What LED'S

[wld1783]

How difficult would it be to just make something similar to this:

If I can get 2 strips of these to go along with my metal halides id be happy. Im really happy with my radiums so i doubt id switch them out lol

LEDs get hot, the pic I took cost me that LED as I left it on too long and it got hot enough to melt the solder. I talked to a few engineers and they all say that if you want to get the 11 year life of the CREE LED it has to stay cool. If its too hot to hold its too hot. Next to a radium with that heat sink or lack there of your LEDs wont last long. Also I used to run radiums and after the bulb replacement and heat cost. I'll never go back to MH

Bill

 

[inactive]

Got my leds finally

 

[benjabba]

It may have been mentioned, but where is the best place to purchase LED fixtures. I have no problem working on DIY projects but right now I do have a problem with the time needed to work on them. Speaking of time do you guys feel now is the time to invest in a fixture or do you think there will be any significant changes in technology over the next 6 to 12 months that warrent waiting a bit longer. Sorry for the hijack.

 

[wld1783]

The commercial fixtures are well over twice the price. The better ones offer the newer CREE XP-G which is a bit more efficient than the CREE XR-E. I would stay away from the 1 watt LEDs. Pacific Sun makes a nice finished fixture but if you're going to put it in a hood DIY is the way to go, some places even offer to solder the LEDs so all you have to do is attach the driver.

Bill

 

[SPS Addict]

The commercial fixtures are well over twice the price. The better ones offer the newer CREE XP-G which is a bit more efficient than the CREE XR-E. I would stay away from the 1 watt LEDs. Pacific Sun makes a nice finished fixture but if you're going to put it in a hood DIY is the way to go, some places even offer to solder the LEDs so all you have to do is attach the driver.

Bill

How many 3w cree leds would be needed to equal the par of a 36" T5 ATI blue plus? Id really like to add 2 strips to supplement along my MH. You've got a good point about the heat that the MH releases but id use a powerful fan to direct the heat away from the led strips.

Thanks

 

[wld1783]

I just ordered a PAR meter but a 24" fixture with 48 CREE LEDs I did for the JARC Frag Swap had over to twice the LUX of a 1 year old 250watt 10K XM...

 

[Azurel]

I really need to go LED.....Anybody wanna donate to the cause?...LOL

I take it those pics are with the LEDs?

 

[Chad]

LED's

RapidLed.com is where I ordered my led's from and they seem to have the best price without worrying about getting the wrong product.
Chad.

 

[wld1783]

RapidLed.com is where I ordered my led's from and they seem to have the best price without worrying about getting the wrong product.
Chad.

Rapid is good.

LED Lights : LEDs Lighting : LED Light Bulb : LED Supply and Reef Led Lights have good prices as well

 

[wld1783]

Just got the PAR meter and tried several different ballasts my 48 LED frag tank fixture.

I measured the PAR from 24" using 48 LEDs (1:1 CREE Royal Blue and Q5 Cool White with 80 degree optics) on a 24" heatsink from reefledlights.

4 LPC 35-700 296 PAR @ 122 watts
2 LPC 35-700 157 PAR @ 61 watts
2 ELN 60-1050 210 PAR @ 94 watts
1 CLG 150-48 323 PAR @ 146 watts

It looks like the PAR readings with the CREE XR-E LEDS are linear given the same forward voltage and different amp drivers.

I wish I knew about the Mean Well CLG sooner.

 

[uchin]

I'm going with 60 cree 3wt leds. I advise getting dimmable drivers, noticed some folks have there's on the ceiling. I have kids and plan on putting in front of my tank to keep the powerful rays out there eyes.

Wld1783 I notice your not running fans on your huge setup.

 

[m and m]

I think im going to be going with some SKY Leds, roughly how high should they be off the surface?

 

[Chad]

I haven't read about the CLG's yet, how many LED's do they run and I heard they had dimmers built right into them on top of the drivers is that true?

 

[wld1783]

I fellow reefer stopped and we tested his 3watt LEDs on the same driver...OMG Half the PAR... IMHO use only CREE XRE Q-5 and Royal Blue.

 

[Chad]

I like the idea of switching my 175 bowfront over to LED's but it would be nice if I didn't need 8 seperate drivers. Does anyone know how many 3 watt cree LED's the CLG's can run?
Or does mean well make another driver that can handle like 48 led's at one time? I haven't seen anything that big but maybe they do have one that size!

 

[moto826]

i got the maxpect and they are nice but you cant dim them but look nice and clean
they have a built in timer and a temp setting that turns on the moon lights when the other lights go out bult in moon lights

 

[jcusmarine]

I went with Maxspect 160w on my 45 Cube. Love it....bang for the buck!

 

[benjabba]

Maybe you guys can help me out with my question. I am looking to add some LED's to suppliment a 175w MH on my frag tank. I am looking for performance and function 1st and and color would be nice aswell. My reflector is a Lumenbright and I am looking for a way to throw some LED's around it, or at the very least on each side. I am not looking to use Power Brights or anything like that. Any suggestions on the best way to accomplish this? I am pretty sure I could DIY something I just don't know what the best lights and parts to get would be.

Thanks

Ben

 

[wld1783]

Ben

These are CREE XR-E in either Q5 cool white or Royal Blue 450 nm will really bring out the coral colour.

Bill

 

[wld1783]

Gotta run fans. The cooler the LEDs the longer they last. I have the radioshack ones for now but as they fail I'll replace them with a 23db 12Vdc fan.

uchin

You got it right the optics let you hang your fixture as high as you want it without burning the kids eyes...Or lighting the glass for algae.

Dimmable drivers are great but if you choose single drivers you can always have them come on in banks. And a timer cost less than a controller.