led strip light

[fermentedhiker]

Considering trying to diy a strip light(for supplemental) similar to what Orphek has done in their 120 series but 60-72 long for my 125 softie tank I'm building.

I'm having trouble locating long enough heat sinks though. Has anyone done their own in this length/ and if so what did you use?

 

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heatsinkusa

 

[trido]

I built one with a piece of angle aluminum. It had three watt emitters, a meanwell driver and was about 90 watts total. I ended up retiring it and buying a reefbrite strip because it wasnt water proof and always needed repair from salt spray corrosion.

 

[jjflounder1]

Aluminum channel would be easy to work with and easy to find ...

https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=1062&step=4&showunits=inches&id=297&top_cat=60

This is just one online source sure you can find it on eBay or Amazon

Places like Yarde Metals sell the heat sink Extrusion ...
But you need to have a commercial account

 

[fermentedhiker]

I built one with a piece of angle aluminum. It had three watt emitters, a meanwell driver and was about 90 watts total. I ended up retiring it and buying a reefbrite strip because it wasnt water proof and always needed repair from salt spray corrosion.

Yeah that was one concern I had. trying to figure out a way to put a splash guard on it somehow.

 

[fermentedhiker]

Aluminum channel would be easy to work with and easy to find ...

https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=1062&step=4&showunits=inches&id=297&top_cat=60

This is just one online source sure you can find it on eBay or Amazon

Places like Yarde Metals sell the heat sink Extrusion ...
But you need to have a commercial account

Thanks, that looks like it could be made to work.

 

[fermentedhiker]

Thought about something like this;
https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=21701&step=4&showunits=inches&id=1270&top_cat=60

The thinking being it would allow me to place a small fan on one end to help with cooling. Still not sure how to make it splash/spray resistant though.

 

[jjflounder1]

How about coming down the sides with some colored acrylic and a piece of clear acrylic over the face side of the LEDs

If you paint the outside of the aluminum make sure you use a zinc chromate primer ..

 

[fermentedhiker]

How about coming down the sides with some colored acrylic and a piece of clear acrylic over the face side of the LEDs

If you paint the outside of the aluminum make sure you use a zinc chromate primer ..

That's an idea although I'm not sure how to fabricate with acrylic to make the cover. I'll have to do some research. The other option would be to use the c channel stock that you linked and somehow route a slot in it that I could slide an acrylic sheet in to act as a cover but I doubt I have the tools necessary to make the slot.

 

[jjflounder1]

That's an idea although I'm not sure how to fabricate with acrylic to make the cover. I'll have to do some research. The other option would be to use the c channel stock that you linked and somehow route a slot in it that I could slide an acrylic sheet in to act as a cover but I doubt I have the tools necessary to make the slot.

Yeah .. if you have or can excess a table router that be perfect