diy reflectors
- Thread starter cutnup
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BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Not the answer you were looking for....
In most cases DIY reflectors are not worth the trouble. A reflectors job is to efficiently move light from the bulb to the tank. The shape is very critical with regards to this process. Differences between the best reflectors can be as much as 20%! A DIY unit may easily be 60% less efficient than a modestly prices OEM unit.
What kind of lighting are you going to be using?
In most cases DIY reflectors are not worth the trouble. A reflectors job is to efficiently move light from the bulb to the tank. The shape is very critical with regards to this process. Differences between the best reflectors can be as much as 20%! A DIY unit may easily be 60% less efficient than a modestly prices OEM unit.
What kind of lighting are you going to be using?
goreefer
New member
I agree with Bean and SCR.
I also investigated making my own reflectors as I am a big DIY person. What I found is that it is cheaper to buy a reflector than to make it yourself.
I ended up buying a 24" PFO parallel from Premium Aquatics and finished out the rest of the hood.
The mirror finished aluminum would have cost me more than what I spent.
I also investigated making my own reflectors as I am a big DIY person. What I found is that it is cheaper to buy a reflector than to make it yourself.
I ended up buying a 24" PFO parallel from Premium Aquatics and finished out the rest of the hood.
The mirror finished aluminum would have cost me more than what I spent.
rustybucket145
New member
Bean's favorite Subject! 
cannarella
New member
Another thread today about it over here.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1209047
I am going to have to talk to some of our guys in R&D and see what they think.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1209047
I am going to have to talk to some of our guys in R&D and see what they think.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
If you must DIY a reflector, then that is the only style that should be considered. DIY parabolics are a 100% waste of time.
That said, errors in bending and irregularities in the surfaces still count. You can not just guess at the sizes and angles and come up with something that is anywhere near as good as the original engineered shape. THe bulb placement within the fixture is also very critical to its overall performance.
That said, errors in bending and irregularities in the surfaces still count. You can not just guess at the sizes and angles and come up with something that is anywhere near as good as the original engineered shape. THe bulb placement within the fixture is also very critical to its overall performance.
wrenchhead
New member
Was the question where to get the metal for a diy reflector or was it what is your opinion of diy reflectors?
Great job on your reflector Tomrep!!Do you have a link?
Hey Cutnup,long time no see.We got to get a dive trip in the works!!!!!!
The ones I have were made from the sun tube material.I bought it from lowes for about $35.
Great job on your reflector Tomrep!!Do you have a link?
Hey Cutnup,long time no see.We got to get a dive trip in the works!!!!!!
The ones I have were made from the sun tube material.I bought it from lowes for about $35.
wrenchhead
New member
Sory I just noticed the link from cannarella.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I take that as a snyde remark directed towards me? Did it occur to you that the exchange of information is what furthers knowledge? Maybe we should all only speak when spoken to and never offer opinion or informed information? Maybe we could even have the mods limit comments to only direct answers to questions.
I tire of posts like yours that are meant as nothing more than cheap insults. I have offered kind wisdom, take it or leave it. If you disagree with my opnion or information then please articulate why in a kind manner.
pjf
Premium Member
Spectral Aluminum
Spectral Aluminum
You may want to check out another material, spectral aluminum, at the bottom of this webpage: http://www.aquatictech.com/lighting.html
Spectral Aluminum
You may want to check out another material, spectral aluminum, at the bottom of this webpage: http://www.aquatictech.com/lighting.html
TomRep
New member
Hmm, what is spectral aluminum? Is it the stuff that is shiny but has a bubbled/rough surface? Never heard it called that. Anyway, to set the record straight a bit. I agree that making your own light setup, period, is not the best way to go. By this, most anything to do with lighting including reflectors. There is almost no way to save money by doing it yourself. Everytime I mess with any lighting, I could have gone out and bought what I was looking to make for about the same money. However, on these reflectors I- a) wanted the challenge and b) needed a custome size that I couldn't find anywhere. Also, even if I left this aluminum flashing un polished, it would still be an improvement from what I had before, if that tells you anything!
tom
tom
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Tom,
as long as you are happy that is all that counts. I am not taking anything away from your DIY
On the same token, it is important for others to understand what I have said, and what you just said as well!
as long as you are happy that is all that counts. I am not taking anything away from your DIY
On the same token, it is important for others to understand what I have said, and what you just said as well!wrenchhead
New member
Sometimes things come out different when they are typed and not spoken.Did not mean to upset you Bean or anyone else.My question was not ment to be directed at any one person, if this next part offends anybody,SORRY.
I am really interested in where to get some reflector material as well so I am following this thread.I have made one so far out of the stuff I talked about in my earlier post.I would like to see where people are getting there stuff from so maby I can try something different.Out of the seven replies before mine,five of them had nothing to do with the question.I was just trying to get things back on track.But now I am wondering if any one has done any test with home made reflectors vs store bought ones.If so what where the results?I tried a search but it's not working right now.Maby I will start a new thread for this subject.
I am really interested in where to get some reflector material as well so I am following this thread.I have made one so far out of the stuff I talked about in my earlier post.I would like to see where people are getting there stuff from so maby I can try something different.Out of the seven replies before mine,five of them had nothing to do with the question.I was just trying to get things back on track.But now I am wondering if any one has done any test with home made reflectors vs store bought ones.If so what where the results?I tried a search but it's not working right now.Maby I will start a new thread for this subject.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/articles.htm
Sanjay has several very good reflector articles. Even among the "better" reflectors tested, there are large differences in overall efficiency.
A reflector is a rather complex piece of equipment. It must take light that is bing radiated in ALL directions and re-direct it into the desired focus area. The light must be redirected with as few reflections as possible because each reflection scatters (wastes) some of the light.
In the same manner, you would not take a coke bottle and saw off the bottom to DIY an eyeglasses lens. Yes it bends light, but it does not do so in a useful manner.
The problem is that most people do not understand (or care to understand) that a reflectors efficiency is rooted in some rather complex math and physics. To most it is just a shiny hunk of aluminum that will work no matter what the shape or surface texture.
Some manufacturers in the hobby are starting to realize that well engineered reflectors can make a huge difference in the efficiency of a lighting system. In the past they too sold poorly designed peices of aluminum and called them reflectors.
As for sources for DIY materials... a few have been mentioned already. The solatube material is by far one of the better choices. As I mentioned, if you still feel that DIY is a good idea then the lumenarc design is something to mimic.
Sanjay has several very good reflector articles. Even among the "better" reflectors tested, there are large differences in overall efficiency.
A reflector is a rather complex piece of equipment. It must take light that is bing radiated in ALL directions and re-direct it into the desired focus area. The light must be redirected with as few reflections as possible because each reflection scatters (wastes) some of the light.
In the same manner, you would not take a coke bottle and saw off the bottom to DIY an eyeglasses lens. Yes it bends light, but it does not do so in a useful manner.
The problem is that most people do not understand (or care to understand) that a reflectors efficiency is rooted in some rather complex math and physics. To most it is just a shiny hunk of aluminum that will work no matter what the shape or surface texture.
Some manufacturers in the hobby are starting to realize that well engineered reflectors can make a huge difference in the efficiency of a lighting system. In the past they too sold poorly designed peices of aluminum and called them reflectors.
As for sources for DIY materials... a few have been mentioned already. The solatube material is by far one of the better choices. As I mentioned, if you still feel that DIY is a good idea then the lumenarc design is something to mimic.
customcolor
New member
i think as bean would say, a mirror will not work like you think it would. the light has to pass through the glass 2 times befor it goes to the tank. in doing so it will screw up the light waves and be inafishent. well bean would say it a little diff, but i think you would get the idea
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
You did just fine on your own.
