DIY water cooled 5' LED fixture

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by Paul B, Dec 1, 2015.

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  1. Paul B

    Paul B Astrea Snail

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    My original LED fixture for my tank I built a few years ago and it is built out of square aluminum tubing and has fans that draw air through the tubes to cool it. I got tired of it and there was far to few LEDs on it for my reef. I am building this water cooled copper fixture that has twice as many LEDs on it. The water will flow through the copper tubing to a DIY radiator through a pump and a water flow switch that turns on the lights when the pump starts. It is almost completed.
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    Here is where I stole the LEDs from.

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  3. kornaco40B

    kornaco40B Spaghetti Worm

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    Interesting and pretty nifty DIY, I must say. Lots of time and effort obviously. I'm wondering if you've tested this water-cooling on a smaller scale or at all? Just asking because I'm curious if condensation is going to be a concern and/or annoyance.
     
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  4. Paul B

    Paul B Astrea Snail

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    Condensation only happens when you run cold water through a pipe, this water will always be warm due to the LEDs. It will also have an acrylic shield under the entire thing for splashing which is a problem on my existing fixture. I tested it on my workbench and it stays about room temperature. The thin tubing for the heat exchanger is on order and so is the circulating pump. I am having some right hand surgery tomorrow so won't be able to solder for a while but I will manage. I also built this water flow/shut off valve that will turn on the LEDs when it detects that the water is flowing. I want the lights to shut off if the water stops so they don't overheat. I should be able to run the LEDs at full power due to this cooling. Do I need a water cooled LED fixture? Of course not. But I like building things and love to work with copper,

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    The picture below is a mistake and I can't delete it.
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  5. kornaco40B

    kornaco40B Spaghetti Worm

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    Gotcha! It's cool piping for sure. Hope your surgery goes well.
     
  6. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    I'm a bit confused...I don't mean to be critical either...if you're pumping water to cool the fixture/leds, than I'm under the assumption that the water will be cooler (even .00001 degrees) than the surrounding environment (heat given off by LEDs) hence cooling it. Won't this difference in temperatures create atleast some condensation over time? Maybe not like a cool glass of water on a summer day, but surely some will form, even over time?
     
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  7. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    Time is money, I think I'd rather just buy an led fixture(s). With that said, cool DIY.
     
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  9. Paul B

    Paul B Astrea Snail

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    VA Reef, The water in the fixture will always be warm due to the heat from the LEDs. There will be be no condensation. For condensation to occur the temp of the pipe has to be lower than the dew point and this will be much higher. There is also going to be an acrylic shield under this fixture. If there is a very light condensation it will evaporate before it drips, but that won't happen.

    Civiccars I don't buy anything and not because I am cheap, and time, in my case is not money as I am retired. Of course I can buy a light. I can also buy skimmers, ATOs, food and rocks, but I prefer to make all of that stuff. It is part of my hobby and I just love to build things. I have 2 patents for aquarium related devices (which I do not sell and I won't mention them because this is a commercial site and I am not looking to make any money.)
    I also don't want a tank just like any other tank which is another reason I would rather build m own stuff.
    I just got home form the hospital after having some hand and knee surgery and found that my circulating pump for this fixture arrived. I figured I would post this before the anesthetic wears off and I start screaming so I am typing, not very fast with a finger on my left hand. [​IMG]
    This is one of my homemade "rocks" which is hollow. I collected all of my rock in the sea but over the years replaced about 40% of it with rocks I built just because I like them better.

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    Here is a 4' rock during construction and completed.
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    And my 5' skimmer. I just like building things, what can I tell you.

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  10. Paul B

    Paul B Astrea Snail

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    You can see that 4' skinny "rock here over the Idol in this old picture.
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  11. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    so glad to hear that your surgery went well :) I'm always impressed with people that have building skills. Interesting concept and the light looks really good! Hope your hand and knee recover quickly without too much screaming
     
  12. Paul B

    Paul B Astrea Snail

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    Thanks, I Try to only screem when there are no Supermodels around. Now the anesthetic is wearing off and no one is around so I will screem a while. :eek: