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Thread: LED build for idiots help pls

  1. #1

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    LED build for idiots help pls

    Ok after reading up an some more reading an a little bit more reading, im still scratching my head about building diy led units...could someone post a link or do a step by step for me on this subject. I just cant get my head round it all...any light you could shed would be great
    Thankee
    steve

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    These will give you some idea how to put them together. Certainly not the best videos, the guy building it is doing shoddy work. They used the wrong type of wire on this fixture though which is making attaching the wire to the LEDs much harder than it needs to be. Bad soldering iron and not using flux are also bad. You can search youtube for things like "DIY LED", "soldering cree LED", things like that to see more videos. As I tell everyone, it is very intimidating at first, but once you build 1 light you will kick yourself after realizing how easy it is. Everyone I have taught has done that and gone on to build many more LED lights.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msMUFbaMIgE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf_HtUbsYpY
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wOSsBIIUsU
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7oHZNbPMSE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN7AbyCXOI

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    Im not too worried about building it as such. im more concerned about what parts i need and where to source them as im in the uk....do i get 1w leds or 3w bulbs, drivers???? do iget a dimmable or constant an how powerful a driver do i get?? Heatsinks? How big? Will i blow the leds if the leds run at 750ma an i put a 1000ma dricer on them??

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    First, how big of a screen are we dealing with? Constant current drivers are fine for a scrubber. Heatsink, as big as the screen if your not going to use a fan, if you use a fan it adds a whole extra level of complexity to the build. You definitely don't want to run LEDs above their rated current, not only will you not see much extra light output by doing so, you will reduce their life severely.

    This driver seems like it would handle 8 3w LEDs @ 700mA.
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Driver...#ht_507wt_1163

    Or this one does 18 1w LEDs @ 350mA.
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Driver...#ht_507wt_1163

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20pcs-1W-R...ht_4697wt_1396

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-3W-R...item3f0ffbf76f

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    1. First you decide if you go 1w leds or 3w leds.
    2. Decide how many LEDs you need to cover your screen.
    3. LEDs should be red 660nM best and 630nM possible as well.
    4. For 1w LEDs look for drvier that supply 350mA constant current and can handle as many or more LEDs thatn you need for design.
    5. For 3w LEDs look for drvier that supply 700mA constant current and can handle as many or more LEDs thatn you need for design.
    6. You also need heatsink. If you can fit big heatsink - go for it . You will not need any fans then, and I recomend for fanless design. Less parts first of all. Fans usually not prone to humidity.
    7. Easiest way to fix LEDS to heatsink is thermo glue (Arctic silver adhesive is the best IMO). Possible way is tapping and fixing via screws. More easy to exchange blown LED after.
    8.You will need wires, solder iron and all you use to solder.
    9. Very good idea is to cover leds with layer of laquer spray to protect from humidity. There are even special ones.
    Making acrylic cover for LEDs is also good idea.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Hea...item3f1103f0f5

    Theres module ready for wiring to driver.
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    Screen is 8 x 9 inches how many 1w leds would i need per side..thanks for all the advice so far

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    Also if i was to use 2 drivers could i run them off the same socket?

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    Quote Originally Posted by andthe_brain View Post
    Also if i was to use 2 drivers could i run them off the same socket?
    Absolutely yes. If you can run microwave from one socket , then you can run many, many drivers too

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    Quote Originally Posted by kotlec View Post
    Absolutely yes. If you can run microwave from one socket , then you can run many, many drivers too
    Yes and no, Meanwell drivers have a very high startup surge. I believe it is around 5.5A for less than a second. If you wire 3 meanwell drivers together and plug it into a 15A circuit it will pop the breaker when they turn on because the in rush current is 16.5A. On smaller drivers you can do more per socket, just make sure you take into account the startup amperage, not the operating amperage (which is usually 1/2 the startup). On meanwells I wire 2 drivers max per socket.

  10. #10
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    I have run few of them and never had problem. Must say I live in 220V world. May be things are different.

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