NoGi's 4ft DIY LED

[NoGi]

I have finally started to make a move on this little project. Last month, I received my MakersLED light frame. Now, this is far from being the cheapest option for a LED mount but it happens to tick all the boxes for me and I just don't have the time to get something similar made up here.

Source: http://makersled.com/

I've learnt a fair bit with the nano LED build that I recently did as well where I used 4 x white, 2 x red and 2 x blue. The blue is very strong and drowns out the white, if I put my hand over one blue it looks so much better. I'll need to revisit my colour selection for this 4ft job. Not sure if I need blue at all for freshwater. Might substitute it for Violet instead. Will need to ensure that my white:colour ratio is higher than 2:1 as well to keep it white.

My current colour selection is:

• Cree XM-L (Neutral) x 18
  
• Cree XM-L (Cool White) x 18
  
• Osram Golden Dragon (660 Red) x 8
  

[Heavyd]

Looking forward to this build thread. You went with the XM-L. They are going to be mega bright! Are you going to get enough spread with them over a four foot though?

[NoGi]

Looking forward to this build thread. You went with the XM-L. They are going to be mega bright! Are you going to get enough spread with them over a four foot though?

I may change to XPG but the colour and wattage will be the same. I'll use either a 60 or 80 degree lens on them. Just need to work out spacing to get the right spread. The tank is 2ft high.

[Loach]

This is going to be great :)

Just wondering, why are yu using 18 neutrals? Neutrals are yellowish and dont show off thecolours of shrimp well. Dean told us a while back that 10000k is the ideal temp for Shrimp :)

[NoGi]

This is going to be great :)

Just wondering' date=' why are yu using 18 neutrals? Neutrals are yellowish and dont show off thecolours of shrimp well. Dean told us a while back that 10000k is the ideal temp for Shrimp :)[/quote']

By themselves they are a tad yellow but they are there to offset the cool white otherwise you get a clinical lab type of look. The lighting and the colours that I end up choosing will be for the benefit of the plants rather than the shrimp. I may still be able to drop the neutrals if the reds give me enough of a contrast.

[Heavyd]

I may change to XPG but the colour and wattage will be the same. I'll use either a 60 or 80 degree lens on them. Just need to work out spacing to get the right spread. The tank is 2ft high.

I used 65 and 80 degree lens on my light and it's also two foot high. I used 14 LEDS. 7 Cool white and 7 neutral over the tank. The tank is 2 foot long and I dont cover the whole tank with the light. I actually had to raise the light about 10-15cm above the tank to get more spread with those lens. Something to think about for you.

[NoGi]

I used 65 and 80 degree lens on my light and it's also two foot high. I used 14 LEDS. 7 Cool white and 7 neutral over the tank. The tank is 2 foot long and I dont cover the whole tank with the light. I actually had to raise the light about 10-15cm above the tank to get more spread with those lens. Something to think about for you.

You don't have enough LEDs ;) That's the number I use on my 30cm cube. TBH I am not sure if the 36 LED kit + 8 red is going to be enough, I may just go the 48 LED kit + 8 red instead.

[Heavyd]

That's the maximum I could drive on one driver and fit on the heatsink that I'd bought. So, yes you are correct I dont have enough LEDs, which was my point in my first response to you. You wont have enough either :P

[NoGi]

That's the maximum I could drive on one driver and fit on the heatsink that I'd bought. So' date=' yes you are correct I dont have enough LEDs, which was my point in my first response to you. You wont have enough either :P[/quote']

Using some basic trigonometry:

2ft*tan(60Ëš/2)*2 = w = 2.30ft

2ft*tan(80Ëš/2)*2 = w = 3.36ft

w = light spread at the bottom of the tank. Now, the light would be more concentrated in the centre and dissolves a fair bit as you go out so need lots of overlap. But I'm thinking, if I make the overlaps meet in the middle I should be right. For example, 3 LEDs with the outside 2 overlapping and meeting each others edge in the centre of the middle LED.

[Heavyd]

I did work out something similarly when I did mine (cannot remember what I did now though!). I'm pretty sure my limitation was the size of the LED sink I opted for.

The only other issue (if it bothers you) is the dark areas at the top of the tank between the LEDs.

[NoGi]

My calcs don't quiet work I think. Anyway, I've mocked up one possible layout.

The final selection won't have so many red though.

[Heavyd]

I think you will also have issues lighting back to front as well if the light is sitting on the tank.

[NoGi]

I think you will also have issues lighting back to front as well if the light is sitting on the tank.

Yeah, which is why I changed my hood to a pelmet so I can suspend later. But for right now, it couldn't be any worse than my twin T8 tubes that are sitting on the tank.

[Dean]

so envious of you guys that can just wip up some LED in your spare time :encouragement:

i know nothing about them but will be watching these threads close to learn.

can you also keep us posted on rough costings also as the other diy was expensive and like to see how yours comes out.

[NoGi]

Hey mate, what are you regarding as expensive? I'm budgeting around $800 inclusive of this imported 48" frame mount. But it'll be based loosely of a $2.5k commercial unit. My nano light was around $150ish.

[Dean]

no limit as such, that seams to be the rough price for most of the coll DIY led units i have seen.

soooo worth the money as they look so sleek :)

[NoGi]

Quote

no limit as such' date=' that seams to be the rough price for most of the coll DIY led units i have seen.

soooo worth the money as they look so sleek :)[/quote']

This one is dearer as I've got the big LED mount from the US. I did a nano build with 8 LEDs for around $130.

[isfrael]

What are your impressions of the MakersLed Nogi? Quality? Worth the money?

Have been looking at them for a fair while now, but have yet to find one "setup" on a tank to see how they would look, so I haven't made a move yet, mostly because I have no idea about setting up LEDS :(

[NoGi]

What are your impressions of the MakersLed Nogi? Quality? Worth the money?

Have been looking at them for a fair while now' date=' but have yet to find one "setup" on a tank to see how they would look, so I haven't made a move yet, mostly because I have no idea about setting up LEDS :([/quote']

The build is pretty good and it's not too heavy. The perspex on the other hand is pretty crap and warped. I'll get around to working on this soon, just need to clear my credit cards first. lol

[isfrael]

The build is pretty good and it's not too heavy. The perspex on the other hand is pretty crap and warped. I'll get around to working on this soon' date=' just need to clear my credit cards first. lol[/quote']

Would love to see some shots of it on the tank when you are done, I am planning a larger tank, 5-6ft, and would like to try some LEDS, will be just growing Fissidens or peacock moss, but I wanted to get an idea how high the MakersLeds units are, as I am planning to use a hood this time, and would like the unit hidden underneath.

[NoGi]

Just waiting on a quote and I'll hit the buy button. Will get 36 x cool white and 10 x red. Might even get the solderless kit this time around. Also with the warped perspex, turns out my frame was damaged in transit as it's not totally flat causing the warp on one end. Going to be expensive to ship back so considering options.

Quick pics of frame for anyone wanting to see.

And the warping due to the bend on the bottom

 

 

 

[Heavyd]

Aluminium is very soft, so you should be able to straighten that out yourself.

[NoGi]

Quote

Aluminium is very soft, so you should be able to straighten that out yourself.

It's tempered aluminium, can't do it by hand. Will need to find something to push it out without damaging the unit.

[NoGi]

Not an update on the build but more on the progress. Currently waiting on my credit card to sort itself out with a failed transaction with RapidLED. Here's a tip for anyone ordering from them, go the PayPal router instead of the direct payment with a credit card. Their bank can't validate the billing address against the card so whilst the banks here authorise the amount, the bank over there can't complete the transaction. The end result, I have to wait up to 10 business days for the authorisation to drop off my card before ordering again.

[NoGi]

OK, LEDs ordered :applause:

• 48 Solderless LED Kit Dimmable - $385USD
  (Lens Color: Black, Lens Width: 80 Degree, Driver Type: P (PWM), Thermal Compound Type: Thermal Grease (5 gram syringe), Wire Length: 4.5", LED Color Ratio: 36 x cool white 12 x cree red)
  
• DDC-01 PWM Controller w/ remote control - $75USD
  
• Shipping - $48USD
  
  
  A couple of points too note:
  
  • I ordered the slightly dearer solderless as I wanted to test it out on the MakersLED
    
  • I got the daylight controller knowing that the dimming isn't smooth
    
  • I was able to use a 5% voucher, you just tweet them asking for one and they oblige