LEDs

[pilot_bell777]

Does anyone know if or how to take the little LEDs that you can get at Radioshack and wire them to a plug of some sort?????

Or how to make Moonlights out of them?

JB 8)

[Henry]

I've done it. i'll look up the plans. Pretty much took a power adapter for an answering machine and a resistor.

[LoneStar]

I bought the LED's and resistors on Ebay for $.99 but lost the wiring diagram. If anyone has one to post that will help me out.....

[hobogato]

ill draw one up later and send it to you in a PM. just dont have time right now, but probably this evening.

[LoneStar]

I was messing with it at work. Just put the resistor on the negative side of the LED (no resistor needed on the positive side) and then hook up to a 12v power supply. Pretty easy....

[hobogato]

yep. run them all parallel not in series.

[pilot_bell777]

What do you use for a plug in twelve volt power supply? Don't want to run another converted computer power supply

[hobogato]

i bought a 12v power supply at radio shack that came with a plug adapter that just spliced into the wires for the led lights.



3-12VDC/800mA Regulated AC-to-DC Adapter

$17.99
Model: 273-1667
Catalog #: 273-1667

[pilot_bell777]

So do you stick a resistor bweteen each led?

I'll wait on that wiring diagram.

[LoneStar]

You can get the 12v power supply either at Radio Shack or Altex. I just clipped the end off and solder new wire to the ends. Then just figure out how far you need to run the wires. Then I guess you can either have a splitter to all of your lights or just make a junction box that will split the power between them. Run them in parellel (if you run them in series bad things will happen lol). You just need a resistor on the negative (-) side of the LED (or at least thats what my directions said). I'm not sure which resistor to get because I bought the LED's and resistors together on Ebay.

[LoneStar]

I'm soldering up mine at work now!

shhhh! don't tell my boss....

[hobogato]

that is a real PITA! i spent hours soldering mine, of course i have 40 LEDs on two power supplies

[LoneStar]

that is a real PITA!


Its not too bad! Of course I do this sort of thing everyday. Got a photo of all those LED's on your tank hobo?

[hobogato]

here they are on the 125 (before the changeover to the 240)

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=hobogato&id=aiv&op=modlo ad&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

[subber]

I've got what you need Pilot, give me a call...............

[pilot_bell777]

Sorry Subber....I'm happily married! LOL JJ


What do you have? A million dollars tax free?

[LoneStar]

http://www.maast.org/albums/hobogato/aiv.jpg

COOL :pics

[hobogato]

thanks, its actually brighter than that.

[hobogato]

here is a piece of one of the strips i made with PVC.

[subber]

I made mine differently, I used a strip of pre punched PC board and soldered everything on the back. This is the one I use on the 20 gal Nano, but I have one that only has four lights for a smaller Nano too. I used a small transformer from a kids toy train to give me the voltage which cost all of $0.75 at an overstock electronics site and the LED's are 3/8 "water" lens blue which were $1.05 each but are hyper blue in color and output. Great little project and the fish seem to like it too.

By the way, had to use some attenuation on the lit pic as they really are bright!!

[LoneStar]

With Actinics on only....

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/LoneStarSA/moonlight2.jpg

With 10 LED Moonlights on only....of course the photo sucks but it looks a WHOLE lot better in person. The lights work very well and will be a nice touch. Only $6 too! WOOT!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/LoneStarSA/100_1991.jpg

[hobogato]

wow, thats a big picture :D :lol :lol

i know what you mean about looks better in person, the pics never turn out for the moonlights!

looks great anyway :shades

[LoneStar]

I tried shrinking it but it didn't work well with there not being enough light. lol I'll try someother time for a better photo.

[deast7]

Hey Guys,

That's an awesome look -- I'd be interested in putting something together like that if anyone had a schematic and description for dummys (I have never put together something like it but have a little mechanical/electrical ability) that they wouldn't mind sharing. Thanks.

Cheers,

Dave