Refugium light DIY and Christmas present

[dantimdad]

I know you can get refugium lights fairly cheaply but, there is absolutely no fun in that for me.

So, I am going to build a 15 watt refugium light complete with 3D printed fixture, custom cut heatsink and give it away when I am done.

Here is the start:











It will have 4 x 660nm and 1 x 450nm LEDs.

Should be good for a small fuge or a just a good sized ball of tumbling chaeto.

Whoever gets it will have to figure out a mounting arm as I will just tap a 1/4-20 hole in the heatsink.

Hope you guys enjoy following along as this project progresses.

 

[dantimdad]

I always use nickels to test layouts and fitment as they are almost exactly the same size as a 20mm star board for LEDs. Works like a charm!



Blue in the center and reds all around.

 

[dantimdad]

Going to use this heatsink:

http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-63...90x15mm_radiator_heatsink_led_heatsinks_.html



I already have it so I will do some router work and make it a 90mm circle.

I WILL make a square peg fit a round hole!

 

[Orbela]

This looks awesome!!! Following along

 

[Michael Lane]

Nice! What will be the power supply and driver?

 

[dantimdad]

It's going to be an inventronics 700ma. I will let it run at full power but, it is 10v dimmable as well if one cares to do so.

 

[Kampo]

looks sweet I thought of doing something like this to make a pendent light. use one of those intel heatsinks in a pvc reducer fitting.

 

[dantimdad]

looks sweet I thought of doing something like this to make a pendent light. use one of those intel heatsinks in a pvc reducer fitting.

Did those years ago. They worked out pretty good considering the spectrums available at the time.

The spiral heatsinks kept them very cool. The pvc bushings actually looked professional when done.

 

[Kampo]

Did those years ago. They worked out pretty good considering the spectrums available at the time.

The spiral heatsinks kept them very cool. The pvc bushings actually looked professional when done.

did you ever do a thread about those builds? would love to see them. I want to redo my work tank and want something clean looking but cheap. prolly just on/off type light

 

[dantimdad]

No, unfortunately, I was booed off one site for posting them and never posted them here.

I might knock one out again if I could find some more of those spiral heat sinks without paying and arm and a leg and waiting for them from China.

 

[dantimdad]

So, how do I pick who get's it?

I want this separate from secret santa.

 

[Kampo]

No, unfortunately, I was booed off one site for posting them and never posted them here.

I might knock one out again if I could find some more of those spiral heat sinks without paying and arm and a leg and waiting for them from China.

what spiral heatsinks you thinking of? this is what I had in mind when i saw that enclosure you posted. and there pretty cheap off ebay. I have a couple from previous computer builds

heck i'm half tempted to get a 4in pvc chunk and litterally just glew it in it as a "shade" and then crazy glueing a eye hook on the top of the fan to hang it from. paint the pvc black with spray paint and would look pretty decent, if my 120mm pucs were smaller I'd prolly do something simlar with that light build.

 

[Hermie]

Just to add... I've thought about doing a DIY aquarium light before, but like you said, the cost of new ones are so much cheaper when factoring in time and trial/error. The main advantage to a DIY light is you can purchase the most "cutting edge" LEDs (highest output etc.) that manufacturers might not be using, of course you could go cheap on the diodes as well, but that kind of defeats any advantage IMO. The only issue with buying expensive diodes is that it's easy to mess them up (Based on my experience) and burn them out while installing... Anyways, good luck I am interested to see how it turns out for you.

 

[dantimdad]

what spiral heatsinks you thinking of? this is what I had in mind when i saw that enclosure you posted. and there pretty cheap off ebay. I have a couple from previous computer builds

Sort of. Those fans are usually pretty loud. I used them for 10 and 20watt leds with no fan and they worked well.

If u have any of those u want to get rid of let me know

 

[Katrina71]

Crazy skills!

 

[dantimdad]

Crazy skills!

Thanks!

 

[Katrina71]

One day...

 

[Kampo]

Sort of. Those fans are usually pretty loud. I used them for 10 and 20watt leds with no fan and they worked well.

If u have any of those u want to get rid of let me know

planning on using the ones I have for a frag tank build in my fishroom. thinking something like those chinese pucs you ordered mounted on those fans, then ordering some 80mm glass "petri" dishes to silicone to the heatsink to act as a spash guard. then put little hooks on top of the heatsink to hang them. sounds isn't a concern in the fishroom with all the air filtration on the fresh side.

 

[dantimdad]

Update:

I got aggressive with the router and grinder and bent some fins but these can be straightened out. No biggie.



Here it is assembled with a pencil line for where the LEDs have to fit:



I will mount the LEDs and get them soldered up after we go to the Christmas craft sale for our town.

 

[Kampo]

this looks really cool and professional. I imagine a blue acro puc mounted in there or a chinese puc and your looking at a real nice light that would compete well with a kessil 160 or a ai prime