can you beat this with a diy??

[bioload]

Originally Posted by nrosdal

....not much in the way of replys from DIYers.. am i correct in assuming that you can't build a decent led for a 48x24x24 tank for any cheaper?

The rule of thumb I use regarding cost, is the price of a comparable. I don’t mind spending up to the price of a similar unit for a build. Cost savings isn’t my primary focus when it comes to DIY, but rather an added bonus if it should work out that way.

My primary goal is putting together a unit that has all the features that I'm looking for that may not necessarily be available in an off the shelf solution, and the satisfaction of doing it myself.

After a quick search lets start with these items:



http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Aluminum-Circ...item3371e3867b



http://www.ebay.ca/itm/FREE-SH-BULK-...item4d01319317

This would bring you to $100 so far for a comparable unit. You would then need to add in the drivers, lets go with 4 x Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver:



Bringing a quick total to $260

These seen to match nicely with the LED PCB:



http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Computer-PC-V...item19cd56201d

So we're at ~$300 with the housing, and a few odds and ends remaining........excluding time, tools, mistakes, and modifications. If ones main focus for a DIY is cost savings I would almost always recommend going with the off the shelf solution when build quality and aesthetics are taken into consideration.

.....are these units CSA approved?

[StirCrazy]

another thing I noticed is they doctored there advertising photos. the all white one looks fantastic then the half white and half blue shows what the white realy looks like. if a company will do that to make the product look better, what else will they do.

one thing I don't like about a lot of the fixtures on the market is I realy can't see them lasting to much longer than there warenty period. when you DIY LED fixtures you have the opertunity to make the heat managment so much better which will give you longer life.

Steve

[nrosdal]

not really sure what you are talking about with the "doctored pics "

there are some arriving next week and the guy is going to pop them open to see how the heatsinks look as well as if there will be a way to get them controlled with 1-10v

here are some newer pics of the a6 model:

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by nrosdal

not really sure what you are talking about with the "doctored pics "

gop look at the pics of the lights over the tank. the all blue is blue, the all white picture is like "Wow" everything popping, colors are looking about 13K lots of purple, definatly not a "all white" photo.

then go look at the one light blue and one light white. the white side of this is more what I would expect from 100% white only, not the previous.

Steve

[oupulino]

why don't try this web for DIY everything you need to get and to know how to do it is there
Commercial lights fixtures never gonna last longer that DIY if you do it right it is not that expensive but is better.
Imagine commercial led fixture last more than 10 years 12 hours a day they will go bankrupt
Check this web : http://reefledlights.com/
For good led fixture you have 2 option DIY led lights and save about the half of $ or buy commercial and pay fortune

[nrosdal]

that site has the total at 1200+ for comparable wattage and no enclosures... i could buy a commercial fixture and have quite a few options for that price.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by nrosdal

that site has the total at 1200+ for comparable wattage and no enclosures... i could buy a commercial fixture and have quite a few options for that price.

yup that site is quite expensive. try this one

http://shop.stevesleds.com/SPS-Grade...-Kit-44-54.htm

or check out Milad's site.

only thing you need is an enclosure which I am sure you can make of get for under 100.00

Steve