PARwise

[telegraham]

Well crap. Now what?

May I suggest we enjoy our respective holidays, I'll wait for my PARWise to come home, and we'll come together at a later date?

 

[Nonya]

May I suggest we enjoy our respective holidays, I'll wait for my PARWise to come home, and we'll come together at a later date?

Not yet. I need an independent assessment of this graph I got on the Internet. Where would you estimate the two blue peaks are? The violet is a bit rough, but maybe you could guess where the peak might be. This isn't scientific, but excellent accuracy for my needs.

 

[Nonya]

Not yet. I need an independent assessment of this graph I got on the Internet. Where would you estimate the two blue peaks are? The violet is a bit rough, but maybe you could guess where the peak might be. This isn't scientific, but excellent accuracy for my needs.

Actually, it turns out there should be two peaks below 425nm.

 

[Reefering1]

Alright guys, I got to get back to work now.. check back in a few. Keep it up

 

[Nonya]

Alright guys, I got to get back to work now.. check back in a few. Keep it up

Work? On a Monday?

 

[Nonya]

I have another non-PARwise source stating the measured peak wavelengths of the same LED luminaire are:
- 404.5nm (labeled as 405nm)
- 414.7nm (labeled as 415nm)
- 443.5nm (labeled as 445nm)
- 469.6nm (labeled as 470nm)
Here are the measurements I made of an identical unit with the PARwise just now. Blues are 444nm peak, and royal blues are 469nm peak. The UV has a 418nm peak, no doubt merging the 405 and 415 UV values. I may have to put electrician's tape over one set to see what's what. Before pointing out the spike at 485nm, and the trace of red on the UV graph, look at the extremely low lux value. The meter automatically scales up so the highest peak is at 100%; those blue and red peaks are down in the noise.

:

 

[Nonya]

I have another non-PARwise source stating the measured peak wavelengths of the same LED luminaire are:
- 404.5nm (labeled as 405nm)
- 414.7nm (labeled as 415nm)
- 443.5nm (labeled as 445nm)
- 469.6nm (labeled as 470nm)
Here are the measurements I made of an identical unit with the PARwise just now. Blues are 444nm peak, and royal blues are 469nm peak. The UV has a 418nm peak, no doubt merging the 405 and 415 UV values. I may have to put electrician's tape over one set to see what's what. Before pointing out the spike at 485nm, and the trace of red on the UV graph, look at the extremely low lux value. The meter automatically scales up so the highest peak is at 100%; those blue and red peaks are down in the noise.

I tried measuring red, but the yellows are also linked by the same control. I ended up with a reading between 602nm (1 x yellow) and 666nm (2 x red). Maybe with a little electrician's tape later in the week.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

 

[Nonya]

LOL, you think I did those graphics on a phone? I'm on my work computer--uhh, working. Yeah, that's it.

 

[Nonya]

I'll post the source internet data later.

 

[AKReefing]

I'll post the source internet data later.

Well that's crappy.

 

[AKReefing]

I also went ahead and bought one a few weeks back. A friend will be performing some tests to verify accuracy. Fingers crossed that it was a worthwhile buy.

 

[AKReefing]

Is it always this boring?

 

[Reefering1]

Is it always this boring?

What?

 

[AKReefing]

Seems a bit dead in here.

 

[AKReefing]

Seems a bit dead in here.

I'm waiting to see what you guys come up with re the PARwise wavelength accuracy. I literally have a box of hundreds of loose LEDs waiting for wavelength measurements.

 

[telegraham]

For instance many people recommend par values closer to 300 for acropora but I'm assuming that is with measurements taken using the Apogee meters which have been around much longer. But since those also include light outside the usable spectrum, these values are inflated.

What does "outside of the usable spectrum" mean? ITC's own documentation states that the PARwise reads 380-800nm.

 

[AKReefing]

What does "outside of the usable spectrum" mean? ITC's own documentation states that the PARwise reads 380-800nm.

Note the PARwise shows the PAR range stops at 700nm.

Credit to the poster above.

 

[oreo54]

Note the PARwise shows the PAR range stops at 700nm.

Yea by the old definition..

Of course there is little to no data that this has anything to do with zoo..

 

[AKReefing]

Yea by the old definition..

Is there a new definition applicable to corals?

Of course there is little to no data that this has anything to do with zoo..

Agree, which is why I think attempting to show that video as some suggestion of proof relating to corals is a stretch. The video focuses on terrestrial plants, not photosynthetic corals living in an essentially IR-free zone.

I believe focusing on the ~400 to ~700nm range for PAR measurements is probably the most useful to the hobbyist, considering the inaccuracy of affordable PAR measuring devices at the outer limits, and the general lack of PAR seen in those extreme regions anyway.