newbie to led builds and mods

[Whatsump]

I recently bought a 29 gal biocube with non working lights. I also have a mars 400 grow light that only consumes 190 watts that has burnt out diodes. Would it be profitable to use some of the mars components to make a led light for the biocube or supplemental light for one of my other tanks?

 

[ihavecrabs]

I recently bought a 29 gal biocube with non working lights. I also have a mars 400 grow light that only consumes 190 watts that has burnt out diodes. Would it be profitable to use some of the mars components to make a led light for the biocube or supplemental light for one of my other tanks?

Totally. If the drivers are still good diodes are cheap! Get a middle of the road soldering iron if you don’t have one and a pair of needle nose pliers are your all set.

I wrote an article on changing diodes on the OR T247’s that might be helpful to reference if you have never done it before.

 

[Whatsump]

Thanks, There is several drivers and all are still good. Trying to find out the specs of the drivers so i will know what i can do with them. LEDs are cheap but what colors and ratio do i use.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Thanks, There is several drivers and all are still good. Trying to find out the specs of the drivers so i will know what i can do with them. LEDs are cheap but what colors and ratio do i use.

Honestly you don’t need to go crazy with colors. I keep it simple and go with the following:

• Warm and cool white (have enough green and red to exclude those colors)
• Blue ~450-470nm
• UV ~400-420nm

If you do two channels, I typically do 70% blue, 10% UV, and 20% white on one and the second channel 50% white, 10% UV l, 40% blue. This is totally personal preference though.

 

[oreo54]

Thanks, There is several drivers and all are still good. Trying to find out the specs of the drivers so i will know what i can do with them. LEDs are cheap but what colors and ratio do i use.

Should be written on them.. Most are like 50-90V DC 550mA out constant current. 10V analog dimming..

color and ratios are up to you. About the only "given" is heavy blue..
Need to balance look w/ function..

Well like this..