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Water cooled LED fixture
- Thread starter Paul B
- Start date
Paul B
NJRC Member
A friend gave me fifty lenses for my new water cooled LED fixture. They made a big difference and now I don't go blind when I open the front of the tank. They also cut down on the scattered light that was going all over the place as I hate to see the back of the tank. I still need about 20 more lenses and I did drop some in the water, they don't float and I can't find them. I will eventually.
The lenses didn't push on like they are supposed to because I didn't wire them the way they were meant to be wired. They came off a printed circuit board and I have wires soldered to them that does not allow the lens to fit. I solved the problem by cutting off the sides of the lens to make room for the wires. That allowed the lens to fit but they were very loose so I had to epoxy them to the LEDs which was easy.
Here is the cut lenses along with one that is not cut.
The lenses once again let the back of the tank go dark as I like it. I still need more lenses but all of the front and rear LEDs have lenses on them
The lenses didn't push on like they are supposed to because I didn't wire them the way they were meant to be wired. They came off a printed circuit board and I have wires soldered to them that does not allow the lens to fit. I solved the problem by cutting off the sides of the lens to make room for the wires. That allowed the lens to fit but they were very loose so I had to epoxy them to the LEDs which was easy.
Here is the cut lenses along with one that is not cut.
The lenses once again let the back of the tank go dark as I like it. I still need more lenses but all of the front and rear LEDs have lenses on them
I'm not sure if it's a plumber's nightmare or a Rube Goldberg....but either way, it's looking good Paul.
It's one thing if this was done 20 years ago or so when copper was cheap, but I'm now probably looking at $40-$50 in copper alone!
That's just my two cents, but I can see you've already slapped down your two cents in the upper corner of the above photo!
It's one thing if this was done 20 years ago or so when copper was cheap, but I'm now probably looking at $40-$50 in copper alone!
That's just my two cents, but I can see you've already slapped down your two cents in the upper corner of the above photo!
Paul B
NJRC Member
Those two cents are all I have left. This silly thing along with the LEDs and copper frame that is going on cost me about a hundred bucks. But, I have gotten two hundred bucks of enjoyment out of it. Of course I could buy a fixture. I don't really "need" a fixture. I just needed something to occupy my mind for a few hours. I find this stuff fascinating and my life is full of DIY stuff. This design "hit" me at night. (I rarely sleep) This light will be vertical so I can take advantage of the fact that heat rises and I won't need a pump. The water will be heated by the LEDs and rise up toward the heat exchanger where it will be cooled and sink back to the LED frame. (in theory anyway) I only have an inch of space for the lights in front of my algae scrubber or I would have mounted the fan right on the fixture. Instead, the heat exchanger will be mounted remote from the fixture. I love it.
Those pennies are actually the copper I will be soldering to the pipe frame to mount the LEDs because these red ones are much bigger than the ones I used for the original water cooled LED fixture that is working beyond my wildest dreams. Well not my wildest dreams, they involve Supermodels.
Those pennies are actually the copper I will be soldering to the pipe frame to mount the LEDs because these red ones are much bigger than the ones I used for the original water cooled LED fixture that is working beyond my wildest dreams. Well not my wildest dreams, they involve Supermodels.
Paul B
NJRC Member
I realize it is hard to tell what this thing is, but it is my water cooled LED fixture for my algae scrubber. The red LEDs will be mounted on the back side on copper disks and the thing will transfer heat passively to the fan operated radiator through convection. It is in this shape because I only have 2" of space in front of the scrubber so the radiator needed to be mounted off to one side and slightly above in order for the heated water to rise to the heat exchanger. After I get it wired and installed I will take another picture which hopefully will clarify how it works. (If it works)
Paul B
NJRC Member
Anyone can buy a light, but not this light.
I love the thing but I love all weird things.
Horseplay, I have been working on a motor for a number of years that is run using gravity and heat from the sun. It seems to work (in my head) but I have not built it yet. I just need some time.
I love the thing but I love all weird things.
Horseplay, I have been working on a motor for a number of years that is run using gravity and heat from the sun. It seems to work (in my head) but I have not built it yet. I just need some time.
Paul B
NJRC Member
What do you know? It works! I am running a test now to see if it gets hot.
If it works and stays cool for an hour, I will make the splash shield and install it.
While I was waiting for this to warm up, I made some stuffed calamari that will knock your socks off. They are in season now and are all over the place.
If it works and stays cool for an hour, I will make the splash shield and install it.
While I was waiting for this to warm up, I made some stuffed calamari that will knock your socks off. They are in season now and are all over the place.
Paul B
NJRC Member
I am happy to report the water cooled LED fixture has worked "almost" flawlessly. I did have to replace two (I think) LEDs but I did get them from an old fixture and I don't know how old it was but I know many of the LEDs on it didn't work. I still have a bunch of them left over and they are not to difficult to change.
I have also been building other Steampunk stuff since then as I am in Steampunk Mode lately. I love anything metal, especially copper or brass. This first light is PVC and painted to look like aged brass. The second one was a red fire extinguisher. In both lamps the valve turns them on and the first one has bubbles generated in the water.
I have also been building other Steampunk stuff since then as I am in Steampunk Mode lately. I love anything metal, especially copper or brass. This first light is PVC and painted to look like aged brass. The second one was a red fire extinguisher. In both lamps the valve turns them on and the first one has bubbles generated in the water.
