Next Generation LED Lighting

mike31154 · #1 12-31-2010, 03:26 AM

Great post. Thanks for doing all the research and presenting it in a condensed format here.

I'm still on the fence with regard to LEDs at the moment. I think patience is the key. While I have the electrical training/background to diy myself a nice fixture, I'm really not all that keen on soldering an array of Crees together and then having to get the iron out again when one of them fails.

More screw in bulbs are appearing in stores every day and they're starting to come with higher power LEDs and dimming capability. No extra drivers, optics, heat sinks etc. required, they're self contained. Still a little pricey and you have to hunt around for something close to the colour temperature we require in our hobby, but I'm sure that will improve soon as well. There are a few forum threads on the subject of folks using PAR38 (parabolic form factor spotlights) with 7 to 12 LEDs in each to light their reefs. I think each bulb of the 12 LED variety is close to $100 still, so not inexpensive, but a lot easier to change out than a soldered up Cree array on a monster heat sink with a half dozen drivers.

I've also been keeping an eye on the small MR16 and GUI based LEDs designed to replace the halogen spotlights that have been used in that form factor for a long time. The MR16s are starting to appear in high power versions and I really like the two pin design that allows easy insertion and removal. I also like the fact that they are designed for DC voltage and one of the things I've been considering is splurging on an array of solar panels to run the lights straight from a DC source. LEDs are DC voltage devices after all and no matter how efficient AC to DC converters/drivers are, it would be so much more efficient and simple to run the LEDs off a DC source from the get go.

I've never been that excited about some of the other features of the high end fixtures like lightning, cloudy day simulation, wireless control et al. As long as the LEDs are dimmable to create a dawn/dusk effect and perhaps a moon phase option, I'd be content with that.

abcha0s · #2 01-05-2011, 01:34 AM

Pacific Sun has launched a new website. There are photos of their 2011 offering called 'Metis'. No details yet, but they should be coming soon.

http://www.pacific-sun.eu

I am continuing to learn more about the ReefTech LED offerings. I'm told that more information will be posted to their website in the next couple of days. I think there's an interesting story behind this company and the more I learn, the more impressed I am.

mseepman · #3 01-05-2011, 10:37 PM

You can't forget Maxspect or Ecoxotic among your manufacturers. There are also a ton more that hopefully can be added as they show up.

abcha0s · #4 01-15-2011, 04:19 PM

ReefTech LED updated their website with more information including Specs for their Prometheus light modules.

http://www.reeftechled.com/?page_id=64

I am seriously considering this light option. I'll probably bring in one or two for evaluation before making a final commitment, but the specs seem very impressive.

I would be really interested in whether anyone has heard about these lights or your overall impression of the specs/design.

- Brad

soapy · #5 01-15-2011, 06:56 PM

Yep I am thinking about these lights from Ecoxotic:

http://www.ecoxotic.com/products/mod...-pendants.html

http://www.ecoxotic.com/products/mod...-36-retro.html

The idea of no fans works for me. Plus it would be nice to hang those cannons a couple of feet above the tank for a really open look. Not crazy about the price though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mseepman

You can't forget Maxspect or Ecoxotic among your manufacturers. There are also a ton more that hopefully can be added as they show up.

The Codfather · #6 01-15-2011, 08:16 PM

I looked at these ecoxotic 50watt pendants when I was in phoenix last spring, they give off a huge amount of light. They where mounted on a 36" deep tank and easily light up the bottom of the tank, I don't however know what kind of par reading these things have. Although the store owner of reef culture was more than willing to show me the par reading on the other tanks that they had in the store. Quite impressive for sure.
http://reefbuilders.com/2010/09/02/p...-led-lighting/

abcha0s · #7 01-26-2011, 09:15 PM

Reefbuilders has some more information about the ReefTech Prometheus lighting

"The Prometheus LED from ReefTech is a new lighting fixture which is a fresh departure from the rebadged LED lights which have been flooding the aquarium market. With some clear design and engineering inspiration from PacificSun LED Phobos/Deimos series, the ReefTech Prometheus LED features actively cooled Cree XPG LEDs driven at 3watts each, tricolor white, blue and royal blue LEDs, no standard secondary optics, onboard controller, active cooling and bluetooth and wifi connectivity which will be interoperable with an iPhone application when it launches." - Full Article Here

TheDogFather · #8 01-28-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abcha0s

Reefbuilders has some more information about the ReefTech Prometheus lighting

"The Prometheus LED from ReefTech is a new lighting fixture which is a fresh departure from the rebadged LED lights which have been flooding the aquarium market. With some clear design and engineering inspiration from PacificSun LED Phobos/Deimos series, the ReefTech Prometheus LED features actively cooled Cree XPG LEDs driven at 3watts each, tricolor white, blue and royal blue LEDs, no standard secondary optics, onboard controller, active cooling and bluetooth and wifi connectivity which will be interoperable with an iPhone application when it launches." - Full Article Here

I applaud more entrants into the Aquarium LED lighting business but I must say that I am not at all impressed by the Prometheus. Looks like ReefTech are trying to emulate the design principals of the Vertex Illumina (no optics PCB) and functionality (wireless, progressive dimming) but with poorly executed thermal management and an even worse exterior design this fixture leaves a lot of room for improvement IMO.

-TDF

southerner2 · #9 05-03-2011, 08:47 PM

One of the things that I don't understand about this whole LED thing is the fact that all of the manufacturers are using only a couple different types of diodes......

Orphek may be a smaller company but their only focus is on Coral health and propagation.

They are not rebadging CREE or Luxeon LEDs they are making and producing their own....

The whites are a true 15k. They don't need blue to give the apperance they are 15k plain and simple.

I think this comparison tank says a lot about the power and pop of their LEDs. We all keep dancing around products that are virtually the same no matter what box they are puit in. Sure there will be a little difference based on drivers and voltage settings....but very little.

http://orphek.com/index-8.php

KevinK · #10 03-13-2011, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike31154

Great post. Thanks for doing all the research and presenting it in a condensed format here.

I'm still on the fence with regard to LEDs at the moment. I think patience is the key. While I have the electrical training/background to diy myself a nice fixture, I'm really not all that keen on soldering an array of Crees together and then having to get the iron out again when one of them fails.

More screw in bulbs are appearing in stores every day and they're starting to come with higher power LEDs and dimming capability. No extra drivers, optics, heat sinks etc. required, they're self contained. Still a little pricey and you have to hunt around for something close to the colour temperature we require in our hobby, but I'm sure that will improve soon as well. There are a few forum threads on the subject of folks using PAR38 (parabolic form factor spotlights) with 7 to 12 LEDs in each to light their reefs. I think each bulb of the 12 LED variety is close to $100 still, so not inexpensive, but a lot easier to change out than a soldered up Cree array on a monster heat sink with a half dozen drivers.

I've also been keeping an eye on the small MR16 and GUI based LEDs designed to replace the halogen spotlights that have been used in that form factor for a long time. The MR16s are starting to appear in high power versions and I really like the two pin design that allows easy insertion and removal. I also like the fact that they are designed for DC voltage and one of the things I've been considering is splurging on an array of solar panels to run the lights straight from a DC source. LEDs are DC voltage devices after all and no matter how efficient AC to DC converters/drivers are, it would be so much more efficient and simple to run the LEDs off a DC source from the get go.

I've never been that excited about some of the other features of the high end fixtures like lightning, cloudy day simulation, wireless control et al. As long as the LEDs are dimmable to create a dawn/dusk effect and perhaps a moon phase option, I'd be content with that.

ever got to this:

I've been considering is splurging on an array of solar panels to run the lights straight from a DC source