Introduction: Aquarium LED Ramp for the Idiots
Hello,
There are few high light aquarium LED lights. The reason is that if you use high power LED, you have to use radiators to cool them and also drivers to power them. I propose to assemble a high power LED lighting without radiator and drivers. The lamp is in use above my aquarium of 55 Gallons (200 liters) for about 4 months. The power is 120 Watts (40 LED of 3 Watts) . The output is 10,800 Lumens (40 LED of 270 Lumens). It is very bright and should be used in conjunction with carbon dioxide pressurized system if you do not want to end-up with an algae culture. English is not my mother tongue, so please forgive my language mistakes.
There are few high light aquarium LED lights. The reason is that if you use high power LED, you have to use radiators to cool them and also drivers to power them. I propose to assemble a high power LED lighting without radiator and drivers. The lamp is in use above my aquarium of 55 Gallons (200 liters) for about 4 months. The power is 120 Watts (40 LED of 3 Watts) . The output is 10,800 Lumens (40 LED of 270 Lumens). It is very bright and should be used in conjunction with carbon dioxide pressurized system if you do not want to end-up with an algae culture. English is not my mother tongue, so please forgive my language mistakes.
Step 1:
List of material
1. 30 LED bulbs MR 16 12 Volts 3 Watts, 270 Lumens, color white 6000 Kelvin angle 60° source : E-Bay
2. 10 LED bulbs MR 16 12 Volts 3 Watts, 270 Lumens, color warm white 3000 Kelvin angle 60° source : E-Bay
3 2 meter of electric plastic gutter white
4 1 Power supply 12 Volts (power supply from a personnal computer XT or AT
5 Wire 1,5 mm soft
6: Six computer 12 Volt fans (not mandatory )
7: 1 hole saw bit 48mm
8 40X GU5.3 MR16 MR11 LED bulb Wire Connector Socket
1. 30 LED bulbs MR 16 12 Volts 3 Watts, 270 Lumens, color white 6000 Kelvin angle 60° source : E-Bay
2. 10 LED bulbs MR 16 12 Volts 3 Watts, 270 Lumens, color warm white 3000 Kelvin angle 60° source : E-Bay
3 2 meter of electric plastic gutter white
4 1 Power supply 12 Volts (power supply from a personnal computer XT or AT
5 Wire 1,5 mm soft
6: Six computer 12 Volt fans (not mandatory )
7: 1 hole saw bit 48mm
8 40X GU5.3 MR16 MR11 LED bulb Wire Connector Socket
Step 2:
Cut the gutter in two 1 meter parts
Drill holes of 48mm in the gutter. You can drill 20 holes per meter. Glue the LED lamps into the holes using cyanoacrylate glue. Connect the bulbs with the connectors.
Drill holes of 48mm in the gutter. You can drill 20 holes per meter. Glue the LED lamps into the holes using cyanoacrylate glue. Connect the bulbs with the connectors.
Step 3:
Connect all the bulbs in parallel on the 12 volts power supply. You have to search on E-Bay to have the lowest prices for the bulbs, because the range of price is from 25 to 4 USD per bulb. You will get them cheaper from the chinese sellers. I have tried very cheap ones and did not find any difference on quality with the more expensive ones. Any 12 volts power supply will do as long as it can produce 120 Watts. The light is very bright and is you have low light plants, you can reduce the amount of bulbs by two.
Here below is the picture of the main plug of the PC power supply (20 Connection). You have to connect the green wire (PS_ON) to the black (COM) and use the yellow (12 VDC) and the black (COM)
Here below is the picture of the main plug of the PC power supply (20 Connection). You have to connect the green wire (PS_ON) to the black (COM) and use the yellow (12 VDC) and the black (COM)