DIY LED lights for my 75 gallon aquarium

[krzysiek]

My LED lights

My friend and I decided to do LED lights. To buy one for 75 gallon tank was out of question. Too expensive. All parts I ordered for 2 tanks plus extra LED and squares base for LEDs (75 gallon each).

Parts:
30 x Rebel Cool White LED ($3.72 each) 111.60 ? futureelectronics
http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/technologies/semiconductors/lighting-solutions/high-power-led-emitters/white/Pages/8666695-LXML-PWC1-0100.aspx

30 x Rebel Royal Blue LED ($3.74 each) 112.20 ? futureelectronics
http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/technologies/semiconductors/lighting-solutions/high-power-led-emitters/colour/Pages/4541520-LXML-PR01-0275.aspx

10 Buckpuks 3023de1000 ($19.49 when you buy 20) $194.9 ? ledsuppy
http://ledsupply.com/03023-d-e-1000p.php

2 x 24v@ 8.3A power supply ($19.95 each) $39.90 ? MPJA
http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16855+PS

60 x Square aluminum base for LEDs (0.49 each) $29.40 ? luxeonstar
http://www.luxeonstar.com/rebel-square-blank-fr4-base-single-led-10mm-p-396.php

1 x Aluminum sheet (12x48x1/8) ? How much???? Bottle of vodka ? from friend

90 degree angle aluminum stock - $21 - Home depot

Thermal epoxy - $9 ? local computer/electronic store

Wire - $14 - Radio shack

Total: $532

It took more than 10 hours to finish my LEDs. I am very, very happy with results.

 

[aznt1217]

Wow, that's awesome dude. I really want to build my own too but am very nervous as I never soldered before.

How is the heat production? That aluminum sheet is enough with no heatsinks?

 

[saltygeek75]

Looks Good.

 

[emmanuel]

In my opinion you should have used an aluminum heat sink .
How is the aluminum after the lights are on for a while does it feel hot?

 

[fdavila514]

so you made 2 of these, right? how did u figure out the configuration? very nice tank by the way.?

 

[krzysiek]

How is the heat production? That aluminum sheet is enough with no heatsinks?

How is the aluminum after the lights are on for a while does it feel hot?

The aluminum sheet gets hot without fans. But with 2 computer fans blowing, it does not get warm.

so you made 2 of these, right? how did u figure out the configuration? very nice tank by the way.?

Thanks. I made one and my friend made one. I just ordered LEDs, power supplies, boards, and buckpacks for 2 setups. I got a lot of help from DIY LEDs posts from Reef Central.

 

[jerl77]

seen this thing in person wow i am amazed goog build kris

 

[Anthony.Luciano710]

are these things still running good because people are saying that im cheap and i got an aluminum sheet and im wasting my money but i thinks its fine and i have 6 computer fans lowing on it. so are yours still running good?

The aluminum sheet gets hot without fans. But with 2 computer fans blowing, it does not get warm.


Thanks. I made one and my friend made one. I just ordered LEDs, power supplies, boards, and buckpacks for 2 setups. I got a lot of help from DIY LEDs posts from Reef Central.

 

[ravi197699]

did you use any optics on these and how these are working so far.?

 

[smoq]

Great build Chris. I've used aluminum sheet on my first light and heatsink on the second. Heatsink wins here no doubt, even without fans it stays warm to touch, but if you use good fans the plate is not hard to cool down.