Phytoplankton culture LED base V2

thingiverse

This is a versatile base for growing phytoplankton, ideal for reef aquarium enthusiasts. It's slightly more intricate than the V1 project, as it incorporates a compact variable power supply and a fan. If you're not comfortable with soldering resistors and LEDs, I would advise against embarking on this project. You'll need a high-power soldering iron to secure the LEDs onto the aluminum PCB. The microswitch and DC jacks are designed to fit snugly into the molded supports within the model. Recommended components include: Microswitch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DN7Z67E DC Jacks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GO56CCE The power supply I chose delivers 36 volts, which is a bit challenging to find. However, it has worked flawlessly and powers four bases in parallel. Power supply: High-quality DC 36V 2A AC 100-240V power adapter, 72W universal ON Aluminum PCB boards can be sourced from eBay, similar to this listing: 5PCS 10cm Dia Plate Aluminum PCB Circuit Board for 9 x 1W/3W LEDs in Series For LEDs, any 1-watt models will suffice, but I used three warm white, three red, and three blue units on my setup, which has performed well. This design features a built-in power board that supplies power to the LEDs, allowing me to adjust brightness easily with a small screwdriver. A similar module can be found on eBay: LM2596 DC-DC Step-down Adjustable CC/CV Power Supply Module Converter LED Driver The base also utilizes a compact fan, which can be a bit tricky to find. The fans I used lasted 8-10 months before they started to fail. They measure 30x30x10mm and operate at 24 volts. I was able to add a small resistor in line and connect them to the output of the LM2496 (approximately 26 volts). Best of luck with your project!