Azear
06-06-2008, 01:15 PM
As I was discussing with a fellow aquarist the other day (who is also a member here). If you're the DIY kind, there's a niffy project you could do:
an aluminum U-channel with LEDs installed inside of it. Details are a bit blurry atm but I might do one in no long if I can find a bit of time.
Basically, in a general step-by-step:
-take an aluminum U-channel
-Get some white/blue (at choice) LEDs (probably 1 each 2"-4")
-Then, Drill in the Aluminum channel just the perfect size of the smaller LED part (you know, LEDs have that larger part near the bottom of the LED) (theses holes should be on one side of the U, not the middle).
-Drill 2 more holes on the other side (not center again) to be able to screw in the channel to the top somewhere. (location at discretion of the user)
-Wire each LED on the cathode and anode (just enough wire to hook every LEDs together on one side of the channel) (We're going to use Parallel circuit mode).
-Use some heat-shrink tubing to seal the LEDs wiring & pins.
-Slip each LEDs in their respective hole in the U-channel
-Drop a tiny bit of glue (or silicone or hot glue or any other bonding method) to hold the led at the wanted place (inside the drilled hole)
-Figure out where in your hood the U-channel mounting holes arrive and drill the top at this location.
-Screw in place the U-channel with 2 (or more, but 2 should be way enough) mounting screws.
-Hook every wires at the desired location (anode wire with other anode wires, same for cathode) and start a new single wire from there. (new wire is long enough to end up in a control box (connexion box) at a desired external location).
-Put some heat-shrink tubing on that new wire too (should overlap the others wires to seal everything up).
-Run the new wire to the control box.
-(optionally) Install a switch in the control box (if you don't feel plugging/unplugging the PSU each time) (no need of it if you're going to be hooked to a timer, but should still be recommended)
-hook a power supply to that control box / connexion box. (PSU required will depend on what LEDs you got in the first place. not all LEDs have same requirements.
-Plug-in / power on the system.
-Enjoy!
Credits to user : stephane.savard (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/member.php?u=14206) for thinking initially of the design.
If I've miss something of I'm not clear about something, let me know. Any improvement or suggestion are welcome as always!
Also, if you happen to do it. take some pictures of the making-of. I'm sure it could help some peoples! :)
Also, a bunch of tweak can be done to this project. Especially, if you don't feel using a U-channel, you can use a L-channel and bend it at the desired angle (all length) so it would fit better under your top. Or, you could also install a LED controller/timer and simulate the moon raising (would be much much much harder tho and would require a bunch more LEDs than this). Possibility are infinite and sky is the limit ;)
an aluminum U-channel with LEDs installed inside of it. Details are a bit blurry atm but I might do one in no long if I can find a bit of time.
Basically, in a general step-by-step:
-take an aluminum U-channel
-Get some white/blue (at choice) LEDs (probably 1 each 2"-4")
-Then, Drill in the Aluminum channel just the perfect size of the smaller LED part (you know, LEDs have that larger part near the bottom of the LED) (theses holes should be on one side of the U, not the middle).
-Drill 2 more holes on the other side (not center again) to be able to screw in the channel to the top somewhere. (location at discretion of the user)
-Wire each LED on the cathode and anode (just enough wire to hook every LEDs together on one side of the channel) (We're going to use Parallel circuit mode).
-Use some heat-shrink tubing to seal the LEDs wiring & pins.
-Slip each LEDs in their respective hole in the U-channel
-Drop a tiny bit of glue (or silicone or hot glue or any other bonding method) to hold the led at the wanted place (inside the drilled hole)
-Figure out where in your hood the U-channel mounting holes arrive and drill the top at this location.
-Screw in place the U-channel with 2 (or more, but 2 should be way enough) mounting screws.
-Hook every wires at the desired location (anode wire with other anode wires, same for cathode) and start a new single wire from there. (new wire is long enough to end up in a control box (connexion box) at a desired external location).
-Put some heat-shrink tubing on that new wire too (should overlap the others wires to seal everything up).
-Run the new wire to the control box.
-(optionally) Install a switch in the control box (if you don't feel plugging/unplugging the PSU each time) (no need of it if you're going to be hooked to a timer, but should still be recommended)
-hook a power supply to that control box / connexion box. (PSU required will depend on what LEDs you got in the first place. not all LEDs have same requirements.
-Plug-in / power on the system.
-Enjoy!
Credits to user : stephane.savard (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/member.php?u=14206) for thinking initially of the design.
If I've miss something of I'm not clear about something, let me know. Any improvement or suggestion are welcome as always!
Also, if you happen to do it. take some pictures of the making-of. I'm sure it could help some peoples! :)
Also, a bunch of tweak can be done to this project. Especially, if you don't feel using a U-channel, you can use a L-channel and bend it at the desired angle (all length) so it would fit better under your top. Or, you could also install a LED controller/timer and simulate the moon raising (would be much much much harder tho and would require a bunch more LEDs than this). Possibility are infinite and sky is the limit ;)