LED help

[Deep Dive Coral]

can someone please tell me if this drawn right. it is for a 125g tank.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=83267

 

[ming]

Doesn't look right.
You have the + going to + going to + ...etc
and the - going to - going to - ... etc

It should be + going to -

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

they have to run in series...... they cant run parallel. also what about the drivers can be branched off the one plug to be controlled together right.

 

[ming]

Your diagram shows every single LED is wired up in parallel. It should be in 1 string

 

[ming]

Remove your blue string from your diagram, and the last LED on each string will run to the blue string going back to the driver and I think it looks right then.
You nee to make each led wire go from + to - though.
+LED----+LED----+LED-

 

[smoq]

+1 Everyone above are right. It shoulld go from the driver's + to first led's + and then from the first lled - to the second lled's + and so with every led untill you reach the llast led in a string. The last led's - go to driver -.

While there are some people convincing that driving led's in parallel is a better idea, it's actually more complicated and it doesn't give any real advantages IMO.

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

smoq and ming thanks for the advice. i will redraw and post. the wireing but what about the branching for the drivers. also i want to go with a controller can you recomend one...... not looking to spend a crazy amount though.....i know its hard to find but if there is one out there id like to try it.

 

[smoq]

smoq and ming thanks for the advice. i will redraw and post. the wireing but what about the branching for the drivers. also i want to go with a controller can you recomend one...... not looking to spend a crazy amount though.....i know its hard to find but if there is one out there id like to try it.

I don't quite get what you mean. You want to put ypur lights on a controller> Unless you know how to program with Arduino, I woud reccomend you reefkeeper ite with sl1 module for dimming. You can check my led build thread if you need diagram of how to connect eds.

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

here is the updated drawing.

 

[smoq]

OK , I'll try to help you- your drawing is kind of confusing. Here's how I did mine, just follow it and you'll be good.

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

ok i see but my strings are 10 leds long and i have 40 per array. so each white is connected to each other and the last led to the string neg pol must go back to the same driver negative. so i will need 4 drivers per array

 

[ming]

You actually can drive up to 13 LED's per driver. Also, I suggest you follow smoq's diagram. It looks a LOT cleaner and easier to follow. He used a 2.5mm jack as a quick disconnect. You can use anything you want in its place or just have it permanently wired to the driver.

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

my second drawing is the same just not as spaced out. i will definately look into the 2.5mm jacks. thanks so much guys for all the help. now here is the question can you recommend a controller (it can be a DIY) thanks

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

I have a question about fan setup to get wired right into the string of one of the led strings. Is it possible or do I run a seperate line. Also I have a fan that is temp activated. Can I run multiple fans in series with this fan. So whenthat goes on the others do as well.

 

[ming]

my second drawing is the same just not as spaced out. i will definately look into the 2.5mm jacks. thanks so much guys for all the help. now here is the question can you recommend a controller (it can be a DIY) thanks

a controller for turning the lights on and off? or do you need dimming as well? If so, check out post #8 for 2 suggestions. I am personally using the Apex controller. The DIY controller is pretty complicated if you want it nice. It went way over my head.

I have a question about fan setup to get wired right into the string of one of the led strings. Is it possible or do I run a seperate line. Also I have a fan that is temp activated. Can I run multiple fans in series with this fan. So whenthat goes on the others do as well.

I suggest having the fans on a separate transformer, just plug it into the same surge protector or program it to turn on, on your controller when the lights turn on. Also, wire it in parallel, not series. You don't want all the fans stopping when 1 fan burns out.

 

[bad coffee]

I wired my fan transformer so the fans come on with the blue lights. First on, last off. So the fans are on when the LEDs are on.

I ended up using a 9v transformer so the fans ran slower and quieter.

B

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

Thanks for the fan info. I do want it to dim. Truing to simulate solar/luner cycle. I may just buy an rke lite with the light adapter to control the lights.

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

Ok I ordered,my leds and drivers, .oe im looking to order my heatsinks. Will a 10 by 16 heatsink be sufficient enough to cove the opening on my tank. The opening is 16x21 or do I go with bigger from heatsinkusa.com

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

So I ordered my leds today. I need some advice on the hearsink size and led spacing. Its 10 leds by 4 rows.no optics.