Easy And Inexpensive Way To Switch To Led.

[kapelan]

Switching to LED from t5 or power compact fixture.
Requirements:

1. It must be cheep.
2. Quality of the light as good as possible.​

Looks like we have a dead lock?

No, there is no dead lock it is possible.​

The idea is simple:

- find some old fixture
- remove everything inside
- find an aluminium bar
- glue LEDs to this bar
- connect these LEDs to a driver
- add a couple of coolers
- DONE​

That's my old project that has been working about 2-3 years.

aluminum bar:

fixture:

Expenses:
- LED CREE $20 for 10 LEDs 3Wt each. For 300Wt fixture would be about $200 for the best from the market LEDs.
Also we can find chipper LEDs from ebay for about $50 for the same power 300Wt.
- Power Supply $30-$50
- Drivers $30-$50
So total = $150 - $300 for 300W
300Wt - that's a lot.

The best part of it if more power needed - it's very easy to add more LEDs.
So basically we can build a fixture with unlimited power.

This project was started with cheap LEDs.
So initially for 300W fixture was spend about $150.
Then LEDs were replaced by CREE.

 

[TORX]

It can be done

I would like to make one with a temperature speed controlled board for the fans.

 

[EricTMah]

I might have to pick both your brains about this.

I'll be looking at a similar project in the fall to add to my existing lighting.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[heath]

you guys are so talented..did you put a shield over the components and how did it work with the salt creep, corrosion?

 

[kapelan]

All compoments are inside the fixture. It is covered by glass.

 

[bluewater]

anyone want an old t5 light fixture ?

cheers

 

[RWH]

I bought a frag from Kapelan yesterday and had the chance to see both LED fixtures he built, one for his fresh water tank and a smaller one for his salt water tank ( this one had a very impressive controller with it.)

 

[Joe Kovacs]

anyone want an old t5 light fixture ?

cheers

yea I would love it but it not worth the drive to Sarnia for me

 

[scubasteve]

do you have the wide beam or narrow beam lenses. i debated building my own but got ai sol blues instead. i do however want to add a few uv and a couple red to the spectrum just because i can lol

 

[TORX]

do you have the wide beam or narrow beam lenses. i debated building my own but got ai sol blues instead. i do however want to add a few uv and a couple red to the spectrum just because i can lol

Depends on tank depth and width I think. I have 60 degree on my onyx and set to cover 24"x24", but they are about 1' above the water line.

 

[scubasteve]

Depends on tank depth and width I think. I have 60 degree on my onyx and set to cover 24"x24", but they are about 1' above the water line.

ya i swapped out all mine to 60 degree lenses (half were 45) when i first got them and same mine are i think 14" above surface