tkeracer619
New member
:rollface: I'll wait till its 1/4 of the price.
LED Lighting. The next big thing?
- Thread starter mikeshook
- Start date
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
It's not a great measure to use Robert. I have a 6 bulb configuration of VHO totalling 630 watts over a 75G, which is 8.4 watts per gallon. Two 250 watt MH bulbs over the same tank would provide 6.6 watts per gallon, but would be stronger lighting than mine. Same with t-5 comparred to mine.
watts per gallon was the old rule, most people don't use that anymore
its really about matching the correct intensity to each animal. PAR is what it is all about. As far as measuring it let people like Sanjay and Grimm do that. Then use their measurements to decide what you need.
its really about matching the correct intensity to each animal. PAR is what it is all about. As far as measuring it let people like Sanjay and Grimm do that. Then use their measurements to decide what you need.
starmanres
Premium Member
I will do some research on PAR. If this has become the new standard in measuring the needs of the animals, I would think that most of the online places would change their coral lighting needs to a PAR standard over the current "Intense, Moderate, Low" descriptions they provide now.
I couldn't find a PAR meter on any of the normal Fish Supply places either....
The one I did find was $200. :eek1:
The hobby has some work to do through education and equipment to make it useful and measurable.
Robert
I couldn't find a PAR meter on any of the normal Fish Supply places either....
The one I did find was $200. :eek1:
The hobby has some work to do through education and equipment to make it useful and measurable.
Robert
pfo brought a solaris to the mtrc frag swap this weekend.They brought a par meter with them.I could place my hands on the bulbs.No heat.We took the par meter and placed it just under the surface of the water and it was in the 370's. We then took the meter over to a 250mh and it was 370 at the bulb and already in the 250's before even under the surface of the water.I'm sold on them.Just need to find the money now
barbra
Active member
Has anybody tried any DIY LED stuff, or looke dinto it at all. The lights that are used are these kind I think:
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&AD=1&ArticleID=12047
There is a source here maybe?
http://www.luxeonstar.com/sub_category.php?id=330&link_str=330
I am not a lighting guru, having successfully avoided that until lately, but I will happily tag along on that DIY train, it seems worth it. Can it be done at home?
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&AD=1&ArticleID=12047
There is a source here maybe?
http://www.luxeonstar.com/sub_category.php?id=330&link_str=330
I am not a lighting guru, having successfully avoided that until lately, but I will happily tag along on that DIY train, it seems worth it. Can it be done at home?
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
Did they provide the MH setup? Apparently they have been comparing it with a shielded, 20K XM... probably the lowest par 250 setup possible.
And I'm tired of everyone saying you need a chiller with MH. Buy a $5.00 fan.
Whether you need a chiller or not. The "fear" of heat is always an issue for half of the country. Even if you run a fan. Your water tempature is still rising at the surface, thus causing more evaporation...so even if you don't NEED a chiller, you should be able to find a benefit from LED thru less H20 evaporation into your home...which causes your AC to run more and your home to get mold infestation...
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
At the very least a chiller would run less often, which I would think would save plenty, especially on a large tank.
i guess I just don't see how spending 3k on a light would save money, I have 3 mh's and 3 t5's total cost of about $1000 = savings of 2k plus more light output.
b/f you give me all these calculations telling me that I would save money over a 10 year period...has anyone ever heard of the time value of money?
b/f you give me all these calculations telling me that I would save money over a 10 year period...has anyone ever heard of the time value of money?
Haha! Great point jag1979. I'm not really talking about saving money. It's like buying a 60 inch plasma....to some a 42 inch works just fine for most people's home, but you talk about it because it's new/cool....and one day will be affordable. We don't buy Rolex's because they are the best for the money (a quartz watch from wal-mart keeps better time)....this isn't a cheap hobby, and those who think it is are in for a shock/disappointment. I haven't brought up cost advantages nor light advantages...only heat and noise.
Randall_James
Premium Member
I did a cost analysis on the LED system and came up with very similar numbers about 3 months ago. The savings was pretty significant all the same. The $150 per year on bulbs alone covered the additional cost of the LED unit itself.
I also figured around $9 per month in savings on the chiller and the costs associated with running it (depreciation, power to run chiller, cost of AC to remove the added load of chiller from inside home).
My biggest beef is the warranty, if the unit is "good" for 10 years, then warranty it for 2/3rds of it. I would not buy an item that is expected to operate for such a long time with only a 12 or 24 month warranty.
Now if they show a bit more confidence in their product, then I might too
I also figured around $9 per month in savings on the chiller and the costs associated with running it (depreciation, power to run chiller, cost of AC to remove the added load of chiller from inside home).
My biggest beef is the warranty, if the unit is "good" for 10 years, then warranty it for 2/3rds of it. I would not buy an item that is expected to operate for such a long time with only a 12 or 24 month warranty.
Now if they show a bit more confidence in their product, then I might too
"I did a cost analysis on the LED system and came up with very similar numbers about 3 months ago. The savings was pretty significant all the same. The $150 per year on bulbs alone covered the additional cost of the LED unit itself."
what rate of return did you use in calculating the loss due to the time value of money?
also how much do the LED lights cost to replace in 5 years or so (assuming you would not wait 10 years for the light output to drop by 30%)
what rate of return did you use in calculating the loss due to the time value of money?
also how much do the LED lights cost to replace in 5 years or so (assuming you would not wait 10 years for the light output to drop by 30%)
dwculp
New member
LED systems will only get better and better. Researchers are constantly improving LED technology and LEDs with a lumens per watt rating that blows MH lights out of the watter are in the near future.
As LED lighting gets adopted by more people the price will begin to drop, though I think it is a good 3-4 years before LED lights are common.
As LED lighting gets adopted by more people the price will begin to drop, though I think it is a good 3-4 years before LED lights are common.
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
I couldn't agree more! When I was in College (years ago) a high quality calculator ran about $600. (In 1974 Dollars no less).
One of the big things the technology has going for it is that LED product development will occur to service markets that are much much larger than Aquaria. Aquaria may well be the beneficiary of R&D efforts for other uses. Here is a clip from an article I recently read:
"Until the last decade, LEDs could only produce green, red, and yellow light, which limited their use. Then came blue LEDs, which have since been altered to emit white light with a light-blue hue.
LEDs produce twice as much light as a regular 60 watt bulb and burn for over 50,000 hours. The Department of Energy estimates LED lighting could reduce U.S. energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent by 2025. LEDs don't emit heat, so they're also more energy efficient. And they're much harder to break.
Other scientists have said they expect LEDs to eventually replace standard incandescent bulbs as well as fluorescent and sodium vapor lights.
If the new process can be developed into commercial production, light won't come just from newfangled bulbs. Quantum dot mixtures could be painted on just about anything and electrically excited to produce a rainbow of colors, including white.
One big question remains: When a brilliant idea pops into your mind in the future, what will appear over your head?"
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