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DIY RGBW power LED

rebel

rebel

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Joined
4 Aug 2015
Messages
2,269
Hi everyone,

I've noted these power leds on the interwebs and thought whether one could use them to build an aquarium light..... This would reduce any issues with colour spotting and somewhat simplify colour control as you should be able to just adjust each channel independently.


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10-...2815-484c-ab2a-eff99e7f315a&priceBeautifyAB=0

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/25p...3289-4a57-a674-dfab868d5c89&priceBeautifyAB=0

Perhaps a heatsink like this... Which will make positioning of LEDs easier.
https://www.ledsupply.com/led-heatsinks/makersheatsink-slim

The multiple wires per LED might be tricky to navigate however.

I think one could probably use the LM317 + TC421 to control each channel but will need to calculate the size of the resistor required.

Any thoughts or experience with this type of LED?
 
zozo said:
Unfortunately the shipping is rather spicy..
Click to expand...
No doubt. It would be a rather long and heavy piece of shipping. It is the best heatsink I've found so far, and will be very nice for a neat look after the DIY.
 
btw I have ordered some of these LEDs to try them out. I am planning on a 120cm build in a couple of years so weighing up my options. It would be awesome to have a sleek but DIY light. Otherwise I may consider something like a Chihiros RGB or similar.
 
Honestly you can achieve it. A friend of mine i helped build a good unit but honestly just get 1w leds and you are good to go. No need for those rgb stuff you want colours mix your leds. Remember those are 12w the heat they will produce will kill your leds quicker unless you have big heatsinks.My unit gets hot on 1w leds if i had 3w i dont think they would last long. As you said you want it to look sleek 1w leds and you wont have to use ugly heatsinks.You want rgb copy this layout also you have 5 channels on the tc420 by this you can use each channel with 1 colour. RGB /channel 1= R /channel 2 =G /channel 3 =B / channel 4&5 =W
chihiros_rgb_series_led_freshwater_30-60cm_2.jpg
 
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Take care with heat buildup, the cooler you can run them the longer they will last.
Order yourself some spares just I case you get anything wrong or have any faulty LED's.

I think they recommend staying below 33 watts per foot without adding fans. Thermal paste will also help. Personally I would stay well below this.

https://www.ledsupply.com/led-heatsinks/makersheatsink-slim

For control, I run each colour in series then use a buck converter and a muliltimeter meter to set the max current. I still run at 2/3rds max recommend current as kept blowing LED's.
 
Thanks guys! I will keep those tips in mind.

I don't intend to drive them at full capacity.

I can experiment with them on the cheap. The heat sink is the main expense TBH! Everything else can be used for other purposes etc etc....I meddle with electronics a bit.

I am tempted to buy a 'cheaper' 4 foot light just to salvage the heat sink. :)

@mow said , I will have a look at that layout. 1W LEDs are cheap to come by of course....

@Barbara Turner , My plan is to drive the LEDs at 60% max..probably around 50%. Sometimes this can shift the colour slightly.
 
rebel said:
I am tempted to buy a 'cheaper' 4 foot light just to salvage the heat sink
Click to expand...

You might find it's pretty thin and only works with a few watts if of LED's. I'm sure I came across a few extrusions on alibaba that would be suitable.

I really want to get one machined from aluminium billet.. Its just no longer a cheap light.

I'm off to China next week for work, I'll have to see what I can find.
 
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