Rickets Reef: DIY LED Light Fixture Pt. 3

Part 3 of a DIY LED fixture creation. This part outlines how to wire the LED's, and furthermore how to wire the LED's to a ELN-60-48D Meanwell dimming driver using a potentiometer to dim the LED's.

Wiring a ELN-60-48D:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1845526

Close up of LED Soldering:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSxmPGt353I&feature=related

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Reef
• aquarium
• LED
• led fixture
• DIY
• Meanwell
• driver
• cree
• LED's
• reef tank
• reef aquarium
• LED Aquarium
• DIY LED
• DIY LED Light
• Rapid LED

[Arteolike]

Man this dimmable junk is hard! The plain one looks so much easier, just plus to plus, minus to minus o the driver, and leds plus to minus, plus to minus, this has wires going here there, over there, through there! Grr! I'm so confused. I think the plain kit is what a starter like me who never sottered do. I have a question, With an 100 -25 gallon tank, can i keep SPS corals under 36 LEDS or should i just go with the 48?

[1mkwiet]

@Arteolike I never saldered before this build either so the dimming kit isn't that hard. In fact it's not hard with a tiny bit of extra effort. all you need to do is add a wallawart and a pot. that's it. the rest if the same and I show how to do that. anyway is that a 100 gallon or 25 gallon? I'll assume 100. you can keep SPS under 36 LED's on a 100, but you'll have to ensure the corals are under the light. see with mine I've got like 2 islands with 24 LED's above each island.

[Dukeap1]

am looking at your led video because i think i might go your route and make it my self and I just ran into you saying about connecting it to your apex or reefkeeper control and I wanted to know if you have actually connected or if you plan to connect it to your apex now that you have it, so that it will dime it by it self when they go on or off

[1mkwiet]

@Dukeap1 ya it's connected. I used the var speed ports on the aquacontroller base unit.

[iamspuzzum]

One tip of advice that might make life a little easier when soldering.. when I tin "my" wires, I pull a bit of solder from the reel.. about 3" worth. I then sit the reel on the table or counter, and hold the wire and solder tip to the solder line. You could even sit the reel on one of the screws of your mount you made.. I've done that myself. Make sure to clean the solder tip on your sponge, and tin it good. A tinned solder tip will heat the wire a lot quicker.

Thanks for the vids :)

[1mkwiet]

@iamspuzzum good tip, thanks :)

[RUNWITHDAGUN]

for what is the fuckfinger in the beginning?`?

[RUNWITHDAGUN]

Thank you!! now im going to pimp my tank!! :)

[Arteolike]

May I ask, whats the solder your using?

[coryboyo]

mA means milliamps. nothing to do with voltage

[2friendstoking]

it would probably work better if you soldered the LEDs in parallel instead of in series

[lilmr5boros1]

@LILMAN1234ify 48 leds

[schwa6970]

This video is kind of crappy! IT did not show one of your soldering connections

[mr5boros1]

hello i need sum help wit my leds .was wondering if u can give me a hand please..thanks

[Arteolike]

I have another question, your driver is the "D" version. I wanna buy the "P" versions so I can wire it up to a RapidLED Daylight controller. Do you adjust the mA the same way as in this driver?

[Arteolike]

@1mkwiet Yes I know, but it seems so hard to adjust the drivers etc etc... One thing not adjusted , boom 12 led's down the drain.