LOL. You might be doing that real soon. Does not look like the holes will match the common 20mm LED stars, but I suppose that can be fixed. I prefer glue though, drilling and tapping aluminum is not fun for me.
chinese led lights
- Thread starter stevercleeze
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Ready to order!
Ready to order!
Wow, very nice thread about these lights... 77 pages later, I am sold!
I do want to get the Nova series for my tank and I do want 3 boxes. However, not sure if I can get away with 3 sets of the A4 model or actually need 3 sets of A6 model. My tank is ~210g and is split by 2 dividers on top into 3 23"x23" sections (see ridiculously awesome sketch) and has a 26" depth to top of sand (27.5" to glass bottom).
I want all types of coral to be able to thrive. Please let me know what model will suffice.
Also, after all the reading, it seems 90 degree lenses are best for over 24" depth, correct?
Ready to order!
Wow, very nice thread about these lights... 77 pages later, I am sold!
I do want to get the Nova series for my tank and I do want 3 boxes. However, not sure if I can get away with 3 sets of the A4 model or actually need 3 sets of A6 model. My tank is ~210g and is split by 2 dividers on top into 3 23"x23" sections (see ridiculously awesome sketch) and has a 26" depth to top of sand (27.5" to glass bottom).
I want all types of coral to be able to thrive. Please let me know what model will suffice.
Also, after all the reading, it seems 90 degree lenses are best for over 24" depth, correct?
Attachments
tankaddict
New member
Just got my A6 today... I'm disappointed... Not what I ordered.. I wanted 6 violets but they all were blues. Let's see how they will resolve this problem.
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bhazard451
New member
Easiest/cheapest way would be to get a credit back to what the standard ratio would cost. Would cost quite a bit to ship the unit back and forth, and you can't replace the leds on your own unless they ship you new led boards and you feel like cracking open your box.
bhazard451
New member
My softies have some noticeable growth already as well.
ghrorick
ghrorick
I want to order 3 a4 or a6 units for my 210 but not sure of the specs for the LEDs. I noticed you said Sam recommended 3 a6's for your 180... is that what you ended up ordering? What email did you use to contact Sam as I can't locate anything on their site? Thanks in advance!!!
ghrorick
I want to order 3 a4 or a6 units for my 210 but not sure of the specs for the LEDs. I noticed you said Sam recommended 3 a6's for your 180... is that what you ended up ordering? What email did you use to contact Sam as I can't locate anything on their site? Thanks in advance!!!
I am trying to order 2 a6s to go over my 120, but I am going to see how they look over my 135 before I go and order 3. I am looking for a 180 to replace 135 since it is an old beat up acrylic tank. If I have to go with 3 I may just stick with my 6 bulb 80 watt t-5 because I am going to be using more electricity with 3 a6s and it will take 4 yrs to make up the cost with bulb replacements. I contacted Sam right through the aliexpress page (where it says contact now). My order was canceled by aliexpress so now I am trying to figure out what happened and how I can get it going again and get them ordered, although tankaddict has me a little nervous now (mistakes happen I am interested to see how they handle it). What size 210? if it is 72x30x24tall you will need three to cover the 30 inch width I do believe.
Travis1787
Active member
That stinks for tank addict you can start a claim for complaint through aliexpress up to 5 days after you get the unit so try that... That stinks! I got 4 violets in my d120 and I had an odd combo on switch one and two and they did it exactly how I asked came perfect and worked and everything I hope they can fix it for you ....
And to someone who asked if the d120 has fans the answer is yes it has 3 fans that run with the power switches on.... I love mine so far ... Looooove it.... 182 total I believe and once I got it I sould my mh setup for 125 so in the end I switched to leds for 57 bucks and save on powerbill and no more 85 dollar mh bulb every 9 months... As long as this unit last me at least 2 years it will be very worth if it last 8 that would be even better haha
And to someone who asked if the d120 has fans the answer is yes it has 3 fans that run with the power switches on.... I love mine so far ... Looooove it.... 182 total I believe and once I got it I sould my mh setup for 125 so in the end I switched to leds for 57 bucks and save on powerbill and no more 85 dollar mh bulb every 9 months... As long as this unit last me at least 2 years it will be very worth if it last 8 that would be even better haha
I hear ya, good luck tank addict!
My tank measures 72"x24"x30"tall. So only 24" across not 30". Not familiar with how to calculate LED coverage, but if over lighting isn't an issue, I will go with 3 a6s and run them length wise. If anyone disagrees please speak up because I plan on ordering tomorrow. Thanks for the help!
radbluesfan
New member
24"X24" coverage each should be easily attained with those lights. 3 should look great.
For those wondering about the UVs and violets----I have Eshines 48x3 watt lights (2). Each has no UVs and 6 violets 420nm Bridgelux. In hindsight I would use 2 or zero violets per light fixture and replace them with royal blues. I would prefer a little more blue and less pink---some have stated that the UVs are really pink but I cannot say "firsthand". Yes, with dimmers the balance of blue can be adjusted but I would prefer the color I like to be there when both circuits are 100%. The neutral whites add a lot of warm colors that I thought I would need the violets for. If/when I ever do this again I will most likely buy a combo of only blue and whites. I know this sounds too simple and the "full spectrum blah blah" is not covered-----but perhaps there is a reason a majority of LED fixtures from most all manufacturers use only blue and white LEDs. But........color is subjective and this is my opinion after having mine a month or so.:deadhorse1:
reeferheadlouie
Member
I have been talking with this guy and all he does is take the wires from the apex vdm and connect to potentiometer or the wires leading to it. I have explained that fixture I have is the plain Chinese black box that is already dimmable. Do you think this will really work?
bhazard451
New member
Nobody has tried it yet.
bhazard451
New member
Tried the first two wires of the nova driver leading to the Pot (dim- dim+) to the apex. Didn't work as was previously expected, but I'm also new to the Apex.
I take back what I said about the fans. Both drivers are connected to a PCB that then connects to the fans. No idea what is going on there.
I peeled back the PCB board more, and it does have thermal grease on the heatsink. Still confused as ever as to if it is parallel or series wiring, but it looks like series. Remember, there are 6 whites, 6 blues in each circle.
The middle two wires go to the driver. The outer two wires connect to the other led board.
This is how those other two wires look on that same board.
I take back what I said about the fans. Both drivers are connected to a PCB that then connects to the fans. No idea what is going on there.
I peeled back the PCB board more, and it does have thermal grease on the heatsink. Still confused as ever as to if it is parallel or series wiring, but it looks like series. Remember, there are 6 whites, 6 blues in each circle.
The middle two wires go to the driver. The outer two wires connect to the other led board.
This is how those other two wires look on that same board.
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bhazard451
New member
More info from Sam:
1. “If one led goes, the whole board needs to be replaced.”
It’s not correct.
Here attached you a picture, IC inside LED .
To protect other LED on the same line, we add an IC in all of our LEDs, which means,
all the other LEDs will continue to work while one LED goes.
Go and replace one LED is what we need to do.
2. “There is no heating sink on D120W.”
Some kind of mistakes. Attached D120W LED board.
This board is wider as well as thicker than old ones, it can well replace the function of heating sink, what’s more, we got three fans.
So the heating problem can be solved well.
D120 board
1. “If one led goes, the whole board needs to be replaced.”
It’s not correct.
Here attached you a picture, IC inside LED .
To protect other LED on the same line, we add an IC in all of our LEDs, which means,
all the other LEDs will continue to work while one LED goes.
Go and replace one LED is what we need to do.
2. “There is no heating sink on D120W.”
Some kind of mistakes. Attached D120W LED board.
This board is wider as well as thicker than old ones, it can well replace the function of heating sink, what’s more, we got three fans.
So the heating problem can be solved well.
D120 board
tankaddict
New member
Sam told me that he can send the violet 420nm LEDs, I just dont see how I would wire the LEDs if they are not stars..
Sam Chen(2012-06-06 21:14:51)
If you very dislike the 440 thought I think it is ok,
Here is our suggestion:
We are going to send lights to USA tomorrow,
with lights are 6pcs 420nm LEDs,
we are talkig with our American friends to help ship thost LEDs to you if possible.
Would you please pay the delivery cost (USA-USA) for 6pcs LEDs?
Sam Chen(2012-06-06 21:15:01)
less than 5usd I think
Tuan Pham(2012-6-6 23:17:19)
How would I go installing the LEDs since the ones on the A6 are not stars but are wired straight into the circuit board?
jhawkor
New member
I'd like to hear more opinions about this.
Travis1787
Active member
Sooo wait @ tankaddict is he saying you have the 440s in there now?
Travis1787
Active member
Well I was wrong on the novas there not modular nor can you get crees....
Also sam was saying the 440 violets "will look like royal blues and hard to tell difference" but I have to disagree .... As soon as I turned my light on I slowly turned up each dimmer to count each led and make sure it was all right.... As a turned up the dusk/dawn dimmer ic could instant see 4 purpleish leds all in the middle area of the light couldn't miss it doesn't look anything like the blues and I got the 440nms in mine....
Also sam was saying the 440 violets "will look like royal blues and hard to tell difference" but I have to disagree .... As soon as I turned my light on I slowly turned up each dimmer to count each led and make sure it was all right.... As a turned up the dusk/dawn dimmer ic could instant see 4 purpleish leds all in the middle area of the light couldn't miss it doesn't look anything like the blues and I got the 440nms in mine....
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