?

12/24/2008, 01:54 PM	#6
evilc66 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 245	You do not want to go with a single heatsink per LED. Go big. Get something that is going to span the length of the tank. The extra mass and surface area will make cooling the LEDs much easier. Also, you may want to look at other LEDs that will give you similar if not more performance. Cree's XR-E series is a good choice, and I'm sure you can find them cheaper than the K2 in the specific quantity you are looking for without having to buy 250 units.

12/24/2008, 01:56 PM	#7
evilc66 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 245	areze, you shouldn't be doing lumen calculations anyway. If you match lumen for lumen compared to MH, you will scorch corals. Think of LEDs as high PAR, low lumen devices. Royal blue LEDs per watt produce the same PAR as a Q5 white.

12/24/2008, 02:05 PM	#8
newexotic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Thank you for all you experts's help, you guys are great and know it all. Without you we will have no clue about lighting system. Have a happy holiday.

12/24/2008, 02:34 PM	#9
smsreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Trussville,Al Posts: 329	Matt Barry , What kind of BIN codes have got from FutureElectronics on the cool white ? Briefly, it looks like to get 8000k to 10,000k it would need to be a " YO "or " YA " designation on the BIN code. I'm still interested .

12/24/2008, 09:38 PM	#12
matt and tracy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: chino Posts: 14	Ok, I checked out Cree today. I can't get the pricing of the XR-E till after Christmas though now I want to pick everyone's brain. The only issue with Cree led's is they require reflow soldering. I read this can be done using a toaster oven though now I will need to make my own circuit board. This seems doable and I think I can get help from the local high school for equipment. Has anyone made one of these lights. I would like to know some pitfalls to avoid along the way. Any info would be helpful. I'm going to make this light, it's just a matter of when. Sick of the heat from MH and sound of the chiller.

12/25/2008, 11:48 AM	#13
jimnrose Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Villages, Florida Posts: 1,093	Matt, thanks for sharing your project. I'm a 'newbie' and have buildt a 6' light reflector for 6 T5's but now want to follow your path with LED's. It will be a while before I need high intensity so I'm going to load the surface with low power LED (christmas LED's at post holiday prices) buyt leave the strips for HP LED's when the price is lower and the technolgy is fine tuned. Now for my question: What is the width of each Led strip? I realize they have to be mounted to a hest sink, soo, the second question is what is the width and depth of your heat sinks? Thanks & Happy Holidays, Jim