Any tried building their own On Camera LED Light? at DVinfo.net

Josh Fung · May 30th, 2009, 06:59 AM

Not talking about LitePanel type ones, I'm interested in building SWIT 2010 or the Comer 1800 ones. Apparently CREE and Luxeon manufactures (100 lumen / 80lumen respectively) LED, around $10-15 USD. 10 of those would be quite bright like the Comer 1800 I hope.. any suggestions? You'll need a LED driver circuit, used for 1-3 high power LEDs each. Around $7.50 USD. each. Initial rough estimate of price for LED & Driver is around $180 USD total, PCB board etc not yet included.

Gary Moses · May 31st, 2009, 02:11 PM

Sure, I've built a couple led lights. The last incarnation I've been using for over a year and love the way that they work. You're right the cree's are the way to go. I made 2 versions one with (5) 3watt crees (3 1watt leds in 1 housing) and an (11) 3watt crees. They are mr16 style mounts that run on 12 volt dc. There is no need for driver circuts or anything external other then connecting them to a 12 volt dc source. I use a 6amp 12volt converter that is commonly used for car coolers etc. They also run (obviously) off of a 12 volt battery pack.
I've been watching these commercially made led lights and they are pretty weak and very expensive. That Comer setup is quite impressive but still too much money.
I also ran across a small battery operated led configuration make by SIMA. I bought 3 of these at about $30 each. They run for about an hour put out an impressive amount of light. I just used them in a very tight environment and they worked great too. The SIMA is Model SL-20X. They come with charger, mounting bracket and camera mount adaptor. Not a bad value.

Josh Fung · May 31st, 2009, 05:04 PM

What kind of housing did you have? can you draw me a circuit diagram of your CREE light? thanks.

Gary Moses · June 1st, 2009, 05:55 AM

I used a pre-made project that I got at Radio Shack. As far as wiring, it's pretty simple, there are 2 prongs on the end of each of the mr-16. Positive is connected to 1 prong and negative to the other. I did create a switching arrangement where I can turn on either 5 lights or all 11. The smaller light (5 mr-16s) I can either turn on 1 or all 5.
The wires out of the box are attached to a cigerette ligher plug.
Gary

Jonathan Grant · July 7th, 2009, 01:20 AM

Gary Moses? If you read this, could you shoot me an email? If you tried to email me earlier I had the wrong email listed in my account info. It should work now.

I have some questions for you! :) Thanks so much!

Gary Moses · July 7th, 2009, 07:31 AM

Sure, what's your email?
Gary

Joel L. Young · July 13th, 2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Moses

Sure, what's your email?
Gary

If you click on the name next to the post you can choose "Send email to ..."

I was actually wondering if you could send an email to myself as well. I would like to get as many details, photos, links and/or anything else you have time to share with me about making a light for myself.

Paul Cascio · July 14th, 2009, 05:53 AM

Like Gary, I have one of the newer Sima lights and they're very impressive and great value. They are also designed to be connected together so you can use multiple lights. I paid $34 for one.

Gary Moses · July 16th, 2009, 05:13 AM

Thanks Joel, we got connected.
Actually Paul I bought 3 of the Sima's and for the physical size, power and light throw there are really useful, especially in tight quarters.
Gary

Paul Cascio · July 16th, 2009, 08:20 AM

They're a great value, light weight too. The 4600K requires a one-push whaite balancing, but I can deal with that. You can buy 9 of them for the price of the crappy LEDs I've seen advertised in the mags.

May 30th, 2009, 06:59 AM	#1
Josh Fung Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 81	Any tried building their own On Camera LED Light? Not talking about LitePanel type ones, I'm interested in building SWIT 2010 or the Comer 1800 ones. Apparently CREE and Luxeon manufactures (100 lumen / 80lumen respectively) LED, around $10-15 USD. 10 of those would be quite bright like the Comer 1800 I hope.. any suggestions? You'll need a LED driver circuit, used for 1-3 high power LEDs each. Around $7.50 USD. each. Initial rough estimate of price for LED & Driver is around $180 USD total, PCB board etc not yet included.

May 31st, 2009, 05:04 PM	#3
Josh Fung Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 81	Hey thanks Gary! What kind of housing did you have? can you draw me a circuit diagram of your CREE light? thanks.

July 7th, 2009, 01:20 AM	#5
Jonathan Grant Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: norman, OK Posts: 111	Gary Moses? Gary Moses? If you read this, could you shoot me an email? If you tried to email me earlier I had the wrong email listed in my account info. It should work now. I have some questions for you! :) Thanks so much!

July 14th, 2009, 05:53 AM	#8
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Like Gary, I have one of the newer Sima lights and they're very impressive and great value. They are also designed to be connected together so you can use multiple lights. I paid $34 for one. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

July 16th, 2009, 08:20 AM	#10
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	They're a great value, light weight too. The 4600K requires a one-push whaite balancing, but I can deal with that. You can buy 9 of them for the price of the crappy LEDs I've seen advertised in the mags. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

May 31st, 2009, 02:11 PM	#2
Gary Moses Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 110	Sure, I've built a couple led lights. The last incarnation I've been using for over a year and love the way that they work. You're right the cree's are the way to go. I made 2 versions one with (5) 3watt crees (3 1watt leds in 1 housing) and an (11) 3watt crees. They are mr16 style mounts that run on 12 volt dc. There is no need for driver circuts or anything external other then connecting them to a 12 volt dc source. I use a 6amp 12volt converter that is commonly used for car coolers etc. They also run (obviously) off of a 12 volt battery pack. I've been watching these commercially made led lights and they are pretty weak and very expensive. That Comer setup is quite impressive but still too much money. I also ran across a small battery operated led configuration make by SIMA. I bought 3 of these at about $30 each. They run for about an hour put out an impressive amount of light. I just used them in a very tight environment and they worked great too. The SIMA is Model SL-20X. They come with charger, mounting bracket and camera mount adaptor. Not a bad value.

June 1st, 2009, 05:55 AM	#4
Gary Moses Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 110	I used a pre-made project that I got at Radio Shack. As far as wiring, it's pretty simple, there are 2 prongs on the end of each of the mr-16. Positive is connected to 1 prong and negative to the other. I did create a switching arrangement where I can turn on either 5 lights or all 11. The smaller light (5 mr-16s) I can either turn on 1 or all 5. The wires out of the box are attached to a cigerette ligher plug. Gary

July 7th, 2009, 07:31 AM	#6
Gary Moses Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 110	Sure, what's your email? Gary

July 16th, 2009, 05:13 AM	#9
Gary Moses Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 110	Thanks Joel, we got connected. Actually Paul I bought 3 of the Sima's and for the physical size, power and light throw there are really useful, especially in tight quarters. Gary