Tank is looking good
you need to get a few full tank pictures going
when are the lights goonna be finished mad to see them
After almost 1 year testing the light on 2 different tanks I think is enough to "understand" it. I found some flaws and I see good things, so I am really close by final version
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- change 1 - designed a power board, capable to handle 4 Meanwell LDD drivers (LDD-H or LDD-L 1000-1200-1500 mA versions), 2 different types of DC/DC drivers for fan power, also some extra connectors for PWM signal, so I can add thermal protections to light.
- change 2 - putting the fan inside the light, rather than on it. Dont have any functional reason, but rather aesthetics.
- Change 3 - with the existing module (around 125W) fan start from time to time and works couple of minutes to keep the system at 40°C, I decided to go on with power. New will be around 180W on LEDs, something around >200W from wall plug. I just received Friday the new LED boards (second picture) - 20mm wide, 3 channels each, 16 LEDs. Each fixture will have 4 such boards, theoretical 12 channels and by alternating the LEDs in this way and put them close to each other - great color mixing and no disco effects. Also plan to go from 1/1 deep-blue / white ratio to 2/1, as today i keep the whites at 30-40% to have a good color. 1/1 ratio create a warm looking tank, even if using neutral white leds.
Two such modules above tank will have enough power to keep anything in it.
On the led board, channels A and B footprints are for Osram LEDs and CREE XBDs, and channel C is mainly for CREE XP footprint. I still will use same crazy approach (some may say this, but is the normal and decent way to power the LEDs) by powering all LEDs at 50-70% max current. Oslon Signals, CREE XPG, etc