DIY LED

[Nano sapiens]

Your comments on red light are noted and I don't disagree as far as corals are concerned that it is not required. I have yet to see any negative effects from a small amount of red light included in a light source since much of it is attenuated by the water. On a personal level, a reef tank lit with a small amount of red included is simply more pleasing to my eye and that is the reason why I include it.

 

[mcarroll]

On a personal level, a reef tank lit with a small amount of red included is simply more pleasing to my eye and that is the reason why I include it.

Indeed - and that makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Retro Reefer]

What size is the board?

Recived my nanobox LED array yesterday it's about 1.5 x 2" with the heat sink it's 1.5 x 4.5 total

 

[TaylorPilot]

That is pretty slick!

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Doing your own Circuit Board or Puck is more than doable. Here are some pics of ours.

Having a specific board developed does not cost that much only a couple $k...

That said knoing what LEDs on it are KEY...There are Hundreds of different bins of the Cree LED, some colour others intensity. This is were you need to trust your supplier as the Chinese will counterfeit and sell the higher intensity bin only to ship the lower one after its mounted...You have no way to tell without testing each delivery.

This is why I prefer domestic suppliers as they can be held accountable for misrepresenting their product.

The BJB Solderless connector offers the flexibility to create almost any array and then change it if you desire.

You have a lot of options

Bill

 

[TaylorPilot]

Dang, I didn't realize there were so many DIY Retro kits out there. What vendors would you recommend for buying non mounted LEDs from? I was watching some videos and some of those guys literally mounted them in their ovens! I would think that would damage the lights.

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Dang, I didn't realize there were so many DIY Retro kits out there. What vendors would you recommend for buying non mounted LEDs from? I was watching some videos and some of those guys literally mounted them in their ovens! I would think that would damage the lights.

Back with the older generation 3 watt LEDs that was easy...

The current generation 5 watt LEDs are much smaller and require special equipment to do it right.

Personally reflow soldering small components is a hassle especially when one does not come out right.

Bill