Pelagic7's new LED fixture

[NeveSSL]

They may get light, but your PAR will suck. Reason being that optics are not equal in their light spread. The majority of your light is in the first 30 degrees of angle of the optic, meaning the first 6 inches of your calculations. With a 31" depth, I wouldn't plan on keeping many SPS except directly under your unit.

Brandon

 

[ZachB]

Yea, I would do 2 of those. One strip will light the tank but the front and back will be noticeably darker. Whatever floats your boat, though.

 

[pelagic7]

on LED group buy's website, they said it takes 10-12 days to ship the order after the GB starts. then I just found out today... they lied... it's more like 5 weeks. people ordered in Feb 12th just got their order shipped today.. I guess I won't see my light any time soon.

 

[NeveSSL]

I hear ya... my LEDs were ordered on that buy from the 12th. Glad to hear they shipped today. I also have an order from the 5th of this month... hopefully they won't take as long. We'll see.

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

my LED layout.. still waiting for the LED... it looks like the order will be shipped this week.
white=empty space.
WN= White,warm
WC= White, cool
B=Blue
the rest=Blue, Royal.

 

[NeveSSL]

Nice! Can't wait to see what it looks like.

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

I am trying to set up 3 sets parallel strings(2 per set).. it works for my royal blue string(XP-E), but not for the white (XP-G).

I have 12 LED per string, when I turned on the power, one string was really dim, another string only had 3 lite up.

I've tested them in single string mode for both of them, and they worked just fine... I also tested the power consumption for each string.. and they are like +- 0.5V or per string... any suggestions?

 

[NeveSSL]

Serial is pain enough, parallel just triples the fun.

I would suggest checking the Vf of each LED. While they're running, put a multimeter on the negative and positive of each one to see how much voltage they're actually dropping. Then, match the strings up. It sounds like you have one string that is more efficient than the others. Try to make each string drop the same amount of voltage total.

Also, check and make sure that none of them are shorting out anywhere. Set your multimeter to continuity and check between the LED solder pads and your heatsink.

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

yea, I tried that, and the total difference is less than 0.5V or less. I guess I will try it again when I get home

 

[NeveSSL]

Ok, gotcha.

Have you checked for shorts?

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

yea, also, when I am running only 12 LEDs using different drive, it works just fine.

 

[NeveSSL]

So you have more XP-Gs on the strings than XP-Es?

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

nope, I didn't mix the XPG and Es.

 

[NeveSSL]

That is likely your problem.

XP-Gs drop significantly less voltage than XP-Es. At least 0.3 volts each.

In other words, if your numbers are the same of LEDs between strings, and they're either XP-Es or XP-Gs, there's no way they're equal in voltage drop across the entire string as the XP-Gs are much more efficient and drop less voltage.

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

Everything is working now.
I couldn't balance the current between 2 XP-G strings, so I simply returned the PS and get 2 48v 1050mA PS instead.

PAR isn't as good as I expected, I might do something about it...

 

[NeveSSL]

Glad to hear you got it working.

Whats your PAR at? Your tank is rather large for only 72 LEDs. I didn't think it would be real high.

Brandon

 

[pelagic7]

Fixture is 8" from the surface
suface is around 500-600
10" below where I put most of the SPS is 400
14" Monti 300-350
21" Clam 200
30" Sandbed 150

I guess it's enough. Bill told me his PAR is a lot higher at the surface.
I also did some research for PAR, here's a good link
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/3/aafeature1

Saturation PAR for the SPS
Acropora cervicornis 281
Acropora cervicornis 331
Acropora digitifera 387
Acropora divaricata 77
Acropora formosa 340
Acropora gemmifera 340
Acropora granulosa 107
Acropora microphthalma 300
Acropora millepora (coenosarc) 190
Acropora millepora (polyp) 230
Acropora nobilis (coenosarc) 310
Acropora nobilis (polyp) 180
Anthopleura elegantissima (anemone) None @ 540
Cyphastrea serialia (coenosarc) 150
Cyphastrea serialia (polyp) 150
Montipora tuberculosa (coenosarc) 180
Montipora tuberculosa (polyp)
Pocillopora damicornis 225
Pocillopora eydouxi 323
Porites cylindrica 200
Stylophora pistillata 600-2000
Stylophora pistillata (shade) 200
Stylophora pistillata (light) 300

 

[orthokardia]

thx for the ar info....great stuff

 

[Islander84]

Im suprised it doesnt put off more par than that. The color it puts off is nice and bright really makes your corals come alive! especially those rb they bring out some amazing colors on your corals.

 

[pelagic7]

Yea, me too, I might add another row in the middle w/o the optics. We'll see.