LED lighting on a budget

Great info, thanks! I been searching around online for a 24" heatsink and realize they can be pretty pricey. What's the best place to get these? Are there any alternatives to using a heatsink? Someone said aluminum plate. Anyone else use aluminum plate and had success? I'd love to see some pics..

 

rapidled.com has heatsinks and good LEDs. You can even get the heatsinks predrilled for mounting the LEDs. I've ordered from them twice, the last time was about a year ago so I'm not sure how their pricing is compared to the competition now but it was cheap for then.

 

If you have any electronics hobby stores or places that sell used electrical equipment quite often have large heatsinks available for dirt cheap. Or you can attach multiple smaller ones together and run them lengthwise. I.e. 4 x 12" heatsinks is a lot easier to find and ship than 1 x 48" one.

 

you should just use aluminum c channel from Lowes or Home depot.

Check this out
Step by step full spectrum diy led build

 

If you go DIY, go with StevesLeds or LEDgroupbuy. Both are great, although groupbuy doesn't have kits.

 

IMO I think heat sinks are a little overrated as far as how much you need and especially the price. you'd be surprised how much a heat sink the size of a CPU heat sink can extract heat from the diodes. if you are a good DIYer you can come up with pretty crafty things for a fraction of the cost. But if you want a nice big heat sink then rapidLed does sell them at a normal price.

 

Well LED's are sure to bring a nice and an extravagant environment to your room and is surely gonna cost you a lot also. But go ahead it will look good. Post some pics as well.

 

This is by Far the greatest deal I have found as to a LED with a control panel
reefbreeders

 

Reefbreeders all the way, I have two and love them!