Please help me build......

[ReeferRob]

Anxiously awaiting the friendly "get your arse back in" package from Jim so that I can figure it all out and order the necessary remainder of parts.
From the sounds of it Jim, your sending a used dimmer and transformer?! What else am I gonna need exactly? Other than the heat sink, the led's, wire, solder, thermal past, (optics if I decide) assuming there is just one dimmer, Ill need to get a second to dim the white and blues separately correct? Would that then require a second transformer and or power supply? Im still a bit confused with all the terminology and what exactly they do.

I want to eventually have 12-18 led's, independently dimmable, closer to 20K look, and very few if any optics.

Also what size fan if any would you guys suggest. Will this require an additional power supply/transformer theingymajig, or are the Coralife ones acceptable that come with a wall plug??

[ReeferRob]

Rob, I have a full metric Tap set for when the time comes man. I'd me more than willing to give ya a hand in getting the heat sink all tapped up and such. I also have thermal paste here.

Thanks buddy, I appreciate the offer. Maybe you of all people can explain the electrical conversion jargon to me in layman terms!? I got the skills to do the wiring, just not following the power supply, to transformer to converter to driver chain. And how many diodes per driver etc.

[XSiVE]

PWM or DC? What are you using for a RTC?

I'd be interested in seeing this, as I have more or less the same thing here. 4PWM channels, but 20GPIO pins (can tap relays off the pins), with the ability to take I2C, One-wire, and other inputs for real-time decisions. I had considered just integrating a reef controller last year, but I sold the tank. Still have the hardware here.

I am currently experimenting with the Cortex-M3 processor and a 2.4" LED touchscreen (320X240) as a front end.

You can get the schematics, parts list and code for what I have here: typhon-reef - Typhon: An LED controller for aquarium lighting - Google Project Hosting

[Tom@HaslettMI]

You might consider using the adhesive pads instead of drilling and tapping the heatsink. I don't have experience with either but when the time comes I am planning to use the pads. They are available from nanotuners and this site. I am considering buying all of my gear from the latter.

Tom