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View Full Version : DIY Luxim Plasma + 24 Royal Blue LED Light in Lumenarc Reflector 4 Sale


dipan
Mon, 24th Jan 2011, 07:14 PM
I experimented with this, but didn't actually use it. I think someone might be interested in it. Includes drivers for LED and plasma as well as power supply for plasma. Not particularly pretty, but pretty neat, high tech, very DIY. Something minor wrong with one of the LED strings, a wire might have come loose or the dimming circuit is not working properly. Should be an easy fix.

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/plamaled003.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/plamaled006.jpg

$250 firm. I have over $1000 in this and lots of time.
StevenSeas
Mon, 24th Jan 2011, 08:33 PM
wow that is extremely tempting. Wish I hadnt just spent most of my tank allowance. How did the overall color end up coming out? How long are the plasma bulbs? supposed to last/need replacing?
Teeb
Mon, 24th Jan 2011, 09:11 PM
I'm trying desperately to come up with a use for this.
dipan
Mon, 24th Jan 2011, 09:21 PM
Color temperature came out looking 10-12Kish with the LED's running. The color temp of the plasma bulb is pretty warm by itself at maximum intensity. This bulb is dimmable, however, also with 0-10V analog dimming. When dimmed, it's color spectrum shifts to more blue. Full power is 250 watts putting out light equivalent of 400 watt MH. Dimmed might suit those with bluer tastes more, but I haven't tried it out on a tank yet. The Royal Blue Cree 3ups are a total of 72 watts (24 LED's at 3 watts each).

Plasma bulbs are supposed to last 10000 hours. So significantly longer than MH, but not as long as LED. This would need a glass shield. There is a slot for it at the bottom of the Lumenarc fixture. This would be for UV protection. Not sure if plasma even puts out UV though. I was planning on investing in a UV meter but never got around to it.

Here is a glassbox-design link (http://glassbox-design.com/2009/diy-plasma-light-aquarium-luxim/) showing my original test results. This is before the LED's, so the PAR must be huge with them.
dipan
Mon, 24th Jan 2011, 09:26 PM
My floor tiles (beige) with a white piece of paper and clear glass of water under plasma alone:

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/plamaled005.jpg

With LED's on:

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/plamaled004.jpg

Keep in mind, guys, you will either need to supply 9-10V to the LED drivers and the plasma driver dimming circuits with a regulated wall wart, or use an analog control circuit 0-10V on an aquarium controller if you want to be able to dim. You would need two channels on your controller to be able to dim independently.

For my testing I just used a 9 volt battery :)
dipan
Mon, 24th Jan 2011, 09:31 PM
YouTube video of Cherry Corals testing of same bulb in same reflector (no LED's) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqYl0ksLlho)
Jarob
Tue, 25th Jan 2011, 01:09 AM
Oh man this is too cool! Im considering it...
SirReal63
Fri, 28th Jan 2011, 01:28 PM
Highly interested. How is the spread? I will be lighting your old Pentagon, 40x40". :-)
ErikH
Fri, 28th Jan 2011, 01:36 PM
Highly interested. How is the spread? I will be lighting your old Pentagon, 40x40". :-)


DOOO ITTT!
dipan
Fri, 28th Jan 2011, 01:37 PM
Highly interested. How is the spread? I will be lighting your old Pentagon, 40x40". :-)

It should light that no problem. A reunion of sorts! Cool. Hope you have a way of making it look decent because it is very DIY looking as in the pics ... :)
SirReal63
Fri, 28th Jan 2011, 02:02 PM
That is part two of the equation, I just moved in with my significant other, and suddenly aesthetics are important. I finished the stand to closely match the furniture and am about to re-fill the tank and work on a hood for the LumenArc Mini's. I am not afraid of the woodworking, but there is a lot of hardware there to work into a sleek hood. From the pics it looks like a large LA...is it? 19.5x19.5?
dipan
Fri, 28th Jan 2011, 05:18 PM
That is part two of the equation, I just moved in with my significant other, and suddenly aesthetics are important. I finished the stand to closely match the furniture and am about to re-fill the tank and work on a hood for the LumenArc Mini's. I am not afraid of the woodworking, but there is a lot of hardware there to work into a sleek hood. From the pics it looks like a large LA...is it? 19.5x19.5?

Yes it is a large Lumenarc 3 reflector. Only way I can imagine it being aesthetically pleasing is to build it into an open topped box, then suspending it.
dipan
Wed, 16th Feb 2011, 02:26 PM
Well, good news is I fixed the LEDs that were out. Turned out one of the solder points popped. I'm burning it in now to make sure that it runs for at least 4 hours. It was a simple fix as I figured.

Bad news is this light is now pending ...
SirReal63
Wed, 16th Feb 2011, 02:43 PM
I hope Erik bought it. :D

I think pending is a good thing. :-)
ErikH
Wed, 16th Feb 2011, 03:30 PM
Nope I didn't get it, but I know who did! :P
Gseclipse02
Wed, 16th Feb 2011, 08:58 PM
cant wait to see it in action
shookbrad
Mon, 29th Aug 2011, 09:27 PM
If this is still for sale I am interested in it.
ReefCube
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 07:47 AM
1.21!! gigawatts (back to the future)
ErikH
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 08:11 AM
It has been sold. Dipan, post some pics dude!
dipan
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 12:14 PM
Sorry, the plasma has been sold ...

Erik, what do you want to see?
ErikH
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 01:09 PM
Fish and Corals! :)
Mr Cob
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 01:14 PM
fraaaaunk and beans!
CoryDude
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 10:22 PM
I think Roy Balentine bought it. Sorry, I'm horrible at remembering names
txav8r
Tue, 30th Aug 2011, 10:43 PM
Lol Cory!
dipan
Wed, 31st Aug 2011, 10:14 AM
Troy Valentine bought it. What's fraunks and beans mean?

Erik ... You want pics of a few dartfish and a fairy wrasse in a rock filled tank over-run with diatoms and hair algae, some early cyano? Ha ... Nothing pretty yet. I think I have too big a cleanup crew. I'm worried they may not be eating enough so I'm overfeeding the fish!