led spacing

I picked up a fluval edge and need some retro lighting. I was thinking of going with some led lights. I was looking at the Rapid DIY kits, but can't find info on the actual size of the entire assembly. CREE list the size of the led itself, but I do not know how big the entire assembly is. Anyone know.

Also, if anyone has any other ideas that would be great. I do like the nanotuners prefabbed light, but that is way out of my price range for this project....

 

So what dimensions are you specifically interested in? I got a little lost there. Not sure if you're after how far apart the LEDs should be, or if you're wondering the about the heat sink size and heat sink + LED thickness...

 

Try boostled bulbs, they should light up that tank nice

 

Thanks Panfish, I have two boost leds, as supplemental lights on my 93G and they are awesome. However, they are just a bit too big for the Edge unfortunately. At least without modifying the exterior, which is my goal not to.

Evolved, basically what to do is use the rapid LED kit, with 3W CREE leds and 80degree lenses. What I want to know is how many I can fit on my heatsink. I haven't decided on the exact dimensions yet, which is why I didn't just ask how many I can fit on a heatink with dimensions x and y....

However, to make things easier, lets just say the heatsink is 6" x 3" How many 3W Cree leds can I cram on there?

 

Maybe 3 or 4?

 

At that, the limiting factor becomes a matter of heat sink area/LED ratio (and I don't recall what that number is off the top of my head). You won't want to cram them in to the point of the lenses touching, as you will have exceeding the cooling capabilities of the heat sink. Heat is the enemy to the diodes.

I'd keep the diode centers at least 2" apart; 2.5" would be better.

With the Rapid LED optics for the XR-Es, the diode/star + optic is 3/4" off the heat sink surface.

 

Go to the rapidled sponsor and ask they will give you the exact info you need just ask they respond very quickly. Personally I would use a one of their 12" kits. cost about $125.

 

No Room for a 12" kit unfortunately. My absolute max area is about 7"x4" IIRC. So, maybe if I could do 6"x4" I could get 6 in there?

 

I forgot Rapid had a forum here. I'll ask.

 

Ok, so, looking at it again, I was thinking I could do a 1.5" extension around the canopy and raise the canopy a bit. Hard to explain, but basically I think I could arrange things to get 6"x9". Then, I'd probably try to do 12 leds. I'd want the extension to be low profile though, so the heatsink would be in the canopy, but the ones on the extension would not, they would be attached to a cold-finger instead. Think this would be ok? I suppose I could add a peltier in the mix as well if necessary.