PFO LED lighting

[andresont]

Originally Posted by reeferaddict

I saw a brochure at Safari yesterday for these - pretty pricey... BUT imagine not having to replace bulbs and the overall energy savings! If anyone's getting one of these puppies, let me know... I want to see with my own eyes!

http://www.solarisled.com/

Thank you for your comments. Our control board is sprayed with a protective coating for saltwater as well as all the circuit boards in the unit. We do not have a heat problem with our units. The maximum inside temperature next to the LED's is 40 Deg C. (The hottest point). Not only are they fan cooled and don't produce the heat of metal halides, they also have an internal RTD unit that will shut the entire unit down if it gets to hot.

Our unit has only 12V dc in the hood not high voltages like it takes to fire metal halide lamps. This continues to reduce the risk of fire and shock.

We are constantly changing/improving the Solaris as well as the new LED fixtures we are developing with feedback from people like you. We appreciate your comments and if you have more please send them to us. For your information, the unit has been almost entirely redesigned since our first showing at the Chicago IMAC because of customer suggestions. The outside may look the same, but the inside is dramatically different.

Thank you,
Patrick Ormiston



Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 5:38 PM
To: Patrick Ormiston
Subject: LED's
Thank you for being first and pushing research forward, I think this light can eliminate all aqua lights in the future,

I have a question/recommendation though, Would you consider moving controlling CPU away from the heat and aquarium top also away from moisture. Looking at Giesemann lights they are catching fire and CPU’s are failing because of overheating. Why not take “Tunze” for example and keep CPU/controller away from aquarium top where it is subjected to harsh environment.

Just my two cents for what it worth

[OCDP]

Originally Posted by andresont

Looking at Giesemann lights they are catching fire and CPU’s are failing because of overheating

Any links to how and why they are catching fire? I just bought a Giesemann Nova II and it hasn't had any problems. Is this a really common problem? Does this happen in the all-in one fixtures? Or in the pendants?

Sorry to hijack.

[andresont]

Originally Posted by OCDP

Any links to how and why they are catching fire? I just bought a Giesemann Nova II and it hasn't had any problems. Is this a really common problem? Does this happen in the all-in one fixtures? Or in the pendants?

Sorry to hijack.

I am sure your fixture will be ok , however in all-in one fixtures I hear many are catching fire and / or burning their CPU's because of heat accumulation and especially because of poore step down transformer from 220Volts down to 110. This is done by unquolified tech back East, this is not my place to say who or name the names. All i can tell you can find out more by visiting big "pet shop " on north road and talk to manager he will be able to tell you some more.
the step down transformer is not secured properly in the fixture plus overheat problem and CPU's do not like that.
This is a year old info so I am sure somthing might have been changed and design improved,

[OCDP]

Thanks for the reply .

So it sounds like this is all in the all-in-one fixtures, not the pendants. Thank goodness hahaha....

[untamed]

I've very interested in this lighting system for my 400 gallon under construction right now. I had planned 6 x 250W MH w/flourescents and a chiller....but if I could avoid all that it is pretty tempting.

I have the same problem as everyone else. I can't afford to be a test subject. I know that MH will work, but I have yet to see anyone's longer term results on only LED.

[Quagmire]

Advanced Aquarists product review for Solaris LED

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/review2

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Very informative article. I did some calculations to compare a 4' long Solaris vs the other MH/PC actinic lighting units sold by J&L. After you take into account the hydro savings & bulb replacement savings, it was only a couple hundred more over a five year span to buy the LED Solaris than with the older systems (it was a lot cheaper than the Geisemann unit). Also, I only used the 175w MH versions in my comparison, so if it is comparable to 250w MH, then the price difference would be even less.

Still, I will wait for later models before I consider replacing all my MH with LED lights.

Anthony