Bridgelux Vs CREE

[jameshongth]

Hi,

Bridgelux Vs CREE.

There is a trend that reefers start using Bridgelux for Diying their LED lighting....is there any reason? Cost issue?

How is the efficiency of this Bridgelux LED compare to Cree?

 

[austin93]

As I understand it, Bridgelux is cheaper and Cree is better. Both have good reputations.

 

[dread240]

yup, cree hands down wins the efficiency and output battle

Bridgelux smashes cree in build cost and output per $$$

Overtime the cree may make up for it due to their led's being more efficient and having higher output (you use less cree LED's then you do with bridgelux)

All that said I went with bridgelux as more LED's gives me better coverage and less chance of spotlighting

 

[jameshongth]

yup, cree hands down wins the efficiency and output battle

Bridgelux smashes cree in build cost and output per $$$

Overtime the cree may make up for it due to their led's being more efficient and having higher output (you use less cree LED's then you do with bridgelux)

All that said I went with bridgelux as more LED's gives me better coverage and less chance of spotlighting

If Bridgelux efficiency is 1/4 less than Cree, I may take Bridgelux instead consider the price different!

 

[jameshongth]

Do anyone know any website showing the spectrum comparison of Bridgelux against Cree?

 

[Fligor]

Hi James,

you have to look into the Datasheets of each LED. That is the easiest way to compare.

 

[symon_say]

I know nothing about cree, i bought bridgelux because of the price, right now i have just 36 leds over my 125 custom tank, my plan is to get 72, and all the corals i have are growing and looking really nice, i have polyps, zoas, mushrooms, ricordeas, frogspawn and galaxea.

I know cree is better and more efficient but for my is a waste of money cause in a few years leds will be a lot cheaper and investing in the top of the line product right now is not the best investment you can do, get bridgelux and wait for a few years until everything settle and have an appropriate price. IMHO.

 

[salty55]

I was just about to start a thread asking the same question. good thing I decided to perform a search first.

Here's my theory and opinion. I want you pros to pitch in with your opinion and experience.

first off. sure, cree's are more powerfull and "efficient". but, it seems everyone is only running them at 700ma when they are rated for 1000ma. and then only running their dimmable drivers at 50-60% to keep from bleaching their corals. so why buy led's that are so over powerfull?

why couldnt you buy bridgelux at less than half the price of cree, run them at the maximum 700ma that they are rated for, and achieve the same thing?

 

[ghellin]

I was just about to start a thread asking the same question. good thing I decided to perform a search first.

Here's my theory and opinion. I want you pros to pitch in with your opinion and experience.

first off. sure, cree's are more powerfull and "efficient". but, it seems everyone is only running them at 700ma when they are rated for 1000ma. and then only running their dimmable drivers at 50-60% to keep from bleaching their corals. so why buy led's that are so over powerfull?

why couldnt you buy bridgelux at less than half the price of cree, run them at the maximum 700ma that they are rated for, and achieve the same thing?

XPGs can handle up to 1.5A while XPE and XTE can take up to 1A. You get better life by running your leds at a lower current. Plus a Cree XPG @700 mA doesn't even begin to produce noticeable heat on my fixture therfore no fans. My tank is next to my couch in my living room and It's silent! Several people running bridgelux @ the max 700mA say the LEDs get quite hot requiring fans to cool them. Fans require more power and extra plug in an already crowded power strip and create more noise. Plus if you have a fan fail you may just overheat and destroy your setup.

 

[nanojg]

Hi James,

you have to look into the Datasheets of each LED. That is the easiest way to compare.

This, much better than basing your decision on the opinions of people who probably have only used one or the other. I have only used cree and like them, but I have not compared them side by side to other leds (in person or the datasheet)

 

[nvdiz]

Bridgelux is 10-15% less efficient per watt per diode compared to cree.

While cree is 40-70% cree more expensive.

 

[Phishguy]

I just ordered my led fixtures and I chose to go bridgelux because of cost and ability to use several different color leds. I know that cree are better in terms of efficiency but way more expensive. My thinking is that in 2 years, I will probably replace them with a more updated and modern fixture. I highly doubt in 2 years they will go up in price. If this was the last fixture I plan on buying, I would have gone all out but the price was awesome and I was abl to fully customize my fixtures for a super reasonable price.

 

[makattack]

If you are looking for a cheap entry point bridgelux is the way to go. Cree way ahead when when it comes to lumens per watt and less heat. The bridgelux are still very efficient and they will still last a very long time.

My thought is that you can always pile more cheap LEDs on if you don't get what you want on the first try. Looking around, it seems hardly anyone runs their CREE setups at 100% output. If you don't need the crazy output go with the bridgelux. Granted, yes, being less efficient you will probably need a fan. Off hand, I can't think of any commercial fixtures that don't have fans built in. I run fans on my DIY fixtures but my pumps are the loudest factor so I don't even hear them.

The efficiency drops off the more amps/milliamps you dump into any LED, so start at low current and work up if you want to try and go fan-less.

I think Bridgelux brand LEDs have been incorporated in many LED fixtures...
Like the Boostled fixture or even the higher end Maxspect Mazarra . Orphek doesn't say what they use but I'm guessing they use china LEDs similar to bridgelux.
wiki reference--
http://makersled.com/wiki/index.php?Recipes for Commercial Fixtures

I have an older Cree XR-E setup now which meets all my needs (40% blue, 60% white), but I'm in the process of collecting parts now for a cheap bridgelux setup for my sump (hopefully with a cheap makersLED housing).

 

[symon_say]

XPGs can handle up to 1.5A while XPE and XTE can take up to 1A. You get better life by running your leds at a lower current. Plus a Cree XPG @700 mA doesn't even begin to produce noticeable heat on my fixture therfore no fans. My tank is next to my couch in my living room and It's silent! Several people running bridgelux @ the max 700mA say the LEDs get quite hot requiring fans to cool them. Fans require more power and extra plug in an already crowded power strip and create more noise. Plus if you have a fan fail you may just overheat and destroy your setup.

I'm running bridgelux and my fixture don't even get warm to the touch after 10 hours off 72 leds running.

 

[ghellin]

I'm running bridgelux and my fixture don't even get warm to the touch after 10 hours off 72 leds running.

Ah thats why I said several people not all people. Your individual results may vary. Like are yours in a canopy, or are you using a massive soli heatsink, what current are you running them.

Here is my heatsink setup.

 

[symon_say]

I use 1 1/2" aluminum square pipes each pipe have 18 LEDs, they are enclosed in a canopy, this pic is before canopy: