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Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2014 23:24:05 GMT -5
Wait those LEDS are 24w each?!!!
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Post by baconnlegs on Jan 8, 2014 0:57:42 GMT -5
Lol they can't be. I mean, CREE are 5W I think, and handful light up a car interior like the surface of the sun. I'll have to test them Friday when they arrive
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Post by baconnlegs on Jan 8, 2014 2:52:48 GMT -5
Since supposedly the entire reel is 2A and 12V, maybe then the entire reel is 24W? Mathematically it would work out, no? That would mean: 24W / 300 bulbs = 0.08W/bulb This makes sense if you consider that LED light bulbs, meant to replace 75W and 100W incandescents, are usually 10-15W I believe (and they contain many LEDs to achieve that brightness). Plus CREEs, at 5W each, are HOT while running, unlike the LEDs. So they must be smaller
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Post by fin on Jan 8, 2014 12:04:19 GMT -5
I am glad to hear you are still on the project , thought you might have given up on it since we haven't heard from you in a while. looks like your all ready to start the build. best of luck.
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Post by baconnlegs on Jan 8, 2014 14:50:25 GMT -5
Well, I have the concept and the materials. That's the easy part lol! I'll take pics as I go along.
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Post by Admin on Jan 8, 2014 19:02:37 GMT -5
Since supposedly the entire reel is 2A and 12V, maybe then the entire reel is 24W? Mathematically it would work out, no? That would mean: 24W / 300 bulbs = 0.08W/bulb This makes sense if you consider that LED light bulbs, meant to replace 75W and 100W incandescents, are usually 10-15W I believe (and they contain many LEDs to achieve that brightness). Plus CREEs, at 5W each, are HOT while running, unlike the LEDs. So they must be smaller Okay that makes much more sense, for a second there I thought how is that possible lol 24w each would have been insane, but as a total amount that works out. What brand are these ones and yes LEDs are much more efficient; my 30 watt LED fixtures puts out only slightly less than my 78 watt T5HO fixture.
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Post by baconnlegs on Jan 9, 2014 18:48:22 GMT -5
Most are from Hitlights, the brights are from LEDwholesalers, all from Amazon (I chose the products with the most, and best, reviews). I should be able to get this started this weekend! I wondering though...
I don't want to build it directly on the metal eavestrough, so I can remove it later to work on it if needed. Should I adhere the LED strips to piece of aluminum sheet metal, and mount that inside the hood?
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Post by Admin on Jan 9, 2014 19:19:09 GMT -5
The idea of mounting the LEDS to aluminium sounds okay, but is it finned metal like a heat sink? You have to be careful when it comes to heat transfer and connecting multiple pieces of stuff together. For example, one solid aluminum heat sink will have much better cooling capabilities than two pieces of aluminum mounted together.
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Post by baconnlegs on Jan 9, 2014 19:48:15 GMT -5
From the reviews, it seems these don't get very warm. Then again, I'm mounting ~200 in a small space and not a line under a kitchen cabinet. So... It won't be a heat sink, just some scrap aluminum I've got around from some duct work here at the house. Some commercial incandescent hoods have slots cut in top - what if I punched holes through the top of the hood, and maybe even the sides? Convection should help keep it cooler, no? Now, if heat buildup becomes a serious issue (I don't want to burn those LEDs out!) I could always install a tiny computer fan at one end of the hood. My, how this project has grown
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Post by Admin on Jan 9, 2014 22:17:45 GMT -5
That sounds like a plan! Good that you have a backup just in case it gets too hot. As long as there is space for the heat to escape it should be fine
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Post by fin on Feb 3, 2014 16:28:24 GMT -5
hi baconnlegs, just wondering how the lighting project is going , haven't hear an up date lately.
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Post by baconnlegs on Feb 4, 2014 19:04:43 GMT -5
lol I know, I know! I have the materials but not the time. SO, I'm in the basement cutting LEDs as we speak This post will function as a sort of blog of the process. I'll submit a proper step-by-step How-To (minus my potato-quality pictures and the inner ramblings of my mind as I work) once it's all complete! But for now, I'll update this as I work. Promise! Edit: Cutting is done, pics have been taken. I need to get some shuteye before work, but I'll post them in the morning. In the meantime, I have a request: 1) I'd like to wire the lights like the Finnex lights - with 1 power source, and 2 switches (one for the blue lights, one for everything else) so that the blues can run alone at night. Can someone with a little more electrical know-how than myself give me a quick rundown? Or even a rough schematic on a napkin at this weekend's meeting would suffice Thanks!
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Post by baconnlegs on Feb 5, 2014 10:30:46 GMT -5
A long, long time ago, in a basement far, far underground... So, I got to work on the first steps of the LED light last night. As promised, here's my progress! Clockwise from top right: Laptop (for Radio Reddit - if you like new music - made by humans and not some billion-dollar-recording-corporation - check it out! radioreddit.com/listen/#indie ), scissors for cutting the LED strips, foiled pouches of light reels, connectors (these help you get around corners), soldering iron and materials, more pouches, 6A power supply. Sorry for the potato-quality photo. My basement is dark and the lighting leaves something to be desired. Moving on. I purchased lights from 2 suppliers online, prices were about the same. I can't personally speak to the quality, but the items were well-reviewed on Amazon. Here's a closeup of the power supply. This bad boy will run ~900 LED lights, no sweat. So yes, I over-bought. But you never know what this project will evolve into! And finally, the connectors. These will connect parallel strips, forming the 'S' without me having to twist and struggle with attaching strips at weird angles. I could have just bought a reel of wire for way less, but this is my first go. I thought, the more foolproof the better!
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Post by fishsauce on Feb 5, 2014 14:35:20 GMT -5
Looking good so far. Looking forward to see the end result. It's always fun to do a DIY.
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Post by defiantk on Feb 5, 2014 15:19:46 GMT -5
Dont imagine heat should be a problem as those leds are relatively low power, although given the large power supply they will being drawing maximum amperage all the time. My diy led project will be to use fewer higher power leds under powered (amperage). You can always test the leds before installing for heat issues, wire them up for see if there building any heat. I think if you leave enough space between each row youll be okay.
Also not sure if these are like the round led strips people use for cars but those can only be cut at certain lengths, like every 6 leds. Cutting them shorter renders them useless
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