Any DIY LED Heat-Sinks out there ?

reefrubble · 10/22/2010, 05:49 PM

I am thinking about going with LED lighting over my new tank , but I don't want to have to rob a bank to get the heat-sink . The tank is 72"X 36" deep . I have looked around the web . , but the prices are crazy .

rustyjames · 10/22/2010, 06:20 PM

Have you looked into 1" aluminum U channel from Lowes/HD? They come in 6' lengths.

reefrubble · 10/22/2010, 06:27 PM

Do you think that is really going to do the job ? Do you think that will remove enough heat ?

widmer · 10/22/2010, 06:48 PM

Yea it works great...

Runner · 10/22/2010, 06:53 PM

If the heat is too much, a few fans will cool them down. Most heat sink designs here (mine included) are major overkill.

ryan115 · 10/22/2010, 08:18 PM

Ted I have been looking at building a system for my 180g, again where a traditional heatsink would be too much. I have been strongly considering this http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=9e686s instead of the U channel from HD/Lowes...higher surface area than the U channel

csarkar001 · 10/22/2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan115

Ted I have been looking at building a system for my 180g, again where a traditional heatsink would be too much. I have been strongly considering this http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=9e686s instead of the U channel from HD/Lowes...higher surface area than the U channel

that link doesnt point to a specific product. do you have a part number?

hvacman250 · 10/22/2010, 09:51 PM

I'm no LED expert, but here is my experience. I used U channel for my 42 x 24 LED build, 72 lights. When all lights are on and full blast ( I cannot dim), the average temp on the u-channel next to the LED is:

82 with both fans running
85-87 with ONE fan running
Over the weekend, I am experimenting with NO fans

Fans are a 4 inch, 120 V fan from Radio Shack

Aluminum for my build ran me about $110.

reefrubble · 10/23/2010, 05:53 AM

rustyjames, Thank you for your help , I will check into the C channel .

reefrubble · 10/23/2010, 05:54 AM

widmer , Have you used C channel , for a LED heat-sink ?

reefrubble · 10/23/2010, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runner

If the heat is too much, a few fans will cool them down. Most heat sink designs here (mine included) are major overkill.

So you think the commercially available heat-sinks are over kill ?

reefrubble · 10/23/2010, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan115

Ted I have been looking at building a system for my 180g, again where a traditional heatsink would be too much. I have been strongly considering this http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=9e686s instead of the U channel from HD/Lowes...higher surface area than the U channel

Which product , are you talking about ?

reefrubble · 10/23/2010, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvacman250

I'm no LED expert, but here is my experience. I used U channel for my 42 x 24 LED build, 72 lights. When all lights are on and full blast ( I cannot dim), the average temp on the u-channel next to the LED is:

82 with both fans running
85-87 with ONE fan running
Over the weekend, I am experimenting with NO fans

Fans are a 4 inch, 120 V fan from Radio Shack

Aluminum for my build ran me about $110.

Thank you for all the information , I will check that option out .

Runner · 10/23/2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefrubble

So you think the commercially available heat-sinks are over kill ?

Yes. But the only way to get more accurate numbers to down-size to something more feasible would be experimentation or running some calcs I do not know how to generate. So we go with what has worked here. The cooler the better, anyway, for longevity of the LEDs.

One day I hope to put my Koyo PLC in place to monitor temperature and control the lighting (among other things). When I do, I'll play around a bit with a couple of RTDs on the heat sink and see what temp I get.

ryan115 · 10/23/2010, 09:55 AM

sorry...the one that I was thinking are the H-bars. Just using them as an I-beam, I liked the options avaiable better than the I beams, and I think they would be more effective than U channel

10/22/2010, 05:49 PM	#1
reefrubble Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fort Myers , Fl. Posts: 5,718	Any DIY LED Heat-Sinks out there ? I am thinking about going with LED lighting over my new tank , but I don't want to have to rob a bank to get the heat-sink . The tank is 72"X 36" deep . I have looked around the web . , but the prices are crazy . __________________ Ted Proud member of SHARK (Spring Hill Area Reef Keepers ) Proud member of TBRC (Tampa Bay Reef Club ) Save the reefs , Grow your own Current Tank Info: Marineland 300 DD Tank Custom metal stand , and canopy DIY LED lighting I-Tech Super Beast skimmer . I do not have a tank at this time . I sold the 300 Gal. system

10/22/2010, 06:20 PM	#2
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	Have you looked into 1" aluminum U channel from Lowes/HD? They come in 6' lengths. __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

10/22/2010, 06:27 PM	#3
reefrubble Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fort Myers , Fl. Posts: 5,718	Do you think that is really going to do the job ? Do you think that will remove enough heat ? __________________ Ted Proud member of SHARK (Spring Hill Area Reef Keepers ) Proud member of TBRC (Tampa Bay Reef Club ) Save the reefs , Grow your own Current Tank Info: Marineland 300 DD Tank Custom metal stand , and canopy DIY LED lighting I-Tech Super Beast skimmer . I do not have a tank at this time . I sold the 300 Gal. system

10/22/2010, 06:53 PM	#5
Runner Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 3,196 Blog Entries: 1	If the heat is too much, a few fans will cool them down. Most heat sink designs here (mine included) are major overkill. __________________ -Scott "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell Current Tank Info: 24G Reef cube with Cree LED DIY Retrofit

10/23/2010, 05:53 AM	#9
reefrubble Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fort Myers , Fl. Posts: 5,718	rustyjames, Thank you for your help , I will check into the C channel . __________________ Ted Proud member of SHARK (Spring Hill Area Reef Keepers ) Proud member of TBRC (Tampa Bay Reef Club ) Save the reefs , Grow your own Current Tank Info: Marineland 300 DD Tank Custom metal stand , and canopy DIY LED lighting I-Tech Super Beast skimmer . I do not have a tank at this time . I sold the 300 Gal. system

10/22/2010, 06:48 PM	#4
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Yea it works great...

10/22/2010, 08:18 PM	#6
ryan115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 753	Ted I have been looking at building a system for my 180g, again where a traditional heatsink would be too much. I have been strongly considering this http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=9e686s instead of the U channel from HD/Lowes...higher surface area than the U channel

10/22/2010, 09:51 PM	#8
hvacman250 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 733	I'm no LED expert, but here is my experience. I used U channel for my 42 x 24 LED build, 72 lights. When all lights are on and full blast ( I cannot dim), the average temp on the u-channel next to the LED is: 82 with both fans running 85-87 with ONE fan running Over the weekend, I am experimenting with NO fans Fans are a 4 inch, 120 V fan from Radio Shack Aluminum for my build ran me about $110.

10/23/2010, 05:54 AM	#10
reefrubble Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fort Myers , Fl. Posts: 5,718	widmer , Have you used C channel , for a LED heat-sink ? __________________ Ted Proud member of SHARK (Spring Hill Area Reef Keepers ) Proud member of TBRC (Tampa Bay Reef Club ) Save the reefs , Grow your own Current Tank Info: Marineland 300 DD Tank Custom metal stand , and canopy DIY LED lighting I-Tech Super Beast skimmer . I do not have a tank at this time . I sold the 300 Gal. system

10/23/2010, 09:55 AM	#15
ryan115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 753	sorry...the one that I was thinking are the H-bars. Just using them as an I-beam, I liked the options avaiable better than the I beams, and I think they would be more effective than U channel

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