Am I able to use the aluminum channels that they sell at home depot as a heatsink for led chips 5 watt cree? I would love to get a regular heatsink but it's so expensive, at the end it would be much cheaper to just buy the led fixture... just trying to save a few bucks. Thanks everyone
Led heatsink question
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Copingwithpods
Valuable Member
Yes and no, although anything can be used as a heatsink given you apply thermal paste those L rods won't be very efficient as they don't have a large surface area. It might work for a few widely spaced chips but nothing high density. Will depend on the amount of chips per foot and how hard you're going to run them.
Shop around for small heatsinks like these
They can be found pretty cheap and will be much more efficient when you run a fan over them
Shop around for small heatsinks like these
They can be found pretty cheap and will be much more efficient when you run a fan over them
SALTYMOPAR
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Yes it possible i used a u channel from home depot. I built a down and dirty led fixture out of u channel bought it through an online distributor
I used 3watt led. The big thing to remember is the warmer the led is the shorter the life expectancy.
I used 3watt led. The big thing to remember is the warmer the led is the shorter the life expectancy.
Where did you get that one?Yes and no, although anything can be used as a heatsink given you apply thermal paste those L rods won't be very efficient as they don't have a large surface area. It might work for a few widely spaced chips but nothing high density. Will depend on the amount of chips per foot and how hard you're going to run them.
Shop around for small heatsinks like these
They can be found pretty cheap and will be much more efficient when you run a fan over them
That's led on steroids lolYes it possible i used a u channel from home depot. I built a down and dirty led fixture out of u channel bought it through an online distributor
I used 3watt led. The big thing to remember is the warmer the led is the shorter the life expectancy.
Copingwithpods
Valuable Member
The light panel is a grow light (eBay) and the heatsinks I believe I found on Amazon for around $10 for 40 of them, they have multiple sizes available.
This light panel does not "require" heatsinks relying solely on the aluminum plate for heat reduction but I noticed it got quiet warm so I decided to add them plus a 120mm fan to extend diode life and decrease heat transfer to tank. Runs a few degrees above ambient now, heatsinks for the win.
Copingwithpods
Valuable Member
Just type in "heatsinks" in either Amazon or eBay search bar you'll get a ton of options to choose from. I'm hesitant to give you a direct link to just one because your needs will be different than mine. Calculate in mm the amount of space you have available for a heatsink and go from there. My diodes were very small so I choose 1 15x15mm sink for each one.
Thank you very much for that.Just type in "heatsinks" in either Amazon or eBay search bar you'll get a ton of options to choose from. I'm hesitant to give you a direct link to just one because your needs will be different than mine. Calculate in mm the amount of space you have available for a heatsink and go from there. My diodes were very small so I choose 1 15x15mm sink for each one.
Copingwithpods
Valuable Member
NP and Goodluck with your build, definitely ask some of the guys above for the technical stuff their builds look great.
Well.. common recommendation is 2-3 sq inches per watt (calculate real watts, not chip rating) if passive cooled.
thus all the fins vs just bulk.
W/ fans that is way less..see heat sinks on "165W" black boxes (actual wattage more like 110).
Anodizing or even a thin coating of paint increases surface area and transmission of heat.
mostly for passive cooling. Not really needed for fan cooling but doesn't hurt.
Also be aware of your environment. Heat transfer is much more efficient w/ an increase in the temp differential between heatsink and ambient.
Like 110f heatsink.. air 72 vs 110F and ambient 95F
Calculating junction temp is practically impossible for mere mortals. "Common useage" though seems to imply about 110F on the heatsink should be a fair approx of safe zone..
Heatsinksusa carries fairly cheap real heatsinks. Unfortunately closed (sort of) atm from Covid-19
Aluminum Heatsink Suppliers | HeatsinkUSA
We provide businesses and individuals with high-quality aluminum heatsinks extruded and shipped in the USA. Visit HeatsinkUSA and shop our heatsinks today.
www.heatsinkusa.com
Those Orphek strips are run around 500mA and prob. are only about 2W per chip.
Keep that in mind.
Good thing is CREE is relatively robust regarding heat though efficiency loss would be expected at higher temps.
12" = $6..
https://www.ebay.com/i/251934243617...MIk42IjYHG6QIVy8DACh07vAWWEAQYAyABEgJLWvD_BwE
1" wide 1/2" fins, Roughly 11sq inches per inch..
Recommend a thin layer of black lacquer on fin side if passive cooled.
Sounds counter intuitive but IR is color invisible..
Need to do some more crunching but heatsinks like this/ on a sq inch basis isn't really that expensive..
MakersHEATSINK SLIM Kit
www.ledsupply.com
opps forgot link and of course expensive if you only need one row..
Last edited:
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Copingwithpods
Valuable Member
^those heat sinks are a crazy good deal! Wish I would have found those when I was shopping around.
You my friend are a genius lolWell.. common recommendation is 2-3 sq inches per watt (calculate real watts, not chip rating) if passive cooled.
thus all the fins vs just bulk.
W/ fans that is way less..see heat sinks on "165W" black boxes (actual wattage more like 110).
Anodizing or even a thin coating of paint increases surface area and transmission of heat.
mostly for passive cooling. Not really needed for fan cooling but doesn't hurt.
Also be aware of your environment. Heat transfer is much more efficient w/ an increase in the temp differential between heatsink and ambient.
Like 110f heatsink.. air 72 vs 110F and ambient 95F
Calculating junction temp is practically impossible for mere mortals. "Common useage" though seems to imply about 110F on the heatsink should be a fair approx of safe zone..
Heatsinksusa carries fairly cheap real heatsinks. Unfortunately closed (sort of) atm from Covid-19
Aluminum Heatsink Suppliers | HeatsinkUSA
We provide businesses and individuals with high-quality aluminum heatsinks extruded and shipped in the USA. Visit HeatsinkUSA and shop our heatsinks today.
Those Orphek strips are run around 500mA and prob. are only about 2W per chip.
Keep that in mind.
Good thing is CREE is relatively robust regarding heat though efficiency loss would be expected at higher temps.
12" = $6..
https://www.ebay.com/i/251934243617...MIk42IjYHG6QIVy8DACh07vAWWEAQYAyABEgJLWvD_BwE
1" wide 1/2" fins, Roughly 11sq inches per inch..
Recommend a thin layer of black lacquer on fin side if passive cooled.
Sounds counter intuitive but IR is color invisible..
Need to do some more crunching but heatsinks like this/ on a sq inch basis isn't really that expensive..
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
150-1400mA <60 v out max 30WSo I have 2 of these laying around.... can these run some 3 watt cree led or do i have to get another driver?
Picking like say XP-E royal blue w/ 3.1-3.9V @ 350mA
soo on the high end..1.37W each you could run 21 of them and stay below the 30W BUT.. you can't...
21 x 3.9V =81.9v.. you have <60V w/ that driver
soooo go another way..
60/3.9 =15.38 soo 15
now you have a limit of 30W
Sooo you need to drive each to 2w..
2= 3.9V x A... 512mA (,5A)
Bottom line in this example 15 @ 500mA
3.9 x 15 x .5 = 29.25W
3.9 x 15 = 58.5V
Every diode will be different btw and some you just need to sort of etinmate.
That's kind of an odd driver btw..
It was worth a try since I got them for free, I'll start looking for another one then.. thanks for the input, much appreciated150-1400mA <60 v out max 30W
Picking like say XP-E royal blue w/ 3.1-3.9V @ 350mA
soo on the high end..1.37W each you could run 21 of them and stay below the 30W BUT.. you can't...
21 x 3.9V =81.9v.. you have <60V w/ that driver
soooo go another way..
60/3.9 =15.38 soo 15
now you have a limit of 30W
Sooo you need to drive each to 2w..
2= 3.9V x A... 512mA (,5A)
Bottom line in this example 15 @ 500mA
3.9 x 15 x .5 = 29.25W
3.9 x 15 = 58.5V
Every diode will be different btw and some you just need to sort of etinmate.
That's kind of an odd driver btw..
