SDG

[@sdgelectronics]

PCBWay 3D Printing and Fabrication: www.pcbway.com/rapid-prototyping/ Support the Channel with Patreon: www.patreon.com/sdgelectronics

[@MichaelRabeno]

You could try to use a laptop power supply, they output about 19.5v and can deliver several amps.

[@cdyoutoob]

Would be nice to have an electronic 'drop' foot switch on the floor for the pnp pen so you get better placement.Taking finger off is a bit like having shaking hands.

[@sdgelectronics]

The one I built has a footpedal, but I didn't permanently block the hole in the pen. The new design will definitely keep the footpedal input.

[@supernumex]

I recently made some metal LED PCBs using Cree XP-E running at 1A each. I chose to use pcb with sinkpad/pedestal technology and it was quite amazing. This is where the heatsink pad of the LED is soldered directly to the base metal through a cutout. the 1 or 2 W/mK of the dielectric is bypassed and you basically get a very high thermal conductivity to the metal.

[@ulwur]

Interesting. How did you design that in the PCB layout?

[@supernumex]

@@ulwur It was really simple, just do a single layer design and don't use any through hole vias. You can use unplated mounting holes, though. In the mechanical layers, you specify where the heatsink pads are. You do need to use a board house that supports sinkpad/pedestal technology, though.

[@sdgelectronics]

Which PCB supplier did you use?

[@supernumex]

@@sdgelectronics I did a large quantity through Junbon in Taiwan. Last I checked pcbway and jlcpcb do not do it. Adura LED is the USA pioneered the tech and I believe they can do small quantity runs for fairly cheap. Adura will also sell small sample boards, I recommend checking out their website.

[@dosgos]

The difusors showed massive loss in brightness. Our ceiling fixtures have a variety of diffusers; some cheap plastic sheet diffusers, some ridged plastic ribbed diffusers, and some combination of ridged plastic plus perforated metal. The rigid plastic plus perforated metal are the most pleasant and lowest glare by a wide margin. Cost was much higher (the LEDs and drivers are all identical) and they are slightly less bright. Also, our fixtures are different from your light strips, as some of the light directed to the ceiling by diffusers is gently reflected back down by large white curved surfaces.

[@damny0utoobe]

Another excellent strip LED design

[@Mr.Leeroy]

13:55 yeah, using flux core tin "helps".. just use 1 - 1.5 sq. mm copper wire, it will hold a lot better as solder is brittle when bent. won't short either.

[@sdgelectronics]

Agreed, I think it'll be more robust as you say.

[@ninsaburo14shiratori]

Oh yes! I remember seeing the video about your Pickup tool, and even inquire about the design files. You remaking thag project is awesome news, im very exited to see it happening ^^

[@tinygriffy]

Love to see you are still building things :) I am using Cree J-Series for 5 Years now.. best decision I ever made. That light doesn't compare to your average LED strip.. Since they are quite affordable I would use double the amount of LEDs and half the current 🙈 I would guess that makes the overall cost lower and increases the lifespan. But dang.. these are nice Alu channels !

[@lordjaashin]

do you have any schematics on hiw you build your led strips with cree j series? what do you use to drive them?

[@tinygriffy]

@@lordjaashin depends on what you want to do I guess.. there are thousands of drivers. usually they have a schematic in their datasheet. for example the dio5661.

[@sdgelectronics]

Still building things, but summer is peak house/garden project time, so time has been a bit limited!

[@bcdaus]

Meanwell HDR-150-24 Din Rail Mount 150w can be adjusted down to 21.6v. I use a NUD4001 CC LED Driver on my multichip lights, but they run at 350mA for 3 CREE J3030 in series on 12v. Quick sim shows you could easily run 6 leds @ 150mA on a single NUD4001 with a 4.3R sense resistor off a 24v supply. Easy to add PWM for dimming control if needed as well.

[@daijoubu4529]

I think there's at least one seller on ebay that sold, or used to sell, rigid aluminum backed LED strips, some higher CRI and others constant current, I bought some of the higher CRI ones, much nicer than the flexible sticky crap

[@andymouse]

Great idea ! this way you get an LED strip that you know is gonna last years not months....cheers.

[@lolsypussy]

Great content, Steve. How about featuring a current-controlled driver for the LEDs? I've tried some dedicated chips but I'm yet to try modifying a buck to have its feedback pin sensing the current with a use of resistors.

[@dreamcat4]

amazing stuff! and thanks for mentioning the phosphor yellowing after only a year. much appreciated. as for the din rail 20v psu that kindda sounds like something we would expect meanwell to do. although i am not sure if there indeed is one (to meet those specific requirements). btw finally got the aixun t3a last week based on your earlier reviews. now might be looking forwards to following smd pickup tool. that would be fantastic. really so kind, so helpful

[@sdgelectronics]

I'm hoping the new design will be a lot more accessible and cheaper. If I have PCBs left over I can send you one.

[@dreamcat4]

@@sdgelectronics thanks steve, yes! i would definately love to buy such future upcoming pcb from you. and to be able order the other parts and make one. it would be great! so very grateful

[@wthornton7346]

'We' made some good decisions. I'm getting better at this 😉

[@tstuart7333]

Where can I purchase the clearer diffuser?. Nice interesting content. Thank you.

[@sdgelectronics]

It's on the same website, UltraLEDs. Thanks

[@henrikjensen3278]

Why not replace the resistors with a simple low drop constant current circuit, it would remove any effect from voltage drop?

[@sdgelectronics]

I was hoping to keep things simple and flexible, but in retrospect there were some other options that might have worked better.

[@henrikjensen3278]

Try searching for "constant current diode" They are not really diodes, but two pin constant current devices.

[@sdgelectronics]

Good call, I had forgotten about these. Looks like they fit my 1206 footprint on the PCB so I've just ordered some!

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Very cool sir⚛

[@paulcohen1555]

Why resistors and not a switching Constant Current switching supply?

[@sdgelectronics]

With 480+ LEDs, I will end up with some parallel chains of LEDs which need current balancing. Since it's in a bathroom, the supply must be SELV (isolated and less than 50V), so there is not much opportunity for long series chains of LEDs.

[@paulcohen1555]

@@sdgelectronics Okay, I got it.