LED brand discussion

Snaz · #1 05-07-2012, 02:47 PM

Like all competitive technology that is in demand we will only see better product with lower prices each day that passes.

When to buy? When have a need and the budget.

mike31154 · #2 05-07-2012, 05:56 PM

Apologies daplatapus, I didn't mean to come off as hostile. Just seems to me that brand discussions tend to turn into opinion matches in forums & I've already seen too many of them. Kind of like cars. Some folks swear by a certain manufacturer/brand, generally based on past experience. Yet manufacturers still make engineering boo boos that cause recalls & bankruptcy, take GM & Toyota as examples.

Poor excuse though, I should probably be a little less cynical in someone else's thread. It's most definitely tough to see the forest for the trees with LEDs these days.

martinmcnally · #3 05-07-2012, 06:16 PM

Cree has the highest lumens per watt. More light less power consumption. They they are the "brand-name" of LEDs these days. All most all of the high end fixtures are using Cree; Radion, AI Sol, AI Vega etc.

mike31154 · #4 05-07-2012, 06:33 PM

Not DIY, but Kessil & Orphek both use LEDs supposedly of their own design, specifically engineered with optimum colour spectrum for marine livestock. Probably not as many lumens/watt as a Cree, but lumens/watt are not necessarily the whole story for our application. If I'm not mistaken, the Radion uses at least one other type of LED, Osram, although that's for their Red LED which is really only for colour tweaking.

msjboy · #5 05-07-2012, 06:41 PM

also check Philips LEDS.... they are actually better than the CREES in spectra and watts per lumens...

stevesleds.com for DIY , www.nano-box-reef.com for builds... also I some brands use a combination of both CREES and Philips in their product.

Also futureelectronics.com has lotsa specs and is in Canada but stevesleds.com is cheaper.

Goodluck with build. Lotsa new stuff/technology comig out everyday like 5W leds, 10W, etc... check reefbuilders.com for latest gadgets if you have not already.

msjboy

PS.... where does one in Port Alberni buy saltwater stuff? I heard one of the Cyr brothers ( ie former NHL player ) is into reefing from there.

Cal_stir · #6 05-07-2012, 08:44 PM

I have a DIY 72 3w LED, all cree XPG and XPE bin 5(clearest optics), 36 cool wh and 27 rb and 9 blue, dimmable meanwell drivers(0-10v) controlled with a RKE, spread out on a 48"x12" finned heat sink, no optics, it's about 2 years old and has worked flawlessly.

I wish I had went with 27 whites, 27 rb and 18 blue, those were all the colours at the time.

If I was doing it over I would add red, green and UV,( I might pop 9 of the whites and add 3 of each ) but I don't think I would change anything else.

Do the research, with some of the new fixtures on the market, I'm not sure if DIY is the way to go anymore. Personally I like the looks of the new Sunbrite fixtures (and the price for that matter).

StirCrazy · #7 05-08-2012, 03:07 AM

cree, bridgelux, phillips are probably your top 3 brand names. anyone of thoes will give good results. as for the lumen/watt wait an hour and one of these three will bring out a new LED that is the best...... Cree is the name because they were the first to bring out a powerfull LED at a reasonable price plus they have realy been pushing the new developments, which is why you see about 4 different versions of cree LED being used in DIY builds over the last two years.

bang for buck I would have to say I am leaning towards bridgelux myself for my build now. at 1/2 the price people want for the new cree's its a no brainer. just for info I am looking at using one nutral white one royal blue and one true violate per cluster. I am not sold on the green and reds, and have seen tanks looking just as good with out them. now if your using 10K for you white I can see where the red and green might help.

Steve