2016-01-10
       
       Aquarium Light
       
 (IMG) Image 1
 (IMG) Image 2
       
       I found myself in need of an aquarium light. Commercial lights were
       unsatisfactory or expensive, and I have the time, so I decided to
       make one myself. If anyone is interested in replicating this, here
       are the instructions:
       
       Things I used:
       
           3 pcs  10 mm × 10 mm × ½ m rectangular styrene pipe
           5 pcs 30 cm 12 V LED strips
           xylene or acetone
           clear resin
           female power plug 
           a 12 V adaptor
       
       What I did:
       
       * Fasten a utility knife 5 mm high from the table with a clamp,
       and cut the pipes in half.
       * Glue 5 of the |_|-elements side by side with a small amount of
       xylene or acetone.
       * Cut ~1 mm strips of each side of the LED strips (they won't fit
       otherwise) and lay them inside the tube halves. Be careful not to
       sever the copper strips (you should see them from below) on either
       side.
       * Make small dams in both ends of the 5 tubes (from blue tack,
       clay or whatever) and cast the LED strips in resin.
       * Strip a few mm off of the wires, attach to the plug (+ red, –
       black). 
       
       The original plan was not to use resin, but without it condensation
       and gravity will loosen the strips from the tubes. Having the wires
       just go straight to the plug is pretty ghetto (as is the whole
       assembly), one could solder them together and have a decent power
       cable.