Lumen per watt output?

[zacharytrimble]

Hey folks,

Can someone give me a very general (and please keep in mind, I'm asking general..excluding overdriving with icecaps...reflectors...etc)
lumen per watt output rating on the different types of bulbs?
mh
t-5 ho
pc
vho

I know there are variables but I'm looking for general rules here...thanks.

 

[REMF]

You can run but you can't hide LOL.

Try HERE fro MH info, as you will see, you have to put in each ballast, bulb and weather shelided or not for performance data.

 

[zacharytrimble]

Thanks for the good link.

It may be just me but I still can't find the lumen/watt output on any of the bulbs he tested...just spectral studies...and I'm looking for actual lumens ....actual par

 

[REMF]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=254667 about 4 post's down after the pix. You will see the variances.

 

[zacharytrimble]

Good data on that link. I found a couple other websites with good par comparison data as well...still looking for more of a straight up table with general examples of lumen output comparisons across different types of bulb technology....it probably doesn't exist...hehe

http://www.aquabotanic.com/lightcompare.htm#S-2
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/feature.htm

 

[hahnmeister]

Okay, I dont know of a table exactly, but I can tell you off the top of my head from looking through mfg data and wikipedia (actually, they have pretty complete data on this if you just look up the bulb type).

Halides peak at about 105 lumens per watt for HQI bulbs (not your regular probe start/single ended halides, but the double enders usually).

T5s peak at about 95, HO T5s are just a little less at 85-90 at most. The reason they compete with halides so well though is that bluer light is harder to make. With almost any bulb, the bluer the bulb, the lower the output... but with halides its more so. By the time you go from 3000K to 20,000K, the lumen output gets quartered. With T5s, the output doesnt dive like that. So when you are talking bulbs that make loads of blue, some blue T5s make just as much output as the daylight bulbs.

Power Compacts are in the 60 range, tops, but they degrade very fast. You would be lucky to get 30 lpw at 9 months.

Normal output tube bulbs peak pretty well at about 70 lumens per watt... the problem is trying to pack enough of them into the space you need for a reef is impossible... 70 lumens per watt doesnt do much when you only have 4 40 watt tubes. They also dont last long, like the PC bulbs.

LEDs vary, but the ones out now are mostly not that great... 60 maybe. The thing is, this segment is developing faster than computer chips ever did... R&D samples that get 130 lumens per watt are out there, and the goal is 150 in the next couple years... to market!

 

[jag1979]

wow 150 from LED's would be awesome, how long do you think until they are affordable?

 

[zacharytrimble]

THankyou Hahnmeister...good info. THat was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[hahnmeister]

jag, LEDs that put out 150 and are affordable shouldnt be that much of a challenge. Cree is bringing out ones right now that put out in the 130 range, for about the same price of the luxeons (what the PFO solaris uses).

I should point out too, the other advantage of LEDs is their ability to naturally focus their light into a very tight beam. Their almost laser like beam means that even though they are not as effecient from the pure output standpoint, the fact that they can aim their output so well makes them very effective. Too effective in fact. Some complain of the LEDs burning their corals in spots, yet the LEDs having such a narrow spotlight output that leaves the corners and back wall of the tank in the dark. Lenses will no doubt need to be developed alongside LED's to help spread out their light more.