willp2
06-20-2010, 04:06 PM
So this isn’t reef related, but it started from a project I am doing for tank. If posting this here offends anyone I am sorry and I'll delete it or move to a non-reef related area. Thanks!
I have some outdoor lighting at my place that was setup be the previous owner as 12v AC using 12V 60W incandescent light bulbs. They look just like regular incandescent lights we’d use in lamps, but they run 12v. Because of this setup I was never able to run modern CF bulbs in there. I found and tried a few I found on ebay but they never lasted. So I have this big transformer in the garage powering these 6 X 60w lights. I ran a killawatt meter on the lights for a couple of weeks and found that I am paying about $250 a year to run those 6 lights.
I am buying LED’s for my DIY reef project and it occurred to me that I’m already pretty close to being able to run LED’s in those fixtures. So while I was ordering my LED’s for the tank, I ordered a dozen warm white LED’s for the outdoor lights. Yesterday I put it all together; first I rewired the transformer to get it down to 6V then built a little diode bridge to convert the AC to DC. Then used some aluminum bar to fashion some mounts for the LED’s in the light fixtures.
I’m running the LED’s at about 600mAh or so and the end result is terrific I think. They are actually brighter than the old 60W lights, the color looks good and they of course use almost no power. All in all the whole system uses less power than one of the old light bulbs. I love that the entire system, transformer, wires and even LED’s are cool to the touch. This thing used to be a heater in the back of my garage.
I haven’t done the math yet, but I think this thing will cost me maybe $20 a year to run now.
Sorry no PAR numbers yet :lol:
Here’s the before. What a mess, I’m going to refinish and better seal the fixtures soon.
http://i47.tinypic.com/k9g7yg.jpg
Here’s the diode bridge add on. Not pretty, but it works
http://i45.tinypic.com/112easm.jpg
Starting the assembly line
http://i50.tinypic.com/rlddnp.jpg
First test install. I cleaned them up a bit before installing.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2qlgzf9.jpg
Side by side with the old system. New on the right looks bluish here but isn't in person.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2d1wuvk.jpg
I have some outdoor lighting at my place that was setup be the previous owner as 12v AC using 12V 60W incandescent light bulbs. They look just like regular incandescent lights we’d use in lamps, but they run 12v. Because of this setup I was never able to run modern CF bulbs in there. I found and tried a few I found on ebay but they never lasted. So I have this big transformer in the garage powering these 6 X 60w lights. I ran a killawatt meter on the lights for a couple of weeks and found that I am paying about $250 a year to run those 6 lights.
I am buying LED’s for my DIY reef project and it occurred to me that I’m already pretty close to being able to run LED’s in those fixtures. So while I was ordering my LED’s for the tank, I ordered a dozen warm white LED’s for the outdoor lights. Yesterday I put it all together; first I rewired the transformer to get it down to 6V then built a little diode bridge to convert the AC to DC. Then used some aluminum bar to fashion some mounts for the LED’s in the light fixtures.
I’m running the LED’s at about 600mAh or so and the end result is terrific I think. They are actually brighter than the old 60W lights, the color looks good and they of course use almost no power. All in all the whole system uses less power than one of the old light bulbs. I love that the entire system, transformer, wires and even LED’s are cool to the touch. This thing used to be a heater in the back of my garage.
I haven’t done the math yet, but I think this thing will cost me maybe $20 a year to run now.
Sorry no PAR numbers yet :lol:
Here’s the before. What a mess, I’m going to refinish and better seal the fixtures soon.
http://i47.tinypic.com/k9g7yg.jpg
Here’s the diode bridge add on. Not pretty, but it works
http://i45.tinypic.com/112easm.jpg
Starting the assembly line
http://i50.tinypic.com/rlddnp.jpg
First test install. I cleaned them up a bit before installing.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2qlgzf9.jpg
Side by side with the old system. New on the right looks bluish here but isn't in person.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2d1wuvk.jpg