making lights work
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30161
Printed Date: July 24 2026 at 7:35am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: making lights work
Posted By: tazman1982
Subject: making lights work
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:22pm
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I bought some blue LED's from ebay and it said plug and play so I expected them to be hooked up to a PLUG. well they are in need of some electrical work. what is the best way to wire these up so I can run them as my night time lights.
 ------------- 75 Reef 55 Reef |
Replies:
Posted By: Andreason
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:25pm
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Lol I would have assumed that as well. Are they 12V?
Oh that will be so cool when you are done! ------------- Andreason's |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:30pm
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I have a set of those. I think they are still wired into my 125.(above the tec5 fixtures. ) Not the easiest things to set up. I ought to pull them out and sell them. I will look tonight and post a picture of how I set them up. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:31pm
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Russ,
You wanna sale a couple of those? I need to replace one in my JBJ nano.
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Posted By: tazman1982
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:33pm
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I will defantly sell some out. I have 40 and I assume I will need 20 for my tank. or so....
Any pics or wiring diagrams would be GREAT! I will check to see if they are 12 volt. ------------- 75 Reef 55 Reef |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:35pm
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Im sure they are. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: tazman1982
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 4:39pm
Posted By: mr_tongate
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 7:29pm
yep there 12v... i used those above my toggle switches in my last big truck.. when i turned on the toggle the light lit up pretty cool....have fun putting them on your tank... hope it is easier then putting them on toggles but probably wont be....
------------- 220 reef cell# 760.684.6122 POSTING PIC'S http://zip-zero.com/wmas/imageUpload.php |
Posted By: dew2loud1
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 8:24pm
| You'll need to figure out how many mv you need and buy an apropriate 12v power supply from radio shack etc to run them. |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: December 17 2008 at 11:05pm
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The cheapest transformer for those LEDs is at the DI. All DIs have bucket loads of old "wall wart" style transformers. Look for on that is 12 V DC output and the most ma (milliamps) you can find (500 - 800 ma would be great). You shouldn't pay more then $0.50 for the transformer. Then wire all the LEDs in parallel with the transformer (i.e. they all see 12 v).
------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: tazman1982
Date Posted: December 18 2008 at 1:41am
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Cool thanks for the idea! ------------- 75 Reef 55 Reef |
Posted By: jpndave
Date Posted: December 18 2008 at 2:35pm
| Those will be 20mA each and need to be wired in parallel. By the specs they will be very directional so you will need to spread them out and aim them properly. I would look for a different solution if I were you. There are a lot of LEDs out there that have a much wider beam. I would at least try one before I hooked up the whole array. Do you know what color temperature they are? If they are too high in the spectrum, you won't get the glow you are looking for from your corals. You want 460nm or less if possible. I have a bunch a that are 455-465nm. The DI is definately your best choice if you don't already have a wall wort lying around. All of those LEDs together would take just 800mA or .8 amps. That should be very easy to come up with. Be sure you hook up the correct lead to positive on all of them. It should be the red to + and the black to -. Good luck! |