Updated mini ATS light

[Walter White]

Can we get some more pics on how this thing works or is set up. I need to do this on my 30 cube. Seems like you got it down to a science. If you were to build the light again would you use less LEDs?

Unfortunatley I don't have any other pics than what I have already posted. I will take some more the next time I have it pulled apart. I certainly don't have this down just yet. Right now I'm still just trying to dial it in through trial and error.
if I did it over again I would not use less LEDs but I would use 1w LEDs instead of 3w. That's the only real issues have run into is just having too much light.

Thanks for the update Kalgra. Following in your footsteps, homes. Do you see algae growth on the glass, right in front of the parts of the screen where there is growth? If so, do you scrape this every few days? This is becoming a big annoyance to me I can only imagine it hampers growth on the screen.

i do see some algae growth on the glass but not very much. Honestly I may be getting less than you because my light is still too strong. The little bit that I do get I scrape off.

 

[Walter White]

So heres another update of my mini scrubber. Unfortunately even though I had tired to fog the lens with sandpaper the light is still too intense but it produces a ton of algae as is so the questions is should I leave well enough alone or build in a dimmer to truly optimize it?

This is my harvest from this morning.

 

[CRW Reef]

Re: Updated mini ATS light

Wow Kris you def have the ATS down to a "T" imo. Awesome job and construction as well!!!

 

[Cake_Boss]

Nice harvest.

Either choice sounds like it would work. Are you having algae issues in the dt?

 

[Frostyfish]

I got everything including the heatsink and power supply from ledgroupbuy.com. Because its only 5 LEDs and the required voltage was only 12v I didnt need a driver. I just used a 500ma 12v pc fan power adapter for $10.

I am wiring two of the red LEDs you have and have no experience whatsoever wiring them. Would something like this work? http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/RCA-AH50BR-500mA-Universal-Power-Supply/23204420

 

[Walter White]

I am wiring two of the red LEDs you have and have no experience whatsoever wiring them. Would something like this work? http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/RCA-AH50BR-500mA-Universal-Power-Supply/23204420

So it looks like it has selectable voltage. You should be able to set it to 6 volts and be fine.

 

[SynDen]

Nice, seems to be working well. I would say that unless you are still seeing algae in the DT I wouldnt worry about adding the dimmer. Although knowing how OCD you are I'm sure you will add one anyway lol

 

[Walter White]

Nice, seems to be working well. I would say that unless you are still seeing algae in the DT I wouldnt worry about adding the dimmer. Although knowing how OCD you are I'm sure you will add one anyway lol

Yeah that tank is long gone so it dosnt matter any more, but I still have the light I made for it in a drawer where I hoard all my hobby related crap.

 

[Frostyfish]

So it looks like it has selectable voltage. You should be able to set it to 6 volts and be fine.

Thanks! All I need is some 24ga wire for this correct?

 

[zombie]

Thanks! All I need is some 24ga wire for this correct?

Technically you could, but 18 awg would be better in case you ever want to overdrive the leds.

 

[Frostyfish]

As I said before, I have no experience wiring LEDs and have been trying to find out how to power two 2.3v 700ma LEDs. I am wondering if I need a driver or if I can just use one of the universal adapters.

 

[zombie]

As I said before, I have no experience wiring LEDs and have been trying to find out how to power two 2.3v 700ma LEDs. I am wondering if I need a driver or if I can just use one of the universal adapters.

Technically you could, but you would need properly sized resistors to control the current and an input filter to protect against surges. You are way better off with a driver evem if you have a good understanding of electrical circuit desogn.

 

[Frostyfish]

Technically you could, but you would need properly sized resistors to control the current and an input filter to protect against surges. You are way better off with a driver evem if you have a good understanding of electrical circuit desogn.

Thanks. I'll definitely get one

 

[Balz3352]

Rapid makes a 10 dollar 700mA driver that powers I think 1to 4 leds

 

[zombie]

Rapid makes a 10 dollar 700mA driver that powers I think 1to 4 leds

That one is possible, but it will underdrive the leds since its 300 mA max. If you have an extra 12V power supply laying around (20 W abesolute minimum, 60W preferred) then you could use this. It would give you the option to add more leds and dimming features down the road if you ever want to.

http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-ldd-700hw-dimmable-driver/

 

[Frostyfish]

That one is possible, but it will underdrive the leds since its 300 mA max. If you have an extra 12V power supply laying around (20 W abesolute minimum, 60W preferred) then you could use this. It would give you the option to add more leds and dimming features down the road if you ever want to.

http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-ldd-700hw-dimmable-driver/

Thanks!! I don't have an extra 12v power supply around. Can you recommend a cheap one? I appreciate all the help

 

[zombie]

Thanks!! I don't have an extra 12v power supply around. Can you recommend a cheap one? I appreciate all the help

It depends on how much you ever want to expand it. If you want to be able to have more than 4 leds, you could go with something like this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/390695283840?lpid=82

If you wont ever go above 4 leds, you could get one like this.

http://www.dx.com/p/replacement-5-0...66682?tc=USD&gclid=CPCrl_Tw5b4CFQIT7AodWAwAdw


If you dont mind starting with 3 leds and want to have an all in one driver that can expand to lots more leds, you could get a driver like this instead with no power supply needed.

http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-lpc-35-700-constant-current-driver/

 

[Frostyfish]

It depends on how much you ever want to expand it. If you want to be able to have more than 4 leds, you could go with something like this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/390695283840?lpid=82

If you wont ever go above 4 leds, you could get one like this.

http://www.dx.com/p/replacement-5-0...66682?tc=USD&gclid=CPCrl_Tw5b4CFQIT7AodWAwAdw


If you dont mind starting with 3 leds and want to have an all in one driver that can expand to lots more leds, you could get a driver like this instead with no power supply needed.

http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-lpc-35-700-constant-current-driver/

I'm going with door #3!!! That sounds perfect. Thanks again for explaining and helping me find what I need, I'm ignant when it comes to LEDs, haha