100gal Build: New Pics

[sphelps]

Some updates:

Covered the inside of the canopy with aluminium tape


Installed fixture and setup heat tests, this is operating at 100% on all LEDs except the yellows which I haven't gotten working yet (might be driver issue).





Hottest point I could find was at 113F according to this measuring device, other methods I used were not over 100F. This was taken after about an hour of steady state. I also doubt I'll be anywhere near 100% power, 50% is more likely closer to my lighting needs.



The test was not done without fans, without the fans I suspect it will reach well over operating temp with this many LEDs at 100%. Once the fixture is done I will do some more testing but I think I'll be installing a thermo switch to protect the LEDs from overheating in the event of fan failure.

[Skimmerking]

right on Man lights looks great

[sphelps]

OK so I'm now working on getting the fixture with work with the LEDcontrol4 module and the profilux controller. So far I've had limited luck on trying to figure out how these things connect and I'm still waiting to hear back from a couple people who know more than me. So if anyone has ideas please post.

This is the LEDcontrol module:
http://support.aquariumcomputer.com/...2011-02-11.pdf

And this is the driver:
http://stevesleds.com/uploads/Quad_L...de_1.27.11.doc

What I need to know is exactly what pins from LEDcontrol connect to the driver. I'm assuming pins 2-5 on the LEDcontrol connect to Pin 2 on the corresponding drivers but I don't know what connect to Pin 1 on LEDcontrol and if I need something to connect to Pin 4 on the drivers.

Any help would be appreciated

[sphelps]

OK so I was unable to get the PWM controlling working however I believe it's possible with some further investigations, it's just unfortunate that a product that is geared towards the DIY market has such little support and documentation. Realistically a decent manual with examples of how to connect typical drivers would be helpful instead of the typical spec sheet that tends to focus the details on what it can do rather than how.

Anyways I've installed the fixture with the manual dimmers to get a feel for what this thing can do, here's a FTS with 100% blue, 10% red, and 50% white (the color I'm most happy with):

Not the greatest picture but my camera did have issue balancing the color.

Anyways my final thoughts are not great, overall this style of lighting isn't for me and I'll either sell it as is for what I can get or rebuilt some kind of hybrid.

These are my problems, some I feel are related to how it was built but others on LEDs in general.

• Main issue is it doesn't work for rimless tank, having an open fixture means when I sit in my living room I have 126 LEDs shining in my eyes.
• The color isn't as good, the corals simply don't reflect the same colors as they do with other options.
• Overall brightness isn't impressive, running close to capacity over 300W of LEDs seems comparable to 200W of T5s, to my eyes anyway, yes PAR may tell a different story.
• The fans are still noticeable, considering that I went through great lengths to eliminate the slightest noise even the quiets fans are a nuisance.
• It's overly complicated, I just can't get over it, I feel it will be a constant problem in the future with too many parts to fail. One driver already failed from ESD, although this was my fault during construction.
• The controller was a big fail, although possible far from plug and play like I was hoping and told by some.

All in all, I'll be investigating other options and I'll take what I can get for this fixture.

[mseepman]

Interesting conclusion. Do you think some of the issues related to failing equipment and coloration may be due to the choice of the budget "Steve's LED's"?

Are the fans noisy because they are high flow or because they blow into a contained tunnel which creates some additional noise?

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by mseepman

Interesting conclusion. Do you think some of the issues related to failing equipment and coloration may be due to the choice of the budget "Steve's LED's"?

Are the fans noisy because they are high flow or because they blow into a contained tunnel which creates some additional noise?

I wouldn't call it budget equipment, it's good quality stuff and I've worked with cree and meanwell parts as well. The drivers are just a little more sensitive since they are just the raw circuit boards so ESD protection is something I should have taken more seriously. However the drivers are easily replaced and inexpensive. Coloration is typical with what you see with LEDs, I just don't care for it but was hoping mixing in some red and eliminating the use of optics would make things better but it's personal preference and I'm just not getting it.

The fans are noisy because everything else is quiet, all equipment is remote on another floor. I don't think any other fans would be better, these are quiet fans and the channeling makes no difference.

Again, nothing against LEDs. I wanted to try them so I did but in the end I have to look at the tank everyday and it's just not what I want. Mostly it just how my tank is positioned in the room, up high so when I watch TV the lights beam directly into my eyes and burn my brain, even now it's really annoying. A completely closed canopy would be ideal for this lighting, but again not what I want.

[Kronk]

Originally Posted by sphelps

These are my problems, some I feel are related to how it was built but others on LEDs in general.

I applaud your effort, this was a creative design and looks great. I am sure you wont have an issue selling it. What are the dimensions of the canopy?

Cheers,
Ken

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Kronk

I applaud your effort, this was a creative design and looks great. I am sure you wont have an issue selling it. What are the dimensions of the canopy?

Cheers,
Ken

3.5" High

[Myka]

Originally Posted by sphelps

The color isn't as good, the corals simply don't reflect the same colors as they do with other options.

I have to agree with you there, but at this point it is simply new light shining down onto corals that are acclimated to other lighting (I think...I haven't been following along well). I would like to see comparative photos after 6 weeks under the new lighting, albeit all sorts of things could change the color in that time. What I find odd is that I have seen LEDs that made the corals fluoresce in a way that I found to be very hard on the eyes, like I have to squint to look at the corals because it hurt my eyes. I didn't find that attractive at all.

All the effort you put into this build (and documenting it) is much appreciated though, and must be very disappointing for you to not be able to achieve what you wanted.

Why are you against using optics?

[superduperwesman]

I'd love to see some more new photos of the tank