Meowzer's LED build

2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/480#post_3434592
MR BTLD...You are by no means making me mad....LOL....I have not understood half of this build.....and right now I am EXTREMELY PO's at my husband,.,.....SO PLEASE excuse th sort fuse :(
Lois I hope your not mad at him over the build. Danny seemed to have his own vision of building the rig, so I pretty much kept my own ideas limited to technical support. I would have said something had I thought he was doing something that I deemed too dangerous. And he hasn't reached that point yet. Do I agree though that there might be better ways? Sure! But sometimes in a situation that already seems confusing I feel that less can be more. To many ideas thrown at you all at once can tend to over complicate a rather simple thing. The fixture can be easily moded though. I'm not sure how far he's gotten at this point in the acrylic fab process. Perhaps he's not too far along to where he can't make the change in that aspect if that's the way you wish to go.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr btldreef http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/480#post_3434589
yes ACRYLIC57, i have a fan on each heatsink. as far the connection that i have redone.... solder and shrink tubed on the fixture. as far as the driver connections , fuses, and 120v feed they are mounted to a board 10 feet from the tank. they are hidden from plain site...they are an eye sore. i am also expecting an hlg driver in the next couple of days so i can clean up the nightmare and run these leds more efficiently. as far as wiring nightmare.... the " ground block" "power block" can rid of this burden. the six wires from the ballasts .... can go up to the fixture to connect the all the strings of leds.
maybe you haven't moved a 6 foot fixture before ... it is not easy...and usually takes 2 people. then make it all sealed up and moisture proof.... requires some heavy enclosure and possibly silicone. heavy???? your damn right.
Trust me I understand your frustrations, but I'm quite sure over the years I've had more than enough experience at moving 6' fixtures and more!!!!!! Not picking with you or questioning your caution, but if you'd read my build thread you'd know I'm not a basic DIYer and handle my builds quite easily with limited help......
 
mr btldreef

mr btldreef

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/500#post_3434607
Trust me I understand your frustrations, but I'm quite sure over the years I've had more than enough experience at moving 6' fixtures and more!!!!!! Not picking with you or questioning your caution, but if you'd read my build thread you'd know I'm not a basic DIYer and handle my builds quite easily with limited help......
glad to hear it. but i don't think this is about you ....not saying you can't move a fixture or build something. i am just saying i don't think moewzer, even though she is one tough cookie, is going to be ready to take this heavy fixture down to maintain it or replace something.
i am on not on this forum much so i haven't seen your build threads....do you have a diy led fixture too?
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Mr. BTLDreef: This is going to be a heavy fixture regardless and I believe they are already aware of that. Dropping, what...2-3lbs off of the fixture isn't going to make that big of a difference in weight. Luckily they've already planned for most all of the issues that you've come to realize wasn't so great with the design of the fixture that you guys purchased. Maintenance on hers should be minimal in comparison and future modifications/changes no where near as extreme.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
LOL...Corey..NO....it has nothing to do with the build.....
If you have some other suggestions, feel free to send them to me......I can always print them and give them to him....I don't want to talk to him too much right now
MRBTLD....I never intend on having to work on this unit by myself....that being said.....IF Danny was not to be in the picture....well I would have to rethink keeping the big tank anyways :(
 
mr btldreef

mr btldreef

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/500#post_3434620
Mr. BTLDreef: This is going to be a heavy fixture regardless and I believe they are already aware of that. Dropping, what...2-3lbs off of the fixture isn't going to make that big of a difference in weight. Luckily they've already planned for most all of the issues that you've come to realize wasn't so great with the design of the fixture that you guys purchased. Maintenance on hers should be minimal in comparison and future modifications/changes no where near as extreme.
2quills did you do your led fixture the same way as them? i am concerned about heat /evaporation/salt creep etc. didn't need everyone ganging up on me .... just pointed out some things that should be thought about. i purchased my leds from someone for $400- less then me buying all the parts. yea i should have just done it myself.... but i had a month to get things together to move. so .... since then i have been upgrading and correcting this fixture. i hear you about them having it done correctly... according to you and acrylic since they have done everything you have told them.
all i had to offer is my .02 good luck on your fixture meowzer. i hope it works out well for you.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr btldreef http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/500#post_3434624
2quills did you do your led fixture the same way as them? i am concerned about heat /evaporation/salt creep etc. didn't need everyone ganging up on me .... just pointed out some things that should be thought about. i purchased my leds from someone for $400- less then me buying all the parts. yea i should have just done it myself.... but i had a month to get things together to move. so .... since then i have been upgrading and correcting this fixture. i hear you about them having it done correctly... according to you and acrylic since they have done everything you have told them.
all i had to offer is my .02 good luck on your fixture meowzer. i hope it works out well for you.
Mr btldreef: I will answer you question and then discontinue the conversation after that as it seems to be going no where. No one is ganging up on you. I haven't build a led reef light yet. But I have a fair amount of experience with led technology installing them on automobiles and accent lighting. That coupled with my electronics experience over the years and the fact that my job requires me to work with electricity has taught me about basic circuitry many moons ago. That along with countless hours of research on the subject leads me to feel more than capable of helping a friend who came to me for help. I think it was I who first suggested the use of at leats a splash guard and getting rid of those ELN's drivers on your build in the first place. At least on this site and is what you seem to be doing now. Bottom line here is that this is Danny's build for his wife. His design. They were excited about it and I didn't want to discredit their enthusiasm in the endeavour by trying to make it my own so to speak. My current plans call for a different approach to the way I intend to design my fixture. Do I think it's better or worse? Not necessarily it's just personal preference. Danny's design is really no different in concept than the way the vast majority of pre built fixtures on the market are made. Regardless of what you think are the dangers.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sorry wasn't trying to gang up on anyone.......Your concerns/questioning about heat, evaporation, and salt creep are valid points......Weight, as pointed out very minimal difference in weight moving the drivers......
The fixture itself is somewhat self contained......Being the aluminum rack is enclosed in acrylic therefore eliminating a large majority of the fixture being exposed.....I can't recall of the top of my head, but I'm sure through planning there was talk of putting a "splash shield" in place that would have negative impact on light penetration, also eliminating splashing issues, and keeping evaporation residue from sitting/hitting directly on the front side of the emitters where the connections are made. Another key point or element is the mounting height of the fixture itself. As with a MH setup I understand fully that you do get some spray on bulbs, but to no real ill affect. Major point is the fixture would be shielded again.
With the heat sinks being actively cooled, and from my reading of major builds done the heat sinks are warm.....I've seen tons of builds done and they vary without using any active cooling, with no affects again on the fixture, so heat IMO is minimal......The other area where the drivers are located; if I remember correctly without going back through pics, are actually mounted above/higher and are isolated from the main rack as well, so heat transfer between the 2 would be minimum to none.....
 
mr btldreef

mr btldreef

Member
i have built some and they get hot. i have felt mine after the day it burns my hand. i have felt acan lightings....my reef club meetings are held at their main office...and they get hot. i have a marineland reefbright and that burned me and those are 1w leds. i believe that you have seen and read about others leds but you don't have first hand experience. you guys are talented and do obviously know some stuff.
heat is minimal under the actual emitting diode..... but above it... i dare you to touch one after running for a couple hours.
not for nothing but i have just updated cryptics led build that i have finished for him.... you guys were going back and forth with reefledlights rep.
IMO if you have not built something, used something, or seen something first hand... you do not know it enough to give to tell others they are wrong.
monday i can bring home my infrared digital thermometer and show you.
once again....i did not post anything about you guys or your designs. just concerns.... for them not you. didn't have to defend yourselves... once again this is not about you.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Ok, enough.
I think we have lost sight of the original concern. Let's drop it. If Lois or Danny feel anything needs further clarification, they can ask. Let's not ruin this thread.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr btldreef http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/500#post_3434634
i have built some and they get hot. i have felt mine after the day it burns my hand. i have felt acan lightings....my reef club meetings are held at their main office...and they get hot. i have a marineland reefbright and that burned me and those are 1w leds. i believe that you have seen and read about others leds but you don't have first hand experience. you guys are talented and do obviously know some stuff.
heat is minimal under the actual emitting diode..... but above it... i dare you to touch one after running for a couple hours.
not for nothing but i have just updated cryptics led build that i have finished for him.... you guys were going back and forth with reefledlights rep.
IMO if you have not built something, used something, or seen something first hand... you do not know it enough to give to tell others they are wrong.
monday i can bring home my infrared digital thermometer and show you.
once again....i did not post anything about you guys or your designs. just concerns.... for them not you. didn't have to defend yourselves... once again this is not about you.
That same old song and tune. Wiring up a few simple strings of leds is hardly any different then the various other types of lighting systems that I've worked with over the years in and out of the hobby. But you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I wish I had a dollar for every time I held a power supply in my hand for whatever it belongs to. Power supplies get hot regardless. It's what they do when they convert energy. I think the confusion here is how hot is too hot. I see you build a fixture with all of the electronics mounted to a metal box non the less (danger) and no mention of any type of active cooling. Even if hers are kept in the fixture they will have the benefit of air flow across them from the built in fans where as your design shows no such thing. I'll pull out my I.R. thermometer any time you like and we can compare any of the heat generated by any one of the power supplies in my house compared to the ones on a led build just for kicks. Perhaps acan is using less efficient power supplies as well.
Edit: You're right guys. Enough is enough. Apologies, Lois.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
One more argument/disagreement tonight about this topic and I'm locking the thread. I do not want to do that to Lois, but she's already said she's stressed. I can only yell at one of you in person, lol
Let's agree to disagree. There's more than one way to do things, all of us in this hobby should know that by now. Point is, someone saw something that might have needed a second look before things were done. Ultimately it's up to Lois and Danny to decide what route to go. Opinions can be given, we don't need to get into a pissing contest over who's idea is better.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
You want to talk about weight LOL! 6 1/8th thick 2x1 aluminum channels 44 inches long. The cross bars are steel as are the two that run lengthwise that 8 drivers and a Reefkeeper 2 are mounted to, It's slightly heavier than a fat dog....
I built this fixture as a mule so I could experiment with positioning the rails and such. It is in a canopy with a 3" and 2" open slot running the length of the top. When the LED's are on there are two fans running that blow air in from the seal back of the canopy. Good circulation. No splash shield. I did coat the LED's with a spray that supposedly would allow them to operate under water but no signs of corrosion after a little over a year. I don't have the open fuses or terminals because I chose to take the easy way out and did multiple drivers instead.
Meowzer, If your fixture is going to be in acrylic and hung in the open I wouldn't lose a second of sleep about corrosion. If mine isn't a rusty heap by now yours should do great.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
My husband is out doing yard work right now (he's my slave, lol). It's my understanding that the weight issue was just a side thought and his main concern was the heat aspect.
From what I've read and been told by local reefers using them, the HLG drivers have a higher voltage than ELNs and although Meanwell claims that they're more energy efficient and thus not as hot, people are claiming that they're just as hot as the ELN's.
Ultimately it's up to Lois and Danny.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/500#post_3434710
My husband is out doing yard work right now (he's my slave, lol). It's my understanding that the weight issue was just a side thought and his main concern was the heat aspect.
From what I've read and been told by local reefers using them, the HLG drivers have a higher voltage than ELNs and although Meanwell claims that they're more energy efficient and thus not as hot, people are claiming that they're just as hot as the ELN's.
Ultimately it's up to Lois and Danny.
For clarification purposes, the 48v rating on Lois's drivers are the exact same as ELN 60-48's. Meanwell only makes drivers that run up to a 54v d.c. rating. How hot they get depends on how they are being used. Load vs efficiency.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///t/387353/meowzers-led-build/500#post_3434707
You want to talk about weight LOL! 6 1/8th thick 2x1 aluminum channels 44 inches long. The cross bars are steel as are the two that run lengthwise that 8 drivers and a Reefkeeper 2 are mounted to, It's slightly heavier than a fat dog....
I built this fixture as a mule so I could experiment with positioning the rails and such. It is in a canopy with a 3" and 2" open slot running the length of the top. When the LED's are on there are two fans running that blow air in from the seal back of the canopy. Good circulation. No splash shield. I did coat the LED's with a spray that supposedly would allow them to operate under water but no signs of corrosion after a little over a year. I don't have the open fuses or terminals because I chose to take the easy way out and did multiple drivers instead.
Meowzer, If your fixture is going to be in acrylic and hung in the open I wouldn't lose a second of sleep about corrosion. If mine isn't a rusty heap by now yours should do great.

Reef I do believe that is the first time I've ever seen a pic of your rig. Did you ever do a build thread? How do you like the conversion from your previous lighting experiences?
 
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