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Old 06-26-2013, 10:33 AM   #21
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

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Originally Posted by FreedomGundam View Post
On a side note, here's a low shot pointing upwards, so you can see where the LED strips are:
Your coolness just shot higher through the roof.
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Old 06-26-2013, 10:35 AM   #22
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

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Originally Posted by FreedomGundam View Post
Here's the approximate tally of the costs I paid to build these, not counting the 4 Detolfs:

- 30"x72" 1"-thick melamine particle board [local hardware store] = ~$45
- LEDs [ebay] = $7
- switches [ebay] = $5
- DC jacks and plugs [ebay] = $6
- power supply [ebay] = $3
- JST connectors [ebay] = $4
- 2x Dremel 3/16" straight router bit [ebay] = 2x $14 = $28
TOTAL = $98

This is not counting the small strips of plexiglass I used to stick the LEDs onto, nor additional wiring, wire-wraps, heat-shrink, adhesives, melamine trim, etc, that I already had lying around from other projects (mostly arcade-stick and arcade-cabinet related).

Not to mention that I put in probably upwards of 10 hours of work into all of it (cutting, drilling, routing, soldering, assembling and cleaning up wiring).

Overall, the end result is amazing, but I can feel that it may not be worthwhile for many people to put in THAT much money and effort into it. Hell, for the price of the materials, I could've bought myself yet another Detolf at retail (or two used off of Craigslist/Kijiji), and my 10+ hours of work into it "costs" quite a bit too.
Not bad, I might have to try my hand at something similar in the future
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Old 10-21-2017, 11:58 PM   #23
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

Reviving my old thread!
Also fixed up my previous posts' images in this thread since Photobucket became stupid.

About 4 1/2 years after having built my previous pair of double-Detolfs, I put together yet another unit. Although I'll admit that it helps that I've since moved into a bigger house which allowed me to justify putting in another unit.

Setup before the new unit:


Setup after:


Looks like either I need to get a more powerful power supply, or replace the old LEDs; the old ones are significantly dimmer than the new ones...
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Old 10-22-2017, 04:50 AM   #24
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

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Originally Posted by FreedomGundam View Post

Looks like either I need to get a more powerful power supply, or replace the old LEDs; the old ones are significantly dimmer than the new ones...
Cool update!

The new brighter unit could be used to showcase your favorites, leaving the dimmer units for the rest.
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Old 10-22-2017, 10:59 PM   #25
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

Yeah, it's weird (or maybe not) that the new one is so bright.
The LEDs are newer for sure, but they're also slightly different (the SMD LED units themselves).
They're only super-bright like that if I daisy-chain the lights going from left-to-right (ie, the power supply connects to the left-most double-Detolf), but the brightness somewhat stabilizes if I connect the power supply to the right-most double-Detolf.
I didn't want the power-switch to the set to be on the right (up against the wall) and wanted it on the left (right when I enter the room), but it's too much trouble (for now) to swap them around, so we'll see.
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TFs and other toys for sale! (last updated: Post-TFCon2018):
http://www.cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?t=72568

Custom Double-Detolfs:
http://www.cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?t=47820

Looking for:
- Cybertron Hot Shot
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- G1 Repugnus
- G1 Scowl (with Monstructor foot)
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Old 10-23-2017, 08:17 AM   #26
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

Quote:
Originally Posted by FreedomGundam View Post
Yeah, it's weird (or maybe not) that the new one is so bright.
The LEDs are newer for sure, but they're also slightly different (the SMD LED units themselves).
They're only super-bright like that if I daisy-chain the lights going from left-to-right (ie, the power supply connects to the left-most double-Detolf), but the brightness somewhat stabilizes if I connect the power supply to the right-most double-Detolf.
I didn't want the power-switch to the set to be on the right (up against the wall) and wanted it on the left (right when I enter the room), but it's too much trouble (for now) to swap them around, so we'll see.
Does each double Detolf have it's own power supply? If you get a more powerful power supply and they're daisychained in series I think the LEDs closer to the power source will burn out due to too much juice... I remember soldering LEDs for my RC cars and I had to get the right resistors soldered before the LEDs. I don't know if this is addressed in the LED strips.
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Old 10-23-2017, 09:55 AM   #27
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

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Originally Posted by ngnaw View Post
Does each double Detolf have it's own power supply? If you get a more powerful power supply and they're daisychained in series I think the LEDs closer to the power source will burn out due to too much juice... I remember soldering LEDs for my RC cars and I had to get the right resistors soldered before the LEDs. I don't know if this is addressed in the LED strips.
The LED strips have their own resistors on them.
Right now I have them all chained to the same power supply starting from the right side; they're a bit dimmer than I'd like overall but at least they're all a similar brightness.
But I've tried setting them each with their own (identical) power supply, and the newest set is practically blindingly bright that it doesn't look good.
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TFs and other toys for sale! (last updated: Post-TFCon2018):
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Custom Double-Detolfs:
http://www.cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?t=47820

Looking for:
- Cybertron Hot Shot
- Cybertron Defense Hot Shot
- G1 Repugnus
- G1 Scowl (with Monstructor foot)
- G1 Icepick small gun
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:16 AM   #28
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

Running them in series will maximize your fading. Try using a power supply for each one or get a regulated power supply unit with enough juice to power them all. One thing I learned about these type of lighting projects is try to use the same type of lights for each case cause you will notice the variation in brightness when adjacent to each other. Great job on doubling up.
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Old 10-23-2017, 11:42 AM   #29
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

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Originally Posted by MULTIPLEX View Post
Running them in series will maximize your fading. Try using a power supply for each one or get a regulated power supply unit with enough juice to power them all. One thing I learned about these type of lighting projects is try to use the same type of lights for each case cause you will notice the variation in brightness when adjacent to each other. Great job on doubling up.
It's tough matching the same LED strips when they were just simply bought cheaply on eBay from random sellers in China, and 4 1/2 years apart.

I want to try to run them off the same power supply because it's easier that way for me to have a single on-off switch for all the lights at once.
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TFs and other toys for sale! (last updated: Post-TFCon2018):
http://www.cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?t=72568

Custom Double-Detolfs:
http://www.cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?t=47820

Looking for:
- Cybertron Hot Shot
- Cybertron Defense Hot Shot
- G1 Repugnus
- G1 Scowl (with Monstructor foot)
- G1 Icepick small gun
- G1 Fire Guts God Ginrai
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Old 10-24-2017, 11:45 AM   #30
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Re: Custom double-Detolfs

FreedomGundam, this is brilliant. Great work!

Question: Is the double unit "top heavy"? With the addition of the tall legs, do you need to anchor it? Or can it free stand say... in the middle of a room?

Damn good work my friend.
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