LED Build for 50 gallon tank.

[NanoSF]

One question...  What are you doing with the third Heatsink?

You have a third? I thought you either had 2 or 4 since you said you can buy up to 4 in one shipping crate. If you want to sell it let me know 

BTW thanks a million again for all the information. I think I basically get it now. Just have to read up now that I can actually follow what they are talking about.

[HomerJ]

I got the 3rd heatsink just cause it wasn't more expensive to have it shipped, and I wanted to have an extra one if I ever find out what I have is not enough, or if I upgrade to a bigger tank later.

[HomerJ]

A bit of progress.  I've been looking for a way to mount the 4 Meanwell drivers into a nice clean setup.

What do you get when you visit the scrap pile at work?  A 1U Rackmount fan enclosure.  Of course you know by now I had no interest in the fans themselves...

I drilled them out, added an extra AC socket since I need 2 seperate AC feeds (Blues and Whites).  The enclosure is made of soft aluminum so it was really easy to cut.  A few wires stripped and solder joints later, and I have something half-decent, self contained and really slim.  I might make a cover for it but I first want to see just how hot the Meanwells get.

All I need is to make a cable for the Apex now, and I'll be able to test these babies!

[ordi260]

Awesome 

[bitterman]

Very nice clean job HomerJ!

Bruce

[Hookup]

very nice in deed...

Reminds me I need a label maker.

[HomerJ]

Reminds me I need a label maker.

These things are a bloody rip-off!  IIRC, I paid 29$ for the p-touch label maker.

It costed me 21$ for a label "refill" this week...

[NanoSF]

It's just like printers. The refills are almost as much as the printer 

[HomerJ]

I feel bad for not having pictures, but I'm done!  I put the finishing touch this afternoon, in the middle of a 5 year old play date, so I didn't have time to take pictures.

I adjusted the drivers:  800mA for the XPE Royal blues, and 1.2A for the XPG Cool Whites.  That is a bit overkill on the XPGs, since it looks like I need to dim them to about 80% to get a nice color.  I guess I could have set them to 1A.  If I had to do this build again, I probably would get a bit more blue LEDs, and less whites.  Everything is a bit too white for my taste.  Since I have used screws to mount everything, I could adjust, but I don't see myself ordering 6 leds and pay shipping on such a small order.  If anyone orders from RapidLed, let me know, I'd love to tag along.  Or I could supplement with the blue ReefBrite I already have, but I'd love to keep everything self contained.

In the end, everything worked first try, which is nice considering the time it took me to wire everything!

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.  The shimmer effect is pretty awesome!

[FocusFin]

Update

[HomerJ]

Update

Patience!  My canopy has to be finished before I can put them on the tank.  Some staining and varnishing is in order first.

[FocusFin]

Sorry

[NanoSF]

Sorry

Haha that looks as pathetic as you meant it I'm sure. Ya I tried pushing for some updates once before, but that HomerJ is one methodical dude.

[HomerJ]

I hope I didn't sound rude!  If so, it wasn't the intention.

The fixture as it is now is going to be too close to the water for my taste if I just rest it against the frame.  When it is in my canopy, I'll be able to adjust the height.

As for the lack of updates, I wouldn't put it as being methodical.  It's just hard to do anything during the typical 15 or 30 minutes of "free time" I have every day!  Putting up the fixture to take pictures only to take it down again seems like a waste of valuable time!

Speaking of which... my 15 minutes are up... :-S

[NanoSF]

Don't worry HomerJ it was a compliment. I admire it. I get anxious and jump the gun sometimes. You are very thorough and precise. That is what I mean by methodical. And you were not rude, I was (I assume we were both) just joking.

[FocusFin]

I hope I didn't sound rude!  If so, it wasn't the intention

Don't worry I just pushed it down into a tight little ball and I'll never speak of it again

Not even close to being rude...ignoring the post altogether would be kinda rude but otherwise...

I've been following your and bitterman's builds with great admiration and can't wait to see the finished products so I thought I would pester you guys a bit

Looking forward to more updates.

[FocusFin]

And yes I was trying to look pathetic

[HomerJ]

Wow, I can't believe it's been THAT long.  The LED fixture has been sitting in the garage since APRIL!!!!  Ready to be installed.  I'm ashamed.  But guess what.  This afternoon, I have done the impossible.  I have installed my led fixture!

Still messing about with the Neptune program, but I think I have it right.  The shimmer effect is pretty awesome, and I think I like the colors better than with the old 4x36" T5 setup I had.

I promise pictures tonight or tomorrow once the lights have fully ramped up.

About time!

[HomerJ]

Nice work and great info I. This thread... Should be stickied

One question...  What are you doing with the third Heatsink?

And for the record... NOTHING.  Contact me if interested.

[salvini55]

I was gonna msg you a week ago to see if I could borrow the drill bits but It said u hadn't been active in awile. Glad to see ur back!

PS- lmk if i can borrow the bits