LED-WATER-HEATSINK

[unforgiven3x]

hey ledelk, the sweating doesn't look too bad at all. but when using a piece of copper as a union like you need to between the t's n' caps it is best to have some of that piece visible. even 1/4" would suffice. as it is noone can say visually whether the joint is sound or not. and as was said by low_ryder, "don't half ass it". electricity and water is no joke.

when sweating copper, yes you do need to apply flux to both surfaces after you have cleaned them.

ummmm here..... found it for ya, simple how to: How to Sweat Copper Pipe - Sweating Copper Pipe Joints - Popular Mechanics

at least he has pictures for ya too, lol. sometimes it helps alot. fine sandpaper will work for cleaning the outside of yer pipes.

also, the last couple days its been buggin me about expansion of water in the pipes when it is heated. mebbe overthinkin on it, but a relief valve? what temps might this get to?


hope it helps ya buddy!!

[LedElk]

UPDATE-TIME

Okay, first of all I'd like to apologize for the silence these past few weeks, but you know easter and all knocked me off track. BUT I have done some work. There has been a lot of soldering going on, and I was very close to giving up the whole project (again) and even though it has been an expensive and outrageously unnecessary heatsink for a few LEDs, I'm still determined to complete it. Just for the sake of accomplishment, if nothing else.

Here it is:

Attachment 290777

Ironically, I had to replace every piece of pipe from the original rig with new ones, as they were an outdated dimension and did not fit new parts. Keeping the cost down by reusing old materials was one of the cornerstones of this whole project

Well, what you can see here is basically a square. Three sides of which contains the mounting surfaces for 6x10w LEDs and the last side an aquarium pump and the "radiator". Also, there is a small 5mm pipe I was going to use as a "safety valve" as suggested by unforgiven3x. Exactly how that's going to work, I don't know right now.

I received two thermal switches in the mail. one was 45 and the other 55 celsius. I'll be wiring LEDs soon and I'll be needing all the help I can get on that one. Thermal epoxy, btw.


Okay, that's all for now!

[Weezard]

Howzit, Rube?

Sweet!:smokin:

Not sure what you plan to do with the safety sprig either.
Perhaps a small cork? Balloon? Open vertical column?
I'd go with the open column and drop a meat thermometer into it.

The switches are easy.
Assuming they are N.O., (normally open)
Wire them in-series with the fan.
Just cut one wire to the fan, and tie those cut ends to the switch.
Glue the switch on just after the last led in line.
When the water reaches 55 Celsius, the fan will start.

From the looks of it, that will take a while.
Got a lot of copper to heat.
What does that pup weigh dry?

Bubbling with ideas, but trying to wait to see how you deal with the details.

Aloha, and Good job!

Weezard

[LedElk]

Hey, weezard! Glad to hear from you again, buddy. I don't have a scale where I'm at (my house), but I estimate the rig dry is about 3.3lbs.

I was thinking the same thing on the small pipe. balloon, plug or vertical outlet. The vertical outlet I put on hold as the pressure, while not high, might still push water out the pipe, right...? I have a lot of plastic tubing to go on the pipe, though. I don't know exactly know how that would work with no air-intake and all... Might be a possibility. Now, that I'm thinking about it a balloon might be the thing. It might inflate a little, but it should stay small, right? Hm, hard to imagine how this works... With a finite amount of matter inside a closed space... The vertical outlet idea should work like when you put a straw into the coke bottle and pull it out with your finger on the air-end, though... but, maybe the pressure pushes the water out and lets air in and starts a siphoning-cycle, emptying the whole thing... I have no idea. What do you mean by "meat-thermometer" btw? didn't see that part before writing this paragraph.

Initially, I thought you meant the temp-switch would be a safety device, shutting down the whole thing if it had to... It's normally open, btw. But I would rather have it work like you described in your last post. Like you said, I assume the copper would be able to dissipate enough heat to work passively for some time (if that's what you meant). I should have ordered double and used both functions! I have been dreading the constant humming from the fan and pump, but your idea for the heat-switch would take care of that.

Water doesn't expand a lot before boiling point, if I got it right, so ~50 celsius is no problem, pressure-wise.

EDIT: I need more air in my posts

[LedElk]

I'm pretty much done right now, but I'l have to post the pics and description tomorrow, cause it's late and I'm tired. Only thing worrying me is the height of my grow-cab... The LEDs are real bright and they seem to bleach the lower leaves of the plants. And that's only with half the lights (2x10w blue + 2x10w red) going for about half a day. I did re-pot before putting them under the LEDs, so I hope it has something to do with the soil or stress or whatever...

I think there's about 2.3 feet floor to ceiling. Doesn't leave much room for pots and stems if the light should be 18" above, as I've just read some places.

[LedElk]

Attachment 290947Attachment 290948

It is done

I just fired it up and the light is very bright!! I was just staring at the cab and thinking for a while when suddenly I noticed the light didn't seem so red anymore... I turned around and everything was green My eyes had adjusted to "epic red"...

Wonder if the room is too small... I know it is, but HOW MUCH too small is the question.. I can knock down the wall separating the bloom from the veg but I won't gain any height, which is the critical issue.

But so far I'm really happy with how this thing turned out! Thanks again for all the help guys, I would've electrocuted myself and burned the neighbourhood down TWICE without your tips and advice:thumbsup:

Now, let's see if the 45'C thermal switch kicks in... Shades on

[Weezard]

Superior!

Kind of like building a boat in the basement though.
(How to get it out).

Hmmm,

The way it stands, you have two clear options.
Raise the roof, or lower the floor.

Of course, you could dim the light, but that's just crazy talk.

Seriously.
Any way you can pop the top and add some sides?
If not, mo' betta bite the bullet.
Abandon that cabinet and upgrade to adequate..

What say you?

Aloha,
Weeze

[LedElk]

I'll take that bullet, thank you.

Gonna keep me eye out for a new cab. I've got some ideas. It'll take some work preparing it, though.. Had the old one lined with drywall. I would like the new one that way too.

Updates will be delivered, so stay tuned!

P.S The rig has been going all day (it's 22.40 here now) and I think the thermal switch is about to set off the pump. It should work great. The cpu-lamp has no issues with temp thus far.

[LedElk]

Just a small update on how things are holding up:

They're holding up great! The pump kicks in about every 2-3 hours and runs for about 5 seconds Doesn't take much to cool it back down. In the distant future I could add some leds to this. I wonder if soldering the pipes with the leds still attached is totally out of the question or just a very bad idea... hm...

Still no new cab, though. The plants are actually doing pretty good for now, and I am thinking a very tight scrog could work...?

[LedElk]

Major malfunctions in elktown!

I just returned from a 5-day trip and the "pipe-light" is out... I checked the drivers, but they're ok. The LEDs glow a tiny amount when powered.

I also checked the thermal switch/pump circuit and they work fine as well...

Next thing I guess is to test the LED-string and exclude one led after another until I find the ones that are burnt out or whatever.

My girlfriend has been watching the place and she casually mentioned something about the fire-alarm (on top of the cab) going off this morning... WHAT!?

I hope the circuit stops when one LED fries and the rest are good.

Need some help on this one!

Plants are fine, btw. Pulled a male, so down to 4.