dead here and on RC

[cee]

I'll do it for a frag or 2. What did you have in mind? It's super easy, maybe an hour or two to do it.

I'd like to replace the semiLEDs in my Maxspect with Crees, but since I don't have the slightest bit of know how, would any of you DIYers be willing to take on the project for some kind of compensation?

 

[cee]

Janie, I bet that Scott (or Dave) could help you though his time is at a premium right now!

Dave, do you have a ballast to run one bulb or to run two? what kind of ballast is it? I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth or anything, I'm just trying to order another one if I need to!

It is a heavy magnetic HQI ballast, single bulb only, actually puts out close to 300 W which is ideal for the Radium 250s. The top is "exposed" and I have a huge heat sink I set it on to help dissipate the heat so it's not for everyone. I think PA is having a sale on some of their dual wattage or dimmable e-ballasts, 15% off if I remember correctly.

Dave

 

[cee]

I mount 3 to a cree light strip. The strip uses a aluminum substrate and the led is well bonded thermally to the aluminum. So the heat sink doesn't have to run the entire length of the light strip. Pin fins are expensive though.

Just added the 4th strip and what a difference. Probably brighter than my 250 W now and the spectrum is perfect for me. You don't need a 2:1 ratio of blues to whites when you're running the 700 mA whites, only when you're running those Cree "G" bulbs which take a 1 A driver. Also, doing it my way keeps the driver costs down. ReefLEDlights has 6 bulb strips, all blue, all white, or 50/50 for $30 including optics (your choice, the 70 degrees seem to produce the greatest PAR according to their tests), but supply is limited. Add an $18 driver which will drive up to 14 LEDs and for $80, an inexpensive heat sink (for insurance) and a fan you've got the equivalent of about a 150 W bulb. Almost as cheap as the MH bulb itself.

Dave

 

[Runner]

I was about to offer help for a frag or two, but it looks like Dave has you covered already. As Mel alluded to, he can probably get around to helping you sooner, anyway.

 

[Runner]

Dave, good costs on those. Good to know I can do things cheaper the next time around.