Ming's LED build

[ming]

Parts List:
The LED's i'm using are 40 XR-E Royal Blues
and 30 XP-G R5
I actually got them cheaper at a group buy, but those links are for reference
Also bought Thermal Compond
Two x 10x15" Heatsink
An assortment of 40, 60, and 80 degree optics for the XR-E LEDs
6x Meanwell drivers
LED tester (useful in the future if 1 LED ever burns out and you're trying to find it)
Two x Nylon Washers
Two x Self Tapping Screws
I already have a power drill and drill bits, things like screw driver, electrical tape, soldering iron and 60/40 solder.
Also needed is a 10V adapter since these are dimable drivers, I didn't have any so I built a circuit which will output 10V with any adapter over 10V to 24V.

This link is very helpful if you want to know how to wire it up. It shows you both the meanwell, and the buckpuck so you can choose which way you want to go
http://aquariums.seaspraydesigns.biz/diy-projects/diy-high-power-led-aquarium-lighting-–-part-iii/

All the major parts

First thing I did was measure the heatsink so I can space the LEDs evenly. Then drilled 2 holes for each LED

A quick test to see if I've done everything correctly.

I added optics because the LED's are too blinding even from the side. The optics focused the light much more straight.

Wired up the whole heatsink

XP-G R5

XR-E Royal Blue

Right now, I'm looking for some quick disconnects I can put between the meanwell drivers and LED's, and another quick disconnect for the Dimmer.

Also, Does anybody have a multimeter which measures more then over 1Amp? Mine only measures up to 250mA, and I believe I can increase the output current of my drivers, but I need to measure it so I don't go over 1A, otherwise I'll probably burn out my LEDs.

Once all the wiring is compete, I will make an enclosure

 

[rookie07]

wow...well done thus far

 

[masterswimmer]

Ming, nice work.

Sounds like you're building two of them. What are the dimensions of the sink? Very tough to determine size from the pix without anything in the pic for comparison.

Russ

 

[ming]

Thanks guys.

I might have gone overkill with the heatsink. Its 10"x15" with 3" fins
Almost 15lbs each heatsink....I might try it without fans and see how it goes.
I only ordered 1 pack of the self tapping screws so I don't have enough to finish the second heatsink. I just ordered my 2nd pack with amazon prime. Home depot probably has, but stainless steel screws are expensive there.

 

[KuyaMark]

nice work ming can;t wait to see the finish project

 

[olliefb]

Ming shoot me a pm. i have a multi tester i can lend to you. you might want to reconsider the fans as they do get hot. i ran my diy led for 3 hours without fan and they get hot at 0.82 amps(the max limit i set my led system up) but then again i only have the 1 inch fin heatsink..

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Very nice job buddy......

 

[daaznmofo]

lookin good ming

 

[Alex]

nice build

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Very nice Ming.

 

[motortrendz]

if you dont mind me asking what did this cost you to build??

 

[ming]

The links to most of the things I bought are above. but about $1000-$1100

 

[Awibrandy]

Wow Ming, you make it look so easy! Was thinking maybe I could do it too , until that last post. ;(

 

[motortrendz]

btw my meter reads 10a

 

[joseney21]

can you post some links for the parts for your dimmer and how you wired it up, please?

thanks

Pics of the dimming setup would be nice too

 

[fernandokng]

Nice!

 

[JonnyJ]

Wow Ming, you make it look so easy! Was thinking maybe I could do it too , until that last post. ;(

+1 i was thinking the exact same thing! lol

 

[Dace]

Dude. Your the man. That look's incredible.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Nice!

 

[ming]

can you post some links for the parts for your dimmer and how you wired it up, please?

thanks

Pics of the dimming setup would be nice too

I bought all the parts from mouser.com. They should also be available @ radioshack. All the parts are listed on that pic I linked above along with the wiring diagram. The dimmer works, but I found that it gets hot when I dim it down. I'm not sure if something should be wired differently or its suppose to get hot, I found the diagram from a guy evil66 on nano-reef.