Chinese LED Lights

[mlott132]

Would like to take a poll of those who purchased from Evergrow or Reefbreeders. Have you had any issues with your lights? If so, how was their support?

Does anyone know how to test a dimmer? Would like to confirm if that is the problem with my lights. If it is, I should be able to source those from another company to get my lights going again.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Would like to take a poll of those who purchased from Evergrow or Reefbreeders. Have you had any issues with your lights? If so, how was their support?

Does anyone know how to test a dimmer? Would like to confirm if that is the problem with my lights. If it is, I should be able to source those from another company to get my lights going again.

If you want to do a poll, maybe you should start your own thread and really do a poll? There is a ton of info here on both RB and EG and how they have dealt with issues. Try reading.

As for your dimmer issue, it might help if we had an idea what you think is wrong with it.

 

[mlott132]

Here is a link to the YouTube video I made of my lights.

http://youtu.be/BKAZCGlMnXI

For whatever reason the blue channel goes nuts. While they are really dim, I can actually see the blue LEDs pulsating. I guess as a test I could rewire the blue dimmer to the white channel and vice versa to see if the problem stays with the dimmer or LEDs. That way I could eliminate the dimmer as the possible culprit.

 

[rkesling]

Here is a link to the YouTube video I made of my lights.

http://youtu.be/BKAZCGlMnXI

For whatever reason the blue channel goes nuts. While they are really dim, I can actually see the blue LEDs pulsating. I guess as a test I could rewire the blue dimmer to the white channel and vice versa to see if the problem stays with the dimmer or LEDs. That way I could eliminate the dimmer as the possible culprit.

I had the same problem with mine, sent a video to Evergrow for them to look at, they came back and said it was the ballast, sent a new one out the next day. Very simple to swap out.

 

[Ron Reefman]

The people at EverGrow are turning the tide on Chinese customer service. They sure seem to do a good job with handling issues for customers. But then I wouldn't know because all 6 of mine have worked perfectly for 6 months now! :thumbsup:

 

[exterminatank]

I got mine from evergrow. I had them for about a year and half now. About 2 months after purchasing, One of the drivers died. They replaced it immediately. They even tell you how to open up the box to work in it and show you pictures too. About 2 months later after that something else went wrong but we couldn't troubleshoot it. I had to send it to their authorized USA fixer upper (who was cool btw). He kept it for about a week (I think) and army it back.
Altogether I am very happy with them. I would definitely (and soon) be buying my next couple lights through them.
Mike

 

[unitedbga]

Hoity, what issues are you having? One of my two lights is acting up. The blue channel will start flickering and then shutoff for a few minutes. When the blues act like this, I can see them pulsating. I think it is an issue with the dimmer, but I am waiting to see what they say. The best part is that i have two extra fixtures that have been sitting in boxes for months. I was going to use one until i could get the other fixed, but they acted up as well. Trying to get any support from them has been a pain. I was dealing with Lyn, but he is no longer there and that is when the support issues started. Because of this I have given up on these fixtures and am converting over to AI Vega's.

If all the blues are flickering like that it sounds like the power supply is going out for the blue side. Not a good situation and possibly a fire hazard. Be careful.

 

[unitedbga]

Would like to take a poll of those who purchased from Evergrow or Reefbreeders. Have you had any issues with your lights? If so, how was their support?

Does anyone know how to test a dimmer? Would like to confirm if that is the problem with my lights. If it is, I should be able to source those from another company to get my lights going again.

I got my Evergrow lights straight from China. I bought extra LED's from Reefbreeders. I had good luck with both.

 

[xxjrealxx]

ok i have a bit of a problem, i think? i have a 4'x2'x2' 120g and it has two glasses center braces that are hazed, so there is three openings between the two braces. im lost please help!!! i was thinking about getting a photon 48 would that do it for me ?

 

[Seanymac045]

I had the white led's go out on two of my D120 units. Could it be the driver? Not sure what the problem is

 

[unitedbga]

I had the white led's go out on two of my D120 units. Could it be the driver? Not sure what the problem is

It very well could be. Open up the light and you can easily test the driver if you have a multimeter. Many of us can walk you throught it.

 

[King Nine]

Here is a link to the YouTube video I made of my lights.

http://youtu.be/BKAZCGlMnXI

For whatever reason the blue channel goes nuts. While they are really dim, I can actually see the blue LEDs pulsating. I guess as a test I could rewire the blue dimmer to the white channel and vice versa to see if the problem stays with the dimmer or LEDs. That way I could eliminate the dimmer as the possible culprit.

I had to post this after I posted a video link like yours on you tube some time back and someone posted this for me to see. You will laugh your @$$ off. (Or you should at least giggle a lot)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

Its not tank related but I couldn't help myself. Hope you get the problem sorted out. Also I bought mine through reefbreeders and Logan has helped me twice with the threee lights I purchased from him.

 

[klewis]

made a reflector to put behind the light against the back wall to reflect some of the light back down.. while adjusting it my other hand hit one of the screws on side of fixture and gave me a pretty good bolt. should that be normal?

Was any part of your body in the tank when you got shocked? If there is stray voltage in the tank and the fixture is the only grounded object you touched at that time that's where you would of felt the shock. My wife got hit twice while feeding due to the protein skimmer pump. If happens again check with a meter. One lead in the water and one on a known ground.

 

[BoDiddley]

Very close to ordering a D120 is the IT series worth the extra expense?

 

[klewis]

ok i have a bit of a problem, i think? i have a 4'x2'x2' 120g and it has two glasses center braces that are hazed, so there is three openings between the two braces. im lost please help!!! i was thinking about getting a photon 48 would that do it for me ?

I would like to jump on your question with you.

I have a 120 with same dimensions but with a single center brace, I read earlier that the photon 48 would be too big for a 4' wide tank. From what I understand a photon 32 or Two photon 16's would be better for this width.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I'm getting ready to order Two photon 16's with 90 degree optics.

 

[Reef_Breeders]

I would like to jump on your question with you.

I have a 120 with same dimensions but with a single center brace, I read earlier that the photon 48 would be too big for a 4' wide tank. From what I understand a photon 32 or Two photon 16's would be better for this width.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I'm getting ready to order Two photon 16's with 90 degree optics.

The photon48 would work perfectly. The 32 is too short, and 2 16s adds an unneccessary cost. They are not too long for a 4 foot tank, they were made specifically for 4 foot long tanks, actually.

 

[Reef_Breeders]

Was any part of your body in the tank when you got shocked? If there is stray voltage in the tank and the fixture is the only grounded object you touched at that time that's where you would of felt the shock. My wife got hit twice while feeding due to the protein skimmer pump. If happens again check with a meter. One lead in the water and one on a known ground.

That might be possible, I got a full 60 volts from a pump in a frag system once. I used the light as the ground to test the voltage.

 

[Ron Reefman]

The photon48 would work perfectly. The 32 is too short, and 2 16s adds an unneccessary cost. They are not too long for a 4 foot tank, they were made specifically for 4 foot long tanks, actually.

I don't mean to argue with you Logan, but IMHO you are wrong. The 4' light is great for a 5' tank, could possibly work on a 6' tank (if mounted high enough) and is just wasteful on a 4' tank. A 4' led will light up a 24" deep tank to a length of 5' plus and will do 6' well if mounted 10"-12" above the water. With a 4' light in a 4' tank you are just throwing light out the ends of the tank. The 32" fixture has 99 LEDS and the 48" fixture has 102. So the 48 has 3 more leds and is 16" longer. Basically they have the same amount of light and the 48" is 16" longer and throws light out the ends. You are wasting money and light.

The 32 is perfect and if the OP has a brace they are worried about, 2 of the 16's will certainly solve that problem and cover the tank a bit better than the 32". But I don't recommend that solution either. It is an extra expense they don't need to pay, the 32 will work perfectly and cover the extra 8" off either end even if mounted very low off the water surface.


I have 2 16's over a 4' tank and it is WAY more than enough coverage. I'd never consider a 4" led fixture over a 4' tank.

 

[rjallen]

I don't mean to argue with you Logan, but IMHO you are wrong. The 4' light is great for a 5' tank, could possibly work on a 6' tank (if mounted high enough) and is just wasteful on a 4' tank. A 4' led will light up a 24" deep tank to a length of 5' plus and will do 6' well if mounted 10"-12" above the water. With a 4' light in a 4' tank you are just throwing light out the ends of the tank. The 32" fixture has 99 LEDS and the 48" fixture has 102. So the 48 has 3 more leds and is 16" longer. Basically they have the same amount of light and the 48" is 16" longer and throws light out the ends. You are wasting money and light.

The 32 is perfect and if the OP has a brace they are worried about, 2 of the 16's will certainly solve that problem and cover the tank a bit better than the 32". But I don't recommend that solution either. It is an extra expense they don't need to pay, the 32 will work perfectly and cover the extra 8" off either end even if mounted very low off the water surface.

I have 2 16's over a 4' tank and it is WAY more than enough coverage. I'd never consider a 4" led fixture over a 4' tank.

Ron, I have enjoyed your posts and learned much from you but....there's always a "but"....I think you are wrong on this one. I have a Photon 48 on a 120g tank 48x24x24. I get NO LIGHT SPILL with the fixture 11" over the water with 90 degree lens. The tank is in my living room and this room is our prime TV room as well. I do have even light from wall to wall. There is something to say for darker end areas but I like the even look even if I have to be more careful with coral placement.
I hang my fixture w/o any sort of canopy as you have so I rely on only the fixture's lens for directional light and they do a very good job!

Bottom line the 48 Photon is not over kill on a 48" tank especially ones 20" to 24" deep. Perhaps rock work or light colored coral could make a difference with reflected light bouncing out of the tank. But in my case, at least, I do not have a light spill problem and a very evenly lighted tank.

Again, thanks for your many posts I always find something of value within them.



RJ

 

[Ron Reefman]

RJ, I've never had a Photon48 so I'll take you at your word. And I don't want to start a disagreement, but please explain the physics for me. Here is the way I understand it.

I just consider the physics. An led 6"-8" off the water (and you are 10"-12") and shining 20"-24" down into a tank that has a 90 degree lens just doesn't shine it's light straight down, like this |*|. It spreads out kind of like this/*\. With a 90 degree lens is spreads 45 degrees to either side with some deflection due to the water surface. And if the led is only 2" from the edge of the tank (it's 2" from the end of the fixture), how can it not shine out through the side glass?

BTW, my 32" fixture with 90 degree lenses is 2" from the end of the tank (so the first led is 4" from the end of the tank) and tipped slightly up toward the inside and it spills light 8"-10" outside the tank at the bottom of the tank. So how is it that yours is different?

Again, I'm glad you are happy with your light. I think the EverGrow and RB fixtures are great! I'm just saying an led with a 90 degree lens doesn't shine straight down.