Anyone messed with the High Intensity 3W LED's?

[Arkangel77]

I got the time and the ability but I get Fuzzy when they talk about the power supply and controllers and calculations and creation of circuit boards and WOOOOOH!

I need a more plug and play assembly before I think I can tackle it. I dont mind paying for what I want and I dont mind the assemble at all. I am skilled and enjoy DIY projects. I have no problem tackling anyhyting I understand. I guess I just dont understand the power supply part of these things.

I read threw manny posts including some of the ones linked here. It seems complex or maybe I am missing something?????

 

[kanvas]

I read threw manny posts including some of the ones linked here. It seems complex or maybe I am missing something?????

Basically it's this: LED require a constant current to operate. There're 3 way to do this:
1. resistor easy but really inefficient
2. switching voltage efficient but require a lot of skill
3. current regulator (LED driver)
LED driver is available on ebay for about $10-$20 each
Each driver can drive 1-5 high power LEDs in series depend on the input voltage into the driver. (just sum up all the voltage drop for yout LED string and you get your total voltage, example: 3 LED with 3.3 volt drop each would require at least a 3 x 3.3 = 9.9 volt)

In short you'll need:
LEDs
drivers (1 for every 4-5 LEDs)
DC supply (10-20volt output with the max wattage as you need---10 3w LEDs means 30w total plus a few more watts for the drivers)
Heat sinks for LEDs (they do get quite warm especially with the 3w and above)
Reflectors??? maybe if you have some exatra laying around but LED are directional light so there're not much to reflect

Hope that clear up some murky stuff
K

 

[Izzy2]

check out this link. It gives some more details on the project.
I found it in another thread on LEDs.

http://www.greenneedle.co.uk/LED1.html

 

[Arkangel77]

That does clear it up - thank you - I need to do some digging and see what I come up with. Thank you all

 

[Arkangel77]

WELL It looks like this http://cgi.ebay.com/LED-Driver-Swit...0?hash=item2e9f3ad301&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 says it s a "LED Driver Switching Power Supply Transformer" It has an output of 12V & 15 Watts. SO Would I be correct in assuming you could run four 3 watt LED's off of one of these Drivers?

Perhapse some like these? http://cgi.ebay.com/5pcs-3Watt-White-High-Power-led-95-110-Lumen-NEW_W0QQitemZ180366696487QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item29feb16027&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I am sure I am just being thick but how does the wattage play into all this? I saw drivers on ebay listed that put out LESS wattage than 15. This one only putts out 5 watts http://cgi.ebay.com/LED-Driver-Swit...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

 

[Ramphonic]

I used 2 of these blue leds for my moonlights. http://www.oznium.com/prewired-superflux

I have the 2 running off an old cell phone charger (like 5 volts) which dims them out but its fine for my application. They are very bright with 12 volts as I used some in my fiances car too.

That company sells the 12 volt adapters too as people use them for accent lighting in their house etc. http://www.oznium.com/ac-adapter

 

[thesixis]

Is anybody useing them on larger tanks (75)?

 

[kanvas]

WELL It looks like this http://cgi.ebay.com/LED-Driver-Swit...0?hash=item2e9f3ad301&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 says it s a "LED Driver Switching Power Supply Transformer" It has an output of 12V & 15 Watts. SO Would I be correct in assuming you could run four 3 watt LED's off of one of these Drivers?

Those are power Supply, you will need one of those, they convert household outlet AC to DC that the driver use.

Drivers are these things:
http://cgi.ebay.com/3W-LED-Driver-f...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

 

[kanvas]

Perhapse some like these? http://cgi.ebay.com/5pcs-3Watt-Whit...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

Those are 3W LEDs, you can use them, they're very bright.
I think any white LED is around 5000K too 7000K
Warm white is 3000-5000K

 

[kanvas]

I am sure I am just being thick but how does the wattage play into all this? I saw drivers on ebay listed that put out LESS wattage than 15. This one only putts out 5 watts http://cgi.ebay.com/LED-Driver-Switching-Power-Supply-Transformer-5Watt-12V_W0QQitemZ390045352747QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad083c32b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

DC power supply need to supply enough wattage to keep every thing running at normal output.
if you use 10 x 3w LEDs, then you'll need something minimum a 35W DC supply (extra 5W for the drivers)

if you use a 5w supply, and string 10w worth of LEDs on it, depend on the supply and driver you have, they maybe barely on or not on at all