I would love to have a moonlight system in my tank. [Archive]

Scott

May 18th 05, 03:59 AM

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> I've been thinking that it would be cool to have a moonlight light in
> my tank.
>
> I am not sure if freshwater fish care for it, but it would just add a
> bit more realism to the tank for the fish. :)
> And I could sneak on them and see what they are doing, especially the
> crabs and shrimps. :)
>
> The systems sold on ebay are imo expensive for what it is.
>
> Any good diy places or stores that have cheap systems?
>
> What should I be looking for excatly anyway?
>
> Anyone has one in their tanks?

I just bought a DIY system off ebay a few weeks ago. 10 LED's, resistors,
and you wire and mount it yourself. Cost me $8. Looks great on my 55 gallon
tank, and the LED's mounted nicely into my existing flourescent fixtures.
Not for the faint of heart with drilling and wiring - but it really only
required basic electrical knowledge. I added a couple of things - a switch
box, and jumpers from one light to another (I have two flourescent fixtures
on the tank) so that I could disconnect the light hoods from each other.

---scott

Daniel Morrow

May 19th 05, 02:15 AM

I am thinking of making my own out of $01.00 in parts. Another user around
these newsgroups posted a green led light he permanently installed for night
viewing and it revealed what might have been a crustacean in the dark of
night highlighted by the led. You can make your own if you are into
electronics. I am going to use the ohm's law calculation method for the
led(s) and resister(s) and probably a diode or 2. I want to make a moonlight
simulator this way but with a blue led. Should be a piece of cake in fact I
will probably have parts left over given parts are usually sold in bulk when
cheap enough. You can find all of the ohm's law calculators and other
information you need on the web and probably some newsgroups. Good luck and
later!
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> I've been thinking that it would be cool to have a moonlight light in
> my tank.
>
> I am not sure if freshwater fish care for it, but it would just add a
> bit more realism to the tank for the fish. :)
> And I could sneak on them and see what they are doing, especially the
> crabs and shrimps. :)
>
> The systems sold on ebay are imo expensive for what it is.
>
> Any good diy places or stores that have cheap systems?
>
> What should I be looking for excatly anyway?
>
> Anyone has one in their tanks?
>

Angrie.Woman

May 19th 05, 09:53 PM

"Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
...
>

>
> I just bought a DIY system off ebay a few weeks ago. 10 LED's, resistors,
> and you wire and mount it yourself. Cost me $8. Looks great on my 55
> gallon tank, and the LED's mounted nicely into my existing flourescent
> fixtures. Not for the faint of heart with drilling and wiring - but it
> really only required basic electrical knowledge. I added a couple of
> things - a switch box, and jumpers from one light to another (I have two
> flourescent fixtures on the tank) so that I could disconnect the light
> hoods from each other.

Does the seller routinely sell them? If so, maybe you can link to one to
show us.

A

Scott

May 20th 05, 03:58 AM

"Angrie.Woman" > wrote in message
m...
>
> "Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
> ...
>>
>
>>
>> I just bought a DIY system off ebay a few weeks ago. 10 LED's, resistors,
>> and you wire and mount it yourself. Cost me $8. Looks great on my 55
>> gallon tank, and the LED's mounted nicely into my existing flourescent
>> fixtures. Not for the faint of heart with drilling and wiring - but it
>> really only required basic electrical knowledge. I added a couple of
>> things - a switch box, and jumpers from one light to another (I have two
>> flourescent fixtures on the tank) so that I could disconnect the light
>> hoods from each other.
>
> Does the seller routinely sell them? If so, maybe you can link to one to
> show us.
>
> A
>

Yeah, he still has them available...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4383295398&rd=1

One of the LED's was burned out when I got it, or I did something to the LED
or resistor when I wired it, so I e-mailed the guy and asked if he could
send me another LED/resistor pair and he sent two within a week. I was very
satisfied with the seller and the purchase.

---scott

[email protected]

May 20th 05, 06:57 AM

Let us know how your project develops.

Daniel Morrow

May 20th 05, 11:16 PM

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Let us know how your project develops.

Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I am
going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77 which
incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from radioshack.
The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is $0.99
and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to the wall
socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law calculator on
a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in half by
the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only lets the
currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029 amps
approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage)) appear
after the website program (I think this one used java) finished calculating
all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification that
does let less current through compared to the calculation's recommendation
but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if the
light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
website's specification display on the website that this led needs .030 amps
to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor selection lets
it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough for a
good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about 470
ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to easily
handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I can't
recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake for me,
because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie getting
shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small but a
shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less expensive
than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue etc.
leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still expensive
compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel. Later
all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here especially
because I like to learn.

Daniel Morrow

May 20th 05, 11:55 PM

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Let us know how your project develops.
>
>
> Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I am
> going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77 which
> incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from radioshack.
> The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is
$0.99
> and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to the
wall
> socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law calculator
on
> a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in half
by
> the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only lets
the
> currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029 amps
> approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage))
appear
> after the website program (I think this one used java) finished
calculating
> all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
> radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification that
> does let less current through compared to the calculation's recommendation
> but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if the
> light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
> difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
> website's specification display on the website that this led needs .030
amps
> to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor selection
lets
> it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough for a
> good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
470
> ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to easily
> handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I can't
> recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake for
me,
> because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie getting
> shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small but
a
> shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less
expensive
> than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue etc.
> leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still
expensive
> compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel.
Later
> all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here especially
> because I like to learn.
>
>

First project update - I will be connecting everything in series (not
parallel as I was saying about the resistors), connecting the right
resistors in parallel is definitely possible it's just I am going to be
cheap about it, parallel is harder to deal with but can be made easy with a
proper resistance parallel calculator. Sorry about the discrepancy, later!

Richard Blincoe

May 21st 05, 04:24 AM

I would tend towards using a transformer plug pack to drop the voltage and
possibly rectify to DC both for your own safety and LED's are not renowned
(or at least were not when I was playing with electronics a few years back)
for running well on AC without a second standard rectify diode to shunt the
reverse polarity.....

A plug pack should not add much to the cost but could add lots to the safety
as opposed to putting a current limited, but still relatively high voltage
near water....

cheers

Richard

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> ...
> > > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> > > Let us know how your project develops.
> >
> >
> > Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I am
> > going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77 which
> > incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from
radioshack.
> > The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is
> $0.99
> > and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to the
> wall
> > socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law calculator
> on
> > a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in half
> by
> > the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only lets
> the
> > currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029
amps
> > approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage))
> appear
> > after the website program (I think this one used java) finished
> calculating
> > all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
> > radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification
that
> > does let less current through compared to the calculation's
recommendation
> > but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if
the
> > light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
> > difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
> > website's specification display on the website that this led needs .030
> amps
> > to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor selection
> lets
> > it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough for
a
> > good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
> 470
> > ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
easily
> > handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I can't
> > recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake for
> me,
> > because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie getting
> > shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small
but
> a
> > shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less
> expensive
> > than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue
etc.
> > leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still
> expensive
> > compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel.
> Later
> > all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here especially
> > because I like to learn.
> >
> >
>
> First project update - I will be connecting everything in series (not
> parallel as I was saying about the resistors), connecting the right
> resistors in parallel is definitely possible it's just I am going to be
> cheap about it, parallel is harder to deal with but can be made easy with
a
> proper resistance parallel calculator. Sorry about the discrepancy, later!
>
>

Scott

May 21st 05, 06:03 PM

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Let us know how your project develops.
>
>
> Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I am
> going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77 which
> incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from radioshack.
> The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is
> $0.99
> and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to the
> wall
> socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law calculator
> on
> a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in half
> by
> the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only lets
> the
> currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029 amps
> approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage))
> appear
> after the website program (I think this one used java) finished
> calculating
> all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
> radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification that
> does let less current through compared to the calculation's recommendation
> but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if the
> light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
> difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
> website's specification display on the website that this led needs .030
> amps
> to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor selection
> lets
> it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough for a
> good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
> 470
> ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to easily
> handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I can't
> recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake for
> me,
> because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie getting
> shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small but
> a
> shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less
> expensive
> than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue etc.
> leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still
> expensive
> compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel.
> Later
> all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here especially
> because I like to learn.
>
>

The "ebay dude" supplied 470 ohm resistors and 4500 mcd blue LED's. My
system runs on 12 volts from a scavenged wall-wart power supply to avoid
having 120volts right next to the water. The LED's mounted quite easily in
my existing light fixtures, and were wired in parallel with the resistor on
the negative side of the LED. The power supply is a 12 volt 500mA supply.

---scott

Daniel Morrow

May 21st 05, 11:31 PM

"Richard Blincoe" > wrote in message
...
> I would tend towards using a transformer plug pack to drop the voltage and
> possibly rectify to DC both for your own safety and LED's are not renowned
> (or at least were not when I was playing with electronics a few years
back)
> for running well on AC without a second standard rectify diode to shunt
the
> reverse polarity.....
>
> A plug pack should not add much to the cost but could add lots to the
safety
> as opposed to putting a current limited, but still relatively high voltage
> near water....
>
> cheers
>
> Richard

Thanks for the info Richard! I might cannibalize a rectifier from an already
cannibalized power strip, 2 reasons I am doing what I am doing in this way
is cost and I am trying to emulate conditions from something already done -
mainly powerstrip leds. Safety isn't too much of an issue here since I use
gfcis with water equipment just in case. Thanks, further info is welcome
from anyone, later!

Daniel Morrow

May 22nd 05, 12:05 AM

"Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
...
>
> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> ...
> > > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> >> Let us know how your project develops.
> >
> >
> > Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I am
> > going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77 which
> > incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from
radioshack.
> > The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is
> > $0.99
> > and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to the
> > wall
> > socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law calculator
> > on
> > a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in half
> > by
> > the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only lets
> > the
> > currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029
amps
> > approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage))
> > appear
> > after the website program (I think this one used java) finished
> > calculating
> > all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
> > radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification
that
> > does let less current through compared to the calculation's
recommendation
> > but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if
the
> > light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
> > difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
> > website's specification display on the website that this led needs .030
> > amps
> > to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor selection
> > lets
> > it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough for
a
> > good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
> > 470
> > ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
easily
> > handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I can't
> > recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake for
> > me,
> > because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie getting
> > shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small
but
> > a
> > shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less
> > expensive
> > than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue
etc.
> > leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still
> > expensive
> > compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel.
> > Later
> > all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here especially
> > because I like to learn.
> >
> >
>
> The "ebay dude" supplied 470 ohm resistors and 4500 mcd blue LED's. My
> system runs on 12 volts from a scavenged wall-wart power supply to avoid
> having 120volts right next to the water. The LED's mounted quite easily in
> my existing light fixtures, and were wired in parallel with the resistor
on
> the negative side of the LED. The power supply is a 12 volt 500mA supply.
>
> ---scott
>
>
Cool scott, I am debating with myself if the led will work for years with
the ac wall power to led/resistor or with a cannibalized power supply. I am
pretty sure I can find a 12 volt wall-mount transformer power supply from
another device and the one thing I left out of my plan was making sure the
led can handle a peak reverse voltage of 60 volts which I don't have the
specs for the led to find that out with. While the parts are shipping I will
consider as much as I can. Later! P.S. - any way about this I will be able
to use all of the ordered parts, it's just a matter of using a cannibalized
power supply in addition or a scavenged rectifier. Later!

Scott

May 23rd 05, 06:47 AM

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > > wrote in message
>> > oups.com...
>> >> Let us know how your project develops.
>> >
>> >
>> > Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I am
>> > going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77 which
>> > incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from
> radioshack.
>> > The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is
>> > $0.99
>> > and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to the
>> > wall
>> > socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law
>> > calculator
>> > on
>> > a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in
>> > half
>> > by
>> > the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only lets
>> > the
>> > currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029
> amps
>> > approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage))
>> > appear
>> > after the website program (I think this one used java) finished
>> > calculating
>> > all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
>> > radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification
> that
>> > does let less current through compared to the calculation's
> recommendation
>> > but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if
> the
>> > light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
>> > difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
>> > website's specification display on the website that this led needs .030
>> > amps
>> > to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor selection
>> > lets
>> > it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough
>> > for
> a
>> > good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
>> > 470
>> > ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
> easily
>> > handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I
>> > can't
>> > recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake for
>> > me,
>> > because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie getting
>> > shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small
> but
>> > a
>> > shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less
>> > expensive
>> > than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue
> etc.
>> > leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still
>> > expensive
>> > compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel.
>> > Later
>> > all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here especially
>> > because I like to learn.
>> >
>> >
>>
>> The "ebay dude" supplied 470 ohm resistors and 4500 mcd blue LED's. My
>> system runs on 12 volts from a scavenged wall-wart power supply to avoid
>> having 120volts right next to the water. The LED's mounted quite easily
>> in
>> my existing light fixtures, and were wired in parallel with the resistor
> on
>> the negative side of the LED. The power supply is a 12 volt 500mA supply.
>>
>> ---scott
>>
>>
> Cool scott, I am debating with myself if the led will work for years with
> the ac wall power to led/resistor or with a cannibalized power supply. I
> am
> pretty sure I can find a 12 volt wall-mount transformer power supply from
> another device and the one thing I left out of my plan was making sure the
> led can handle a peak reverse voltage of 60 volts which I don't have the
> specs for the led to find that out with. While the parts are shipping I
> will
> consider as much as I can. Later! P.S. - any way about this I will be able
> to use all of the ordered parts, it's just a matter of using a
> cannibalized
> power supply in addition or a scavenged rectifier. Later!
>
>

I have no idea how long the LED's will last, the actual electronics of them
is a little beyond my knowledge. I did post a few pictures to
alt.binaries.aquaria showing how it looks when running though. IMHO, it adds
a nice effect to the tank, since a lot of the time, I am awake when the
lights are out. I run the main tank lights later in the afternoon into the
early evening for the enjoyment of my kids and my girlfriend. I am up later
at night and enjoy my fish with some lighting from the flourescents and then
the "moonlight".

---scott

Daniel Morrow

May 23rd 05, 11:50 PM

"Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
...
>
> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > ...
> >>
> >> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > > wrote in message
> >> > oups.com...
> >> >> Let us know how your project develops.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Project officially started joe! I must preface this with news that I
am
> >> > going to eat crow on the cost of this project. It cost me $09.77
which
> >> > incudes shipping with that. These are all standard parts from
> > radioshack.
> >> > The blue led is approximately 3-4 dollars, the 5 pack of resistors is
> >> > $0.99
> >> > and the extension cord I am going to cannibalize as a connection to
the
> >> > wall
> >> > socket is approximately 2-3 dollars. I first used a ohm's law
> >> > calculator
> >> > on
> >> > a website where you enter 2 specs (the voltage at 60 (120 ac cut in
> >> > half
> >> > by
> >> > the led as a led is a light emitting diode - hence diode that only
lets
> >> > the
> >> > currwent flow in one direction on a conductor), the amperage at .029
> > amps
> >> > approximately) and the other 2 (resistance, and power (i.w. wattage))
> >> > appear
> >> > after the website program (I think this one used java) finished
> >> > calculating
> >> > all 4 of those facts are displayed. Then I did manual searches on
> >> > radioshack's website until I found a suitable resistor specification
> > that
> >> > does let less current through compared to the calculation's
> > recommendation
> >> > but that's o.k. as it will let sufficient current through, so what if
> > the
> >> > light isn't technically as bright - I probably wouldn't notice any
> >> > difference in a hands on comparison anyways. I knew from radioshack's
> >> > website's specification display on the website that this led needs
..030
> >> > amps
> >> > to work (30 milliamps) at optimal conditions and my resistor
selection
> >> > lets
> >> > it use approximately .025 amps (25 milliamps) which should be enough
> >> > for
> > a
> >> > good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at
about
> >> > 470
> >> > ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
> > easily
> >> > handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance. I
> >> > can't
> >> > recommend this project to everyone even though it's a piece of cake
for
> >> > me,
> >> > because wall power is involved and I would hate to see a newbie
getting
> >> > shocked or worse - electrocuted. The chance of electrocution is small
> > but
> >> > a
> >> > shock is no fun either. Also - the ebay dude sounds slightly less
> >> > expensive
> >> > than my example but I don't know if he supplies red/orange/green/blue
> > etc.
> >> > leds but I am definitely using a blue led and blue leds are still
> >> > expensive
> >> > compared to the others. My 5 resistors will be connected in parallel.
> >> > Later
> >> > all and any criticisms, comments, etc. are all welcome here
especially
> >> > because I like to learn.
>
> I posted a couple of pictures of the system running at night in
> alt.binaries.aquaria
>
> ---scott

Your moonlight system looks good Scott! I plan on running one blue low
intensity led for now off of a 12 volt transformer and will add much more
later. At the very least at first mine won't look super great but later it
should improve with additions. You got a real good deal from the ebay dude -
9 bucks and you're all set. That's less money for more blue leds. Later!

Scott

May 23rd 05, 11:57 PM

Scott

May 24th 05, 04:06 AM

<big snip>

>> I posted a couple of pictures of the system running at night in
>> alt.binaries.aquaria
>>
>> ---scott
>
>
> Your moonlight system looks good Scott! I plan on running one blue low
> intensity led for now off of a 12 volt transformer and will add much more
> later. At the very least at first mine won't look super great but later it
> should improve with additions. You got a real good deal from the ebay
> dude -
> 9 bucks and you're all set. That's less money for more blue leds. Later!
>
>

Thanks, I rather like it. I plan to add a couple more different color leds
to even the effect out, and I think it will be perfect. Like I said, if you
have a little know-how (and I don't know a lot about electronics), it is
very doable. And I have yet to figure out where the guy is getting such a
deal on the blue leds.... most places charge over a dollar apiece. He has to
be getting them much cheaper than to make money on 10 blue leds and 10
resistors for 9 bucks - shipping included.

---scott

Daniel Morrow

May 24th 05, 06:58 AM

> Thanks, I rather like it. I plan to add a couple more different color leds
> to even the effect out, and I think it will be perfect. Like I said, if
you
> have a little know-how (and I don't know a lot about electronics), it is
> very doable. And I have yet to figure out where the guy is getting such a
> deal on the blue leds.... most places charge over a dollar apiece. He has
to

Radioshack sells them (the blue leds) at approximately $3.29 each and they
have an mcd of 600 I think. Mine is being shipped to me right now, yeah -
with an mcd of 600 I am looking for other sources and might look locally
(maybe digikey via online) as 600 is pretty dim sounding.

> be getting them much cheaper than to make money on 10 blue leds and 10
> resistors for 9 bucks - shipping included.

Amazing! Later!

> ---scott

Dr Engelbert Buxbaum

May 24th 05, 08:36 PM

Daniel Morrow wrote:

> good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
> 470 ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
> easily handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance.

Using resistors to drop mains voltage for LEDs is a bit wasteful, since
they will fry 97% of the energy (at 120 V, 98% at 240 V) into heat.
Using the blind resistance of a capacitor is a better solution.
Something like:

|| |---->|----| ______
o---\/\----||------| |-----| |-----o
L Fuse || |----|<----| ------- N
50 mA C 2 x LED R
0.22 uF blue 10 Ohm

Note that the capacitor needs to be in the appropriate safety class to
be operated across mains, and that the entire circuit is connected to
mains. Don't do such things unless you know how to do it safely. For 240
V operation, use a 0.1 uF capacitor.

In the diagram I showed 2 LEDs in opposite direction to use both
half-waves of the current. The second LED may be replaced by a Zener
diode if the additional light is not required. Note that this is also
required if resistors are used instead of the capacitor (to protect the
LED from fatal reverse voltage).

Daniel Morrow

May 24th 05, 09:26 PM

"Dr Engelbert Buxbaum" > wrote in message
...
> Daniel Morrow wrote:
>
>
> > good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
> > 470 ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
> > easily handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance.
>
> Using resistors to drop mains voltage for LEDs is a bit wasteful, since
> they will fry 97% of the energy (at 120 V, 98% at 240 V) into heat.
> Using the blind resistance of a capacitor is a better solution.
> Something like:
>
> || |---->|----| ______
> o---\/\----||------| |-----| |-----o
> L Fuse || |----|<----| ------- N
> 50 mA C 2 x LED R
> 0.22 uF blue 10 Ohm
>
> Note that the capacitor needs to be in the appropriate safety class to
> be operated across mains, and that the entire circuit is connected to
> mains. Don't do such things unless you know how to do it safely. For 240
> V operation, use a 0.1 uF capacitor.
>
> In the diagram I showed 2 LEDs in opposite direction to use both
> half-waves of the current. The second LED may be replaced by a Zener
> diode if the additional light is not required. Note that this is also
> required if resistors are used instead of the capacitor (to protect the
> LED from fatal reverse voltage).

Thank you dr.. I knew about the fatal reverse voltage after I posted that.
Thank you for the information - very informative. I have a 12 volt 500 ma
wall power supply burning a hole in my table (not literally) so I am
planning on using it and the resistors I ordered to power the blue led. I
would love to understand capacitors better as your post illustrates their
usefulness, among other reasons. I am saving your post for offline future
reference. Thanks again dr., later!

Scott

May 25th 05, 06:03 AM

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
>> Thanks, I rather like it. I plan to add a couple more different color
>> leds
>> to even the effect out, and I think it will be perfect. Like I said, if
> you
>> have a little know-how (and I don't know a lot about electronics), it is
>> very doable. And I have yet to figure out where the guy is getting such a
>> deal on the blue leds.... most places charge over a dollar apiece. He has
> to
>
>
> Radioshack sells them (the blue leds) at approximately $3.29 each and they
> have an mcd of 600 I think. Mine is being shipped to me right now, yeah -
> with an mcd of 600 I am looking for other sources and might look locally
> (maybe digikey via online) as 600 is pretty dim sounding.
>
>> be getting them much cheaper than to make money on 10 blue leds and 10
>> resistors for 9 bucks - shipping included.
>
>
> Amazing! Later!
>
>> ---scott
>
>

The LED's I was sent were claimed to be 4500 mcd. Radio Shack only carries
up to about 2500 mcd.

---scott

Scott

May 25th 05, 06:05 AM

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dr Engelbert Buxbaum" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Daniel Morrow wrote:
>>
>>
>> > good and relatively bright led display. The resistors all rate at about
>> > 470 ohms each and each are .5 watts and all 5 will be used combined to
>> > easily handle the wattage rating and be combined for a good resistance.
>>
>> Using resistors to drop mains voltage for LEDs is a bit wasteful, since
>> they will fry 97% of the energy (at 120 V, 98% at 240 V) into heat.
>> Using the blind resistance of a capacitor is a better solution.
>> Something like:
>>
>> || |---->|----| ______
>> o---\/\----||------| |-----| |-----o
>> L Fuse || |----|<----| ------- N
>> 50 mA C 2 x LED R
>> 0.22 uF blue 10 Ohm
>>
>> Note that the capacitor needs to be in the appropriate safety class to
>> be operated across mains, and that the entire circuit is connected to
>> mains. Don't do such things unless you know how to do it safely. For 240
>> V operation, use a 0.1 uF capacitor.
>>
>> In the diagram I showed 2 LEDs in opposite direction to use both
>> half-waves of the current. The second LED may be replaced by a Zener
>> diode if the additional light is not required. Note that this is also
>> required if resistors are used instead of the capacitor (to protect the
>> LED from fatal reverse voltage).
>
> Thank you dr.. I knew about the fatal reverse voltage after I posted that.
> Thank you for the information - very informative. I have a 12 volt 500 ma
> wall power supply burning a hole in my table (not literally) so I am
> planning on using it and the resistors I ordered to power the blue led. I
> would love to understand capacitors better as your post illustrates their
> usefulness, among other reasons. I am saving your post for offline future
> reference. Thanks again dr., later!
>
>

Wow,

way beyond me... but I do have a nice homebrew moonlight system with LED's
wired in parallel with resistors on the negative side... on a 12 volt power
supply...

lol

--scott

Daniel Morrow

May 27th 05, 09:32 PM

I got my radioshack parts today and soldered them together and (drum roll
please) it's a success! I now have one blue led, one resistor, and one 12
volt wall-mount powersupply transformer working to make a blue moon light
for my bedroom tank. Thanks for all of the input everyone, again - success!
Later all!

Daniel Morrow

May 28th 05, 06:12 AM

When the lights are dim or off the blue led lights up the mid-tank bubble
wall bubbles (by the way - I prefer the penn-plax brand of bubble walls
because they have smaller (thus finer) bubbles than the competition. I tried
a marineland brand one but the bubbles were way too big. The lees discarda
stones had bubbles that were way too big too but that's not a bubble wall)
in a fluorescent blue color that glows in the dark. Cool! I plan on adding 6
more leds (with resistor for each of course, and I won't push the current
limit on the wall-mount power supply) in the future. Later!

Scott

May 28th 05, 12:06 PM

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> When the lights are dim or off the blue led lights up the mid-tank bubble
> wall bubbles (by the way - I prefer the penn-plax brand of bubble walls
> because they have smaller (thus finer) bubbles than the competition. I
> tried
> a marineland brand one but the bubbles were way too big. The lees discarda
> stones had bubbles that were way too big too but that's not a bubble wall)
> in a fluorescent blue color that glows in the dark. Cool! I plan on adding
> 6
> more leds (with resistor for each of course, and I won't push the current
> limit on the wall-mount power supply) in the future. Later!
>
>

I run 12 blue LEDs on a 12v 500mA supply with no problem. I plan to toss a
few more of different colors in when I build my new light hood.

---scott

Dr Engelbert Buxbaum

May 31st 05, 06:32 PM

Daniel Morrow wrote:

> I plan on adding 6
> more leds (with resistor for each of course, and I won't push the current
> limit on the wall-mount power supply) in the future. Later!

More efficient would be to use three LEDs in series like this:

____
o----| |---->|--->|--->|---o
----
+12V 75 R 3x LED blue Gnd

and have as many of those circuits in parallel as required. Each of the
LEDs drops about 3.5 V, so the resistor has to fry only 1.5 V, resulting
in heat production of 30 mW. If each LED had its own resistor (470 R),
voltage drop would be 9.5 V and heat production 170 mW per resistor or
510 mW total.

If the wall mount power supply produces AC rather than DC, the circuit
becomes:

---->|--->|--->|--->|---
____ | |
o----| |----| |---o
---- |--|<---|<---|<---|<---|

12~ 100 R 8x LED blue Gnd

Reason for the larger number of diods per branch is that the peak
voltage of an AC source is sqrt(2) = 1.4 times the effective voltage,
about 16 V in this case.

In all cases standard 1/8 W resistors are adequate. Of course these
solutions are much safer than those operating directly from mains
voltage.

Daniel Morrow

May 31st 05, 09:28 PM

"Dr Engelbert Buxbaum" > wrote in message
...
> Daniel Morrow wrote:
>
> > I plan on adding 6
> > more leds (with resistor for each of course, and I won't push the
current
> > limit on the wall-mount power supply) in the future. Later!
>
> More efficient would be to use three LEDs in series like this:
>
> ____
> o----| |---->|--->|--->|---o
> ----
> +12V 75 R 3x LED blue Gnd
>
> and have as many of those circuits in parallel as required. Each of the
> LEDs drops about 3.5 V, so the resistor has to fry only 1.5 V, resulting
> in heat production of 30 mW. If each LED had its own resistor (470 R),
> voltage drop would be 9.5 V and heat production 170 mW per resistor or
> 510 mW total.
>
>
> If the wall mount power supply produces AC rather than DC, the circuit
> becomes:
>
> ---->|--->|--->|--->|---
> ____ | |
> o----| |----| |---o
> ---- |--|<---|<---|<---|<---|
>
> 12~ 100 R 8x LED blue Gnd
>
> Reason for the larger number of diods per branch is that the peak
> voltage of an AC source is sqrt(2) = 1.4 times the effective voltage,
> about 16 V in this case.
>
> In all cases standard 1/8 W resistors are adequate. Of course these
> solutions are much safer than those operating directly from mains
> voltage.

Thanks Dr.! I am loving just this 1 led I have working right now but am
interested in some more. The first night I had my led working there was a
massive thunder/lightning storm here and the atmosphere was great especially
with the led illuminating the tank like it did. It was the biggest
thunder/lightning storm in this area as far back as I can ever remember.
Thanks dr. for the circuits, planning on researching (I knew this stuff a
long time ago but as with everything else I learned in high school my
retention is very poor but at least I learn it again faster than if I never
went to public school in the first place so it is all good) capacitors, etc.
to fully understand the "blind resistance" circuit you gave me so I can plug
leds almost directly into the wall. Thanks again, later!

[email protected]

May 31st 05, 10:45 PM

I got mine that I ordered from www.projectx.com and it is a nice
system.

It doesnt light the whole tank, and I am thinking the 9 leds put out
too much light. :)

But it sure looks amazing.

Something that I noticed is that some fish like the guppies do not
"sleep".
Before the leds they would just stay still at the surface, now they
just swim under the light.

I will have to check if there will be other changes...

Daniel Morrow

June 1st 05, 02:27 AM

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> I got mine that I ordered from www.projectx.com and it is a nice
> system.
>
> It doesnt light the whole tank, and I am thinking the 9 leds put out
> too much light. :)
>
> But it sure looks amazing.
>
> Something that I noticed is that some fish like the guppies do not
> "sleep".
> Before the leds they would just stay still at the surface, now they
> just swim under the light.
>
> I will have to check if there will be other changes...
>

Projectx looks good Joe, amazing that there new white leds put out 12,000
mcds, you realize that that is somewhere around 20 times the amount of light
my one blue led puts out? Incredible, those would be great for flashlights
as well. Later!

Clint

July 2nd 05, 04:25 AM

I've ordered from these guys before. 5mm Blue LED's, 5900mcd, $0.45. Even
with shipping up to Canada, it was a heck of a deal. I also got some of the
sea green ones. I used them for my computer, but what the heck... :)

Clint

"Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
...
>
> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> ...
>>> Thanks, I rather like it. I plan to add a couple more different color
>>> leds
>>> to even the effect out, and I think it will be perfect. Like I said, if
>> you
>>> have a little know-how (and I don't know a lot about electronics), it is
>>> very doable. And I have yet to figure out where the guy is getting such
>>> a
>>> deal on the blue leds.... most places charge over a dollar apiece. He
>>> has
>> to
>>
>>
>> Radioshack sells them (the blue leds) at approximately $3.29 each and
>> they
>> have an mcd of 600 I think. Mine is being shipped to me right now, yeah -
>> with an mcd of 600 I am looking for other sources and might look locally
>> (maybe digikey via online) as 600 is pretty dim sounding.
>>
>>> be getting them much cheaper than to make money on 10 blue leds and 10
>>> resistors for 9 bucks - shipping included.
>>
>>
>> Amazing! Later!
>>
>>> ---scott
>>
>>
>
> The LED's I was sent were claimed to be 4500 mcd. Radio Shack only carries
> up to about 2500 mcd.
>
> ---scott
>
>

Clint

July 2nd 05, 04:33 AM

I also noticed I didn't put the website up, and that they also had 5mm
11,000mcd blue LED's...
www.lsdiodes.com is the address.

"Clint" > wrote in message
news:1Pnxe.103207$9A2.84039@edtnps89...
> I've ordered from these guys before. 5mm Blue LED's, 5900mcd, $0.45.
> Even with shipping up to Canada, it was a heck of a deal. I also got some
> of the sea green ones. I used them for my computer, but what the heck...
> :)
>
> Clint
>
> "Scott" <smaxell1{at}hotmail.com> wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>> Thanks, I rather like it. I plan to add a couple more different color
>>>> leds
>>>> to even the effect out, and I think it will be perfect. Like I said, if
>>> you
>>>> have a little know-how (and I don't know a lot about electronics), it
>>>> is
>>>> very doable. And I have yet to figure out where the guy is getting such
>>>> a
>>>> deal on the blue leds.... most places charge over a dollar apiece. He
>>>> has
>>> to
>>>
>>>
>>> Radioshack sells them (the blue leds) at approximately $3.29 each and
>>> they
>>> have an mcd of 600 I think. Mine is being shipped to me right now,
>>> yeah -
>>> with an mcd of 600 I am looking for other sources and might look locally
>>> (maybe digikey via online) as 600 is pretty dim sounding.
>>>
>>>> be getting them much cheaper than to make money on 10 blue leds and 10
>>>> resistors for 9 bucks - shipping included.
>>>
>>>
>>> Amazing! Later!
>>>
>>>> ---scott
>>>
>>>
>>
>> The LED's I was sent were claimed to be 4500 mcd. Radio Shack only
>> carries up to about 2500 mcd.
>>
>> ---scott
>>
>>
>
>