People still diy leds?

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Diy used to be all the thing. Rapid led was my main site...people dont do this anymore?
I would think a diy led unit with the new chip style leds. The big 50w ones would be great.
Lol.
Idk im going t5. I just ask cuz im gonna diy build moonlights i think.
D

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Diy used to be all the thing. Rapid led was my main site...people dont do this anymore?
I would think a diy led unit with the new chip style leds. The big 50w ones would be great.
Lol.
Idk im going t5. I just ask cuz im gonna diy build moonlights i think.
D

I haven’t built any recently but I’m still using the 2 four foot fixtures I build 7-8 years ago over my new 300 8 foot tank and love the color

 

[Hermie]

I thought about it but honestly the price points are at the right place to go with premade IMO.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I have a cpl diy heatsinks and old.meanwell drivers. I plugged them in but didnt get much. Lol. Ill prob play with them when i get the time.

Ive been throught 3 or 4 or so led fixtures and my t5 fixture bulbs will add up over the yrs so im just thinkin.
If i diy.led.i will use strong powerful leds with wide optics of.any.
Be nice to use an optic like the difussers.
D

 

[hhaase]

I just finished a DIY rebuild of my crappy old MaxSpect's, everything but the timers basically. Having the physical shells to work with made it viable for me. But I don't think I'd start from scratch unless I had a very unique situation that a commercial fixture wouldn't work on.

It used to be that DIY's were equivalent or superior to the commercial fixtures at lower price, but the commercial stuff has improved so much over the past 10 years it's crazy. The output, control, and integration they have now isn't as easy to replicate with DIY systems.

 

[Galvano]

Yesterday I test-drove this 7-channel 12-pounder on my new 30 gal cube.

As long as I burn my fingers when touching commercial LED units I won't buy such highly stressed devices doomed to fade within a few years.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I seriously considered DIY about a year ago when looking to upgrade my lights. I had all of the parts i'd need picked out and added up the total cost before ordering anything for my 150 gallon. After seeing the total cost, the price was pretty close to off the shelf LEDs that have a warrantee and a following with support for lighting schedules and such. Just couldn't justify DIY if I wasn't going to save a significant amount of money. I think if you want to DIY for the sake of DIY, than it would be a worth while project. But if you're doing it to save money, it's not going to really get you there anymore.

 

[Gotboostedvr6]

Why buy prefab led when $40 can light any 4 foot tank?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

The drivers i think are the only real thing i need to research...
Making a diy moonlight now to play and learn a little with. The wires are even solderless. Lol. Well see. Im thinking hot glue gun to attach to heat sinks. 80deg optics on my moons.
Blue or white?!
Lol
Royal blue has been recommended.

On the topic note. Ive been through countless led fixtures and the t5 bulbs will add up over the years so a quality diy build might be my future. Did i already say that? Lol man im old.
Maybe a diy retrofit 2 or 4 bulb t5 invloved too we will see.
Thanks all!
-d

 

[Ruralreef]

Diy used to be all the thing. Rapid led was my main site...people dont do this anymore?
I would think a diy led unit with the new chip style leds. The big 50w ones would be great.
Lol.
Idk im going t5. I just ask cuz im gonna diy build moonlights i think.
D

I did this more than 10 years ago ,mostly 50w modules with some 10's as well
I built the entire thing myself. 50w modules were very expensive then (40$ each !). They are cheap now.

 

[anthonygf]

The drivers i think are the only real thing i need to research...
Making a diy moonlight now to play and learn a little with. The wires are even solderless. Lol. Well see. Im thinking hot glue gun to attach to heat sinks. 80deg optics on my moons.
Blue or white?!
Lol
Royal blue has been recommended.

On the topic note. Ive been through countless led fixtures and the t5 bulbs will add up over the years so a quality diy build might be my future. Did i already say that? Lol man im old.
Maybe a diy retrofit 2 or 4 bulb t5 invloved too we will see.
Thanks all!
-d

I don't think glue will transfer heat well, you will need thermal grease that is used for real heat transfer between semi-conductor and heat sink.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Ill ask about the epoxy or.glue. ive been talking with rapid led customer support. My moonlight is.looking cheap though.

Would you even takr your diy leds down and rebuild them? Would you add colors or dimmers or maybe update the optics to a wider lens?
Ty all for your input.
D

 

[Hermie]

Why buy prefab led when $40 can light any 4 foot tank?

the LED's ive looked at were 3 to 5 dollars each, so times 12 = 36 to 60 dollars and thenI have to get the board+drivers+housing and then I have to deal with lead and soldering...

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Spammer dude the set rapid has put together for me will be solderless.
D

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Diy used to be all the thing. Rapid led was my main site...people dont do this anymore?
I would think a diy led unit with the new chip style leds. The big 50w ones would be great.
Lol.
Idk im going t5. I just ask cuz im gonna diy build moonlights i think.
D

Ooh they definitely do. With the new samsung diodes and how cheap quantum board parts have become. Amazing grow lights being produced.

 

[anthonygf]

Ill ask about the epoxy or.glue. ive been talking with rapid led customer support. My moonlight is.looking cheap though.

Would you even takr your diy leds down and rebuild them? Would you add colors or dimmers or maybe update the optics to a wider lens?
Ty all for your input.
D

They have self stick thermal pads to secure heat sink to diode.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Are both sides sticky? What about the optic lenses?
D

 

[anthonygf]

Are both sides sticky? What about the optic lenses?
D

Both sides are sticky. Not sure about the lens.

 

[ManQuarium]

Chanzon High Power Led Chip 50W Royal Blue Plant Grow Light (440nm-450nm / 1500mA / DC 30V-34V / 50 Watt) SMD COB Emitter Diode Components 50 W Bead for DIY Hydroponic Aquarium Growing Lamps​

$7
Amazon

 

[ManQuarium]

Discount China Wholesale 50W Hybrid Cool White and Royal Blue LED Chips for Aquarium [G-50P140GA-H]- US$39.00 - LED Store for effective and professional HIGH POWER LEDs

LED Store for effective and professional HIGH POWER LEDs 50W Hybrid Cool White and Royal Blue LED Chips for Aquarium [G-50P140GA-H]- 50W Hybrid Cool White and Royal Blue LED Chips for Aquarium Package Dimension(mm): Square Substrate Oval Substrate Descriptions: Wavelength/ Color Temperature...

www.leds-global.com