DIY LED Using 10 Watt Arrays - Page 11

daplatapus · #**101** 04-02-2015, 02:39 PM

Hey Mike,
Nice to hear yours is still up and running. I still haven't got my main build lit yet, lol. When I got my Evergrow light over my cube, I took down my DIY 18" fixture I built. It was my trial run for the 3 - 18" I'm putting up over my 210. I had a half dozen UV LED's (True Violets actually) but the lenses on them look like they're burnt. They aren't, but they've discoloured so bad, they look brown. Not sure how much light they even put out now never mind the spectrum.
Have you noticed anything on yours? Do yours have lenses on them?

mike31154 · #**102** 04-03-2015, 01:49 AM

No optics on any of my 10 watt multi chips. The 5050 RGB strips are the water proof flavour, with a flexible silicone type coating. Actually a good reminder for me to inspect the 10 watters & see if they need a wipe to get any salt accumulation off. The fixture is up high enough so that it's not a major issue, but a periodic cleaning is never a bad idea. The UV or Violet (don't recall the wavelength ATM) 10 watt chips have never been installed, I've only run them for a few minutes to test them. Only have a couple, so probably wouldn't have much effect over my tank.

mike31154 · #**103** 04-15-2016, 12:54 AM

4 years now, going strong. No bulbs added to the landfill.

mike31154 · #**104** 07-21-2017, 03:40 PM

5 years + now on this puppy! I think I can safely say I've recouped my investment compared to replacing T5HO tubes or MH bulbs over that period. Might be time to look at changing out the LEDs, they may have lost some of their effectiveness over the years, but I have no way to tell really. Fish don't care & my montiporas are growing gangbusters.

mike31154 · #**105** 04-02-2018, 11:15 PM

Annual update of this dinosaur thread. 6 years running this fixture now and it may be time for a refit or upgrade. One of the LEDs finally failed a few months back & I replaced it since I have spares on hand. Another one went recently & several more are on the way out, losing a string of 3 on the chip. Seems the Royal Blue, Blue ones are failing before the Whites. No more spares on hand, so I'm faced with the decision to order more or do a major upgrade with newer multi colour multi chips available these days.

Wondering if it's even worthwhile, there has been so much progress in LED development & costs have come down substantially. Is anyone doing DIY LED fixtures anymore?? How are folks' commercial fixtures, Radions etc. holding up? Tempted to go to fewer higher wattage multi colour chips, but ordering more of the 10 watters & replacing them would be a lot easier than a redesign/build.

Frogger · #**106** 04-03-2018, 04:40 AM

I had a 110 watt diy led fixture ran for 6 to 7 years no issues. Still running but not currently using because the colour array not great, royal blues and white only (50/50). Would be good for fish only

The first Maxspect I bought ran for about 2 years before the fans went and several of the led's burnt out. (lemon)

They gave me a credit and bought a new one been running for about 3.5 years no issues.

Have an ATI hybrid, runs great after 2 years.

mike31154 · #**107** 04-03-2018, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogger

I had a 110 watt diy led fixture ran for 6 to 7 years no issues. Still running but not currently using because the colour array not great, royal blues and white only (50/50). Would be good for fish only

The first Maxspect I bought ran for about 2 years before the fans went and several of the led's burnt out. (lemon)

They gave me a credit and bought a new one been running for about 3.5 years no issues.

Have an ATI hybrid, runs great after 2 years.

Thx for the input/info.