LED power cords? That many??

Chris Harbaugh · Jun 2, 2017

I would like to ask if there are any LED lighting systems on the market that run off of one power cord for multiple units??

I ask this because I use AI Hydra 26 HD , 4 of them on my 125g alone and I would love to hear if a company has a product similar to this, yet makes it possible to run a power connection from one individual unit to the next and so forth so that one power cord can power multiple units??

I ask this because my train of thought is, if LED's are so energy efficient, I would assume that with today's technology that a LED light can be powered with a USB cable like so many of today's hi tech gadgets are, and thus be powered as a single unit or, as we all now and need, run as multiple units, powered by one power cord. I have no clue if this is even possible, I'm not a electrician, I just know it would be super great if I did not have to provide 4 power outlets for 4 lights if, and only if, it could be done using only one outlet. I just think maybe this would be safer and more practical..

I would like to try and start a discussion about this because I now there are heavyweight's in this hobby that are members of Reef2Reef and you all would know about this type of stuff..
Thanks. Chris

jd371 · Jun 2, 2017

Yeah, I have 4 Kessils and a t5 fixture over a 75g, that's a spaghetti of wires over the tank. I was able to clean it up some by making mounts out of PVC to mount the lights and hide the wires. It would be a lot cleaner if I had one power cord for all the Kessils, not one for each light.

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 2, 2017

Really good question. I don't know if any of the manufacturers are providing a soloution yet.
That would be a supply with multiple outputs.

As I've gone to 90% D.C. In my tanks, what I've done Is get larger amperage power supplies. So now I have all the 24v and 12v items on a single larger supply.

Keep in mind USB and the common D.C. Cord denote voltage I most cases.

Brew12 · Jun 2, 2017

Chris Harbaugh said:
I would like to ask if there are any LED lighting systems on the market that run off of one power cord for multiple units??

I ask this because I use AI Hydra 26 HD , 4 of them on my 125g alone and I would love to hear if a company has a product similar to this, yet makes it possible to run a power connection from one individual unit to the next and so forth so that one power cord can power multiple units??

I ask this because my train of thought is, if LED's are so energy efficient, I would assume that with today's technology that a LED light can be powered with a USB cable like so many of today's hi tech gadgets are, and thus be powered as a single unit or, as we all now and need, run as multiple units, powered by one power cord. I have no clue if this is even possible, I'm not a electrician, I just know it would be super great if I did not have to provide 4 power outlets for 4 lights if, and only if, it could be done using only one outlet. I just think maybe this would be safer and more practical..

I would like to try and start a discussion about this because I now there are heavyweight's in this hobby that are members of Reef2Reef and you all would know about this type of stuff..
Thanks. Chris

It is technically feasible with your light fixtures since they only draw 90W each and the typical household outlet is rated to 1800W.

Personally, I would use something like this to daisy chain the fixtures together.

You could get all 4 of your fixtures on 1 plug with 3 of them and one of your existing cords (or buy a shorter similar cord). Total cost? $30
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-PWD-401..._rd_wg=0ZLdd&refRID=8RK7ZW97AMP7VY3CFYB2&th=1

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 2, 2017

Brew12 said:
It is technically feasible with your light fixtures since they only draw 90W each and the typical household outlet is rated to 1800W.

Personally, I would use something like this to daisy chain the fixtures together.

You could get all 4 of your fixtures on 1 plug with 3 of them and one of your existing cords (or buy a shorter similar cord). Total cost? $30
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-PWD-401..._rd_wg=0ZLdd&refRID=8RK7ZW97AMP7VY3CFYB2&th=1

Yup. And for BB leds (12ov inputs)
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-S...96416479&sr=8-10&keywords=power+cord+splitter

and 9 to 36v DC , this style.
https://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-...1496416603&sr=8-10&keywords=12v+splitter+cord

Chris Harbaugh · Jun 2, 2017

Brew12 said:
It is technically feasible with your light fixtures since they only draw 90W each and the typical household outlet is rated to 1800W.

Personally, I would use something like this to daisy chain the fixtures together.

You could get all 4 of your fixtures on 1 plug with 3 of them and one of your existing cords (or buy a shorter similar cord). Total cost? $30
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-PWD-401..._rd_wg=0ZLdd&refRID=8RK7ZW97AMP7VY3CFYB2&th=1

Thank you for that link.. it is going to come in handy...

Chris Harbaugh · Jun 2, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yup. And for BB leds (12ov inputs)
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-S...96416479&sr=8-10&keywords=power+cord+splitter

and 9 to 36v DC , this style.
https://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-...1496416603&sr=8-10&keywords=12v+splitter+cord

Thank you all for these links... boy what a big help... thanks again

Water Wings · Jun 2, 2017

If you could hide it in a canopy, why not just put a power strip with a surge protector?

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-6-Out...61520_1_5?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1496420476&sr=1-5

Chris Harbaugh · Jun 2, 2017

Water Wings said:
If you could hide it in a canopy, why not just put a power strip with a surge protector?

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-6-Out...61520_1_5?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1496420476&sr=1-5

I do have that..but you need to have a power strip anyway to run a skimmer, ato, lights, heater, doser (if you use one), reactors ( if you use one) ect.ect.ect. the power strips could be smaller though, and the less wires, the less mess, the less of a chance of salt creep, ease of doing maintenance, (less means that, less to clean) and a more compact neat setup.. I believe if manufacturers looked into something like this they would have such a favorable response from use, the end user that it would become standard for all units. A large majority of us in the hobby have 75g and larger tanks requiring multiple lighting arrangements and I believe that the less wiring needed, the less complicated it would be. I absolutely know that it would be safer..way safer from a short circuit or electrical fire point if view. That's a fact,