Minimalistic multichip DIY LED build

[Electrobes]

That is a very hard question to answer. As brands they are both reputable within their fields. What you have to judge is efficiency of the bulbs. Epileds tend to be good at producing the violet ranges and Bridgelux produce most colours. The downside with Bridgelux compared to Cree or Phillips is their efficiency. You will find that most bridgelux leds tend to be very voltage hungry relative to lumen output and most will not run beyond the 1000mA range.

Thanks for that! It's good to know.

What do you think of the Cree's multichip? For 26 bucks, and it being a Cree light.. it's awfully tempting...

Cree Xlamp 50W XTE White(4pcs)+Royal Blue(6pcs) Coral Hybrid Multichip LED Light

Specs:

Quantity: 1pc
Power:50W(atual power 38W)
Model Name: CREE XT-E
Emitted Color: White(4pcs)+Royal Bule(6pcs)
Temperature Color:6000K(White) + 450nm (Royal Blue )
DC Forward Voltage (VF): 30-34V
DC Forward Current (IF): 1A

 

[marspeed]

the bridgelux vero line is a very nice led and will run more than 1000 ma lumen out puts can be very high look it up

 

[zachts]

Why don't you just make your own at this site
www.leds-global.com

another problem with this is that you don't know the specific bin of LED you are getting which has a HUGE impact on the end result.

All the LED manufacuteres can produce decent consistency in chips but only if you know what bins you are getting. None of the multichip makers give you this info. So it would be a crap shoot as to excactly what you get and if you chould even get 4 chips ordered at the same time that would look the same side by side.

this site only mounts who knows what in the rough configuration you order.........
.........great for a low budget small system with a one off light but not for where you need multiples. IMHO.


This is where Kessil wins, they use very specific bins for repetability.

DIY can do this but so far only using 3 up chips......

 

[zachts]

Thanks for that! It's good to know.

What do you think of the Cree's multichip? For 26 bucks, and it being a Cree light.. it's awfully tempting...

Cree Xlamp 50W XTE White(4pcs)+Royal Blue(6pcs) Coral Hybrid Multichip LED Light

Specs:

Quantity: 1pc
Power:50W(atual power 38W)
Model Name: CREE XT-E
Emitted Color: White(4pcs)+Royal Bule(6pcs)
Temperature Color:6000K(White) + 450nm (Royal Blue )
DC Forward Voltage (VF): 30-34V
DC Forward Current (IF): 1A

If you want consistent quality you need to know the bin of LED used, these could be all over the map from one chip to the next.......

 

[proietti]

What do you think of the Cree's multichip? For 26 bucks, and it being a Cree light.. it's awfully tempting...

Cree Xlamp 50W XTE White(4pcs)+Royal Blue(6pcs) Coral Hybrid Multichip LED Light

Can you please post a link to this light. Cree as a company don't make multichips. They produce the single diodes. Other companies then arrange them in single or multichips.
If I was doing a multichip system I would be more veered towards the Lumia 5.2 by LedGroupBuy as it has a full spectrum rather than just whites and Royal Blues.

 

[Electrobes]

I wasn't sure if I was allowed to post the link but here is the Cree chip that I found: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cree-Xlamp-...560?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3389d27e38

I noticed AC-RC carries some of these Cree branded chips.

I wouldn't mind the Lumia 5.2 chip, but to deal with five channels would just be too many wires for me to deal with, worst yet I only have two Apex VDM ports (Giving me 4 total channels that I can control). Unless I could some how control three sets (Three cannons) of Lumia 5.2's using one Apex Module VDM module... I don't think it's feasible for me.

 

[marspeed]

two channels on the lumia 5.2 are the same you could use four drivers

 

[marspeed]

I mean four drivers per two lumia 5.2s

 

[proietti]

I wouldn't mind the Lumia 5.2 chip, but to deal with five channels would just be too many wires for me to deal with, worst yet I only have two Apex VDM ports (Giving me 4 total channels that I can control). Unless I could some how control three sets (Three cannons) of Lumia 5.2's using one Apex Module VDM module... I don't think it's feasible for me.

I suppose as a chip it looks ok, but IMO it will not suffice satisfactory as it does not cover the spectrum needed for sps to thrive. Also you will get a blue wash effect which will knock out all the pink and red coloured coral colours. IMO and there is a lot of info out there already which demonstrates that you really ought to have violets, cool blues, cyan Rblue a little red for colour enhancement. Yellow is not ideal as it can damage corals as as been my experience on my previous fitting

 

[proietti]

I mean four drivers per two lumia 5.2s

And also if you want the PWM signals can be shared ie. if you only have 2 PWM signals each will feed 2 drivers which means less wiring

 

[Electrobes]

Thanks for the info guys!

Proetti: What 50W chip would you suggest, that is currently available? For my 20 inch tall half cylinder (New build), I was aiming for three cannons (Like the Kessils) but I'm definitely willing to keep an open mind.

I have to be honest, I am looking at keeping things somewhat simple, despite having built my own current LED set up (36 3W LEDs, using parts from RapidLED and three channels of my VDM). I do like LEDs, especially given the results of my current constructed LED fixture over my 40Br (Coral growth has been very, very good). I was hoping that by now, there would be a single channel multichip that had full spectrum. I prefer full spectrum for the corals (Especialy SPS) more so than for my own eyes to please.

 

[007Bond]

Can you please post a link to this light. Cree as a company don't make multichips. They produce the single diodes. Other companies then arrange them in single or multichips.
If I was doing a multichip system I would be more veered towards the Lumia 5.2 by clay-boa as it has a full spectrum rather than just whites and Royal Blues.

Hi proietti,...do you have any thoughts on the ac-rc Dream Chips? Thanks---Rick

 

[proietti]

..do you have any thoughts on the ac-rc Dream Chips? Thanks---R

The dream chip was the beginning of the full spectrum bulbs. The original which comes from AC RC is not bad but if you going in that dirrection use the lumina 5.1 (not 5.2) which is basically the dream chip refined whith OCW spectrum. My friend has this light and it has a very nice spectrum plus price wise is more or less the same.

 

[007Bond]

The dream chip was the beginning of the full spectrum bulbs. The original which comes from AC RC is not bad but if you going in that dirrection use the lumina 5.1 (not 5.2) which is basically the dream chip refined whith OCW spectrum. My friend has this light and it has a very nice spectrum plus price wise is more or less the same.

Thanks proietti,...I think the lumina cost is less, but I have a deep tank (42" top of sand to top of water) a 100W DC can be driven to 252W which is extra power I think I need because of my tank depth.---Rick

 

[proietti]

(42" top of sand to top of water)

42"!!!!!!! WOW that's over a 1meter I think you will struggle with any form of LED fitting. You'd better use lenses!!!

 

[007Bond]

Yeah,....going to use the new adjustable lenses ac-rc sells

 

[proietti]

A friend of mine here in the UK has a similar depth tank Google David Saxby Reef. he uses AI's but loads of them but then again he owns D&D who markets them here in the UK

 

[007Bond]

My issue is my hood. It raises like the trunk on a car, so mh's would never work.

 

[proietti]

any pics?

 

[proietti]

seriously though yes I think you have no alternative but to go with the AC RC Leds as you say they make 100 watters. You might have to supplement with a few OCW spotted around just to lift the colour a bit. All you need is a cyan, RBlue and a red on a single starboard. Mixed together they produce the perfect viewing light.