A comprehensive guide to practically understand and make a DIY LED unit

sumer · 10/14/2015, 11:53 AM

Hello everyone,

I worked on this write-up while working on my personal DIY LED unit. It's a very comprehensive article about what I did and why I did so.
I think going over it would be helpful if you are trying or wanting to make your DIY LED unit.
Feel free to ask me any questions.

www.playsofrays.photos

slief · 10/14/2015, 06:56 PM

Wow!! That is a terrific write up! By far one of the best detailed how to for DIY LED fixtures and what's most impressive is your use quaity components and drivers to help in building a quaity controllable fixture instead of just stringing a bunch of LED's together and wiring them to the driver and power supply. Very good post and write up!

Ron Reefman · 10/15/2015, 07:00 AM

I have been very happy with my Chinese led and built-in controllers, but you have really peaked my interest in building a massive and complex led system for my 180g mixed reef. Thanks for all the info.

sumer · 10/15/2015, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

Wow!! That is a terrific write up! By far one of the best detailed how to for DIY LED fixtures and what's most impressive is your use quaity components and drivers to help in building a quaity controllable fixture instead of just stringing a bunch of LED's together and wiring them to the driver and power supply. Very good post and write up!

Thanks you.
I was not this sophisticated in my previous builds. It was pretty good according to my skill level back then. Here's what I made in 2013: http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Co...ED-Light-Unit/

This unit is working great. Thanks for your kind words.

sumer · 10/15/2015, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I have been very happy with my Chinese led and built-in controllers, but you have really peaked my interest in building a massive and complex led system for my 180g mixed reef. Thanks for all the info.

Thanks for your comment, Ron. LED projects are the most fun part of having a tank I believe

billdogg · 10/15/2015, 02:16 PM

Very nice write up!

I really want to upgrade the lighting on my 150g (6') tank from the T12 VHO's on it now but have been putting it off due to cost. I have DIY'd pretty much everything else over the years, and this has me copnvinced that I can do this too!

sumer · 10/16/2015, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

Very nice write up!

I really want to upgrade the lighting on my 150g (6') tank from the T12 VHO's on it now but have been putting it off due to cost. I have DIY'd pretty much everything else over the years, and this has me copnvinced that I can do this too!

Thanks. I am glad you liked it.
I am sure you would see the cost effectiveness of LEDs in the long term. I am sure you change the tubes frequently. YOu don't have to change LEDs. It really is a good deal.

el aguila · 10/16/2015, 05:55 PM

Being a total Nob at electronics, I built a fixture for my 190 reef a few years ago. Some pics can be found on this thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2416792

After reading your write up twice I'm stoked about retrofitting a coralife fixture that came with a 70G that I picked up. The changes that have happened to LEDs are very cool in what you can do know.

Thanks so much for the info!!!

ghellin · 10/16/2015, 08:12 PM

Well done!

sumer · 10/16/2015, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el aguila

Being a total Nob at electronics, I built a fixture for my 190 reef a few years ago. Some pics can be found on this thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2416792

After reading your write up twice I'm stoked about retrofitting a coralife fixture that came with a 70G that I picked up. The changes that have happened to LEDs are very cool in what you can do know.

Thanks so much for the info!!!

Wow! The way you have used individual strips of heatsink to put the LEDs at angles is fantastic. Well done.
I would be looking forward to see what you do with your coralife.

sumer · 10/16/2015, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghellin

Well done!

Thanks you, sir

lmorejon · 10/17/2015, 05:26 AM

Awesome guide, I recently retired from over 40 years in the field service and computer maintenance trade, needed a project to upgrade lighting on 34 gal shallow reef tank. Currently building a 2 foot Led light on a Makers heatsink with 55 leds onboard. Your guide helped me with some of the issues I was facing, THANKS a million.
Luis

billdogg · 10/17/2015, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumer

Thanks. I am glad you liked it.
I am sure you would see the cost effectiveness of LEDs in the long term. I am sure you change the tubes frequently. YOu don't have to change LEDs. It really is a good deal.

I already have LED's on my 120g reef. Really can't think of a good reason to use anything else. The T12 VHO's on my 150 are now over 5 years old. Need any Cyano?????? Until he finally died (at age 25) the tank was home to a 4' Undulated Moray. He didn't really care what spectrum the lights were.

They will have to be upgraded before I do anything else with the tank - I just wasn't too thrilled about the huge amount of $$$ it was going to cost me to make the switch. DIY I will be able to spread the cost out a bit and therefore ease the pain just a tad.

Thanks again for a very informative write-up!

sumer · 10/17/2015, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmorejon

Awesome guide, I recently retired from over 40 years in the field service and computer maintenance trade, needed a project to upgrade lighting on 34 gal shallow reef tank. Currently building a 2 foot Led light on a Makers heatsink with 55 leds onboard. Your guide helped me with some of the issues I was facing, THANKS a million.
Luis

Thanks for your kind words. I am glad I could be of help. I would love to see some photos of your setup. Do you have any threads going on?

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I already have LED's on my 120g reef. Really can't think of a good reason to use anything else. The T12 VHO's on my 150 are now over 5 years old. Need any Cyano?????? Until he finally died (at age 25) the tank was home to a 4' Undulated Moray. He didn't really care what spectrum the lights were.

They will have to be upgraded before I do anything else with the tank - I just wasn't too thrilled about the huge amount of $$$ it was going to cost me to make the switch. DIY I will be able to spread the cost out a bit and therefore ease the pain just a tad.

Thanks again for a very informative write-up!

Absolutely right. With the DIY, you can spend on the aspects you want and can be on budget on the things that you don't want to spend on.
25 YO moray must have been BIG. Do you have any pics?

jedimasterben · 10/17/2015, 06:38 PM

#winning

kmbyrnes · 10/20/2015, 06:02 AM

Wish this had been around 2 years ago, I may have gone DIY instead of buying used Radions. I might give this a go when I move the reef to a 6' tank in 2016.

davehead86 · 10/20/2015, 01:39 PM

How much does something like this cost in the end to build?

jedimasterben · 10/20/2015, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehead86

How much does something like this cost in the end to build?

Anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand. Depends completely on how complex you really want it to be and what size tank you're lighting and how you want to light it.

davehead86 · 10/20/2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedimasterben

Anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand. Depends completely on how complex you really want it to be and what size tank you're lighting and how you want to light it.

Sounds like on a small tank its just easier to go with some black box Chinese LED lights.

That was an awesome article though, great details. If i had the cash and a soldering iron id be all over it!

jedimasterben · 10/20/2015, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehead86

Sounds like on a small tank its just easier to go with some black box Chinese LED lights.

That was an awesome article though, great details. If i had the cash and a soldering iron id be all over it!

Buying a light and plugging it in will always be easier and almost always be cheaper than building a light, the difference being that you lose significant control and features in doing so.

davehead86 · 10/20/2015, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedimasterben

Buying a light and plugging it in will always be easier and almost always be cheaper than building a light, the difference being that you lose significant control and features in doing so.

I should choose my words more carefully. I meant cheaper.
Most lights dont come with these features? I thought these lights on the market are all controllable and wifi connected etc? I only have a FOWLR so I havent dug into lights that deeply.

jedimasterben · 10/20/2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehead86

I should choose my words more carefully. I meant cheaper.
Most lights dont come with these features? I thought these lights on the market are all controllable and wifi connected etc? I only have a FOWLR so I havent dug into lights that deeply.

No, most Chinese LED panels are still in the 'dark ages' with only manual control. Some will have controllers and some will have wireless control, but still very basic, usually only two channels still.

perkint · 10/21/2015, 06:26 AM

You'll also find that most who DIY end up using better LEDs than the cheaper off the shelf models. So even if it cost them more to build, they can be getting a lot more light out of their 100W than some off the shelf 160W (etc)...

Not to mention any failures can be fixed by replacing the actual failure rather than the whole unit.

Tim

lmorejon · 10/22/2015, 07:14 PM

Hi Sumer, no thread but I did take some pics of a test string I did at the beginning, will see if I can dig those up and post them along with how led are laid out in current config.
Luis

vikinglord13 · 10/23/2015, 07:45 PM

It seems like one only needs a knowledge of basic physics to put together LEDs. Once one has correct calculations, is it more like a puzzle? It seems simple enough.

Also, in your experience, what is the cost effectiveness of putting together your own LEDs?

10/14/2015, 11:53 AM	#1
sumer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ft Collins, CO Posts: 47	A comprehensive guide to practically understand and make a DIY LED unit Hello everyone, I worked on this write-up while working on my personal DIY LED unit. It's a very comprehensive article about what I did and why I did so. I think going over it would be helpful if you are trying or wanting to make your DIY LED unit. Feel free to ask me any questions. www.playsofrays.photos __________________ Don't only practice your art, but force your way into it's secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine. Current Tank Info: Planning a 48G

10/14/2015, 06:56 PM	#2
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Wow!! That is a terrific write up! By far one of the best detailed how to for DIY LED fixtures and what's most impressive is your use quaity components and drivers to help in building a quaity controllable fixture instead of just stringing a bunch of LED's together and wiring them to the driver and power supply. Very good post and write up! __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

10/15/2015, 07:00 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I have been very happy with my Chinese led and built-in controllers, but you have really peaked my interest in building a massive and complex led system for my 180g mixed reef. Thanks for all the info. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/15/2015, 02:16 PM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Very nice write up! I really want to upgrade the lighting on my 150g (6') tank from the T12 VHO's on it now but have been putting it off due to cost. I have DIY'd pretty much everything else over the years, and this has me copnvinced that I can do this too! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/16/2015, 08:12 PM	#9
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Well done! __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

10/16/2015, 05:55 PM	#8
el aguila Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Alexis, NC Posts: 497	Being a total Nob at electronics, I built a fixture for my 190 reef a few years ago. Some pics can be found on this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2416792 After reading your write up twice I'm stoked about retrofitting a coralife fixture that came with a 70G that I picked up. The changes that have happened to LEDs are very cool in what you can do know. Thanks so much for the info!!!

10/17/2015, 05:26 AM	#12
lmorejon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hialeah, Florida Posts: 39	Awesome guide, I recently retired from over 40 years in the field service and computer maintenance trade, needed a project to upgrade lighting on 34 gal shallow reef tank. Currently building a 2 foot Led light on a Makers heatsink with 55 leds onboard. Your guide helped me with some of the issues I was facing, THANKS a million. Luis

10/17/2015, 06:38 PM	#15
jedimasterben LED world domination! Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Okeechobee, FL Posts: 1,030	#winning __________________ Dinoflagellates are the kiss of death. Current Tank Info: Acquasole 60, IceCap 15 Sump, 2x Maxspect Ethereal, Coral Box D500 skimmer, Maxspect Gyre 150, Jecod DCS-5000

10/20/2015, 06:02 AM	#16
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	Wish this had been around 2 years ago, I may have gone DIY instead of buying used Radions. I might give this a go when I move the reef to a 6' tank in 2016. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

10/20/2015, 01:39 PM	#17
davehead86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Monticello, IL Posts: 819	How much does something like this cost in the end to build?

10/21/2015, 06:26 AM	#23
perkint Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Robin hood country, UK Posts: 817	You'll also find that most who DIY end up using better LEDs than the cheaper off the shelf models. So even if it cost them more to build, they can be getting a lot more light out of their 100W than some off the shelf 160W (etc)... Not to mention any failures can be fixed by replacing the actual failure rather than the whole unit. Tim

10/22/2015, 07:14 PM	#24
lmorejon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hialeah, Florida Posts: 39	Hi Sumer, no thread but I did take some pics of a test string I did at the beginning, will see if I can dig those up and post them along with how led are laid out in current config. Luis

10/23/2015, 07:45 PM	#25
vikinglord13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 484	It seems like one only needs a knowledge of basic physics to put together LEDs. Once one has correct calculations, is it more like a puzzle? It seems simple enough. Also, in your experience, what is the cost effectiveness of putting together your own LEDs?