Evolution LEDs

[reefs4life]

Hello guys so I've been looking at LEDs to change my current lights to. I really like the AI fixtures but don't really have that kind of money lol. I came across these Evolution LEDs though on eBay and I read an article about them on reefbuilders and I wanted to get an opinion from you guys. Here are the links, thanks.

http://reefbuilders.com/2010/08/25/evolution-led-delivers-great-par-and-color-with-caveats/

http://cgi.ebay.com/Evolution-LED-L...344?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ab803338

 

[pecan2phat]

It's a nice beginner's LED light but you need to consider the life of the fixture. As the article elluded to the longevity of the LEDs due to the cost cutting of the passive cooling method (heatsink).
Even though these are 1w LEDs and produce less heat then say 350 ma Crees, they still need to dissapate heat efficiently. Heat is the major factor of LED failures.
For them to supply a proper heatsink probably would have only added $30 to their cost.

 

[John Legend]

Yo, ReefsLife and PecanHat,

So I'm meeting with my aqua designer when I get back to NYC. I'm just the client, but I'm really excited about getting this set up. I was thinkin about a DOPE light set up that changes colors with the music in my loft. Something like a club setup, but really making the fish look like they are POPPING. Is that something I can ask him about or will he think imma just a crazy fish nut?

PEACE and Thanks,
JL

 

[pecan2phat]

John,
You need to contact Wingo. He builds custom LED fixtures with DMX protocols that would do what your looking for.

[email protected]

 

[John Legend]

Thanks man. I'll get him in touch with my designer.

PEACE,
JL

 

[reefs4life]

It's a nice beginner's LED light but you need to consider the life of the fixture. As the article elluded to the longevity of the LEDs due to the cost cutting of the passive cooling method (heatsink).
Even though these are 1w LEDs and produce less heat then say 350 ma Crees, they still need to dissapate heat efficiently. Heat is the major factor of LED failures.
For them to supply a proper heatsink probably would have only added $30 to their cost.

So what would be the best way of upgrading this so it lasts longer, would you have to change the heatsink or could you just add stronger fans?

 

[Widdy]

I think Reefkoi was running them at their MACNA booth... and just ended a GB on another reef forum. I believe I saw them as a vendor for the MR Fall swap... see if they're going to bring a fixture if they are.

 

[reefs4life]

I think Reefkoi was running them at their MACNA booth... and just ended a GB on another reef forum. I believe I saw them as a vendor for the MR Fall swap... see if they're going to bring a fixture if they are.

Oh nice! Thanks for the info, I'll definitely look into that

 

[itsaNYthing]

i have a 72 bow... would i need 2 of these things to light up my tank, and would this be sufficent enough lighting for the depth of my tank?

 

[itsaNYthing]

and reefs4life...we could always finagle with the fans and heat sink

 

[pecan2phat]

You need to take apart a fixture to see how it is assembled. The lamps most likely have all the LEDs mounted on one circuit board since this is the cheapest way to go and figure out how the board is tied to the heatsink. Internal powersupply will also hamper space for replacing with a beefier heat sink so you need to consider that too. Best to let a handy DIY'er have a go at it to see if it's worth modding over a MaxSpect unit IMO.

 

[cali_reef]

I see heatsink thru the cooling vents... Wish someone (with lots LED already) would buy one, open it up and take some temp readings:scratchch

 

[pecan2phat]

These are already an upgrade from the GB lights that LIRA bought from Alibaba. Those do not have a heatsink as shown
I'm sure the lights will be fine until a fan fails or air flow is diminished with dust, salt and humidity that is associated with lights over a box of saltwater.

 

[itsaNYthing]

do you think i would get sufficient lighting with 2 of these lights for a 72 bow?

edit: to grow nice coral, and to get nice colour from them

 

[cali_reef]

These are already an upgrade from the GB lights that LIRA bought from Alibaba. Those do not have a heatsink as shown
I'm sure the lights will be fine until a fan fails or air flow is diminished with dust, salt and humidity that is associated with lights over a box of saltwater.

Does these not apply to other LED's using fans as a method of removing heat?

did you ever compare PAR of the cheap unit to the 1W PacificSun units?

I was at an aviation industry show today and few suppliers told me raw LED prices has been dropping a lot in the past 12 month, with the Koreans and Chinese competing with each other. Wait another 12 months and they should drop another 20-30%.

 

[pecan2phat]

did you ever compare PAR of the cheap unit to the 1W PacificSun units?

mix of white, 420, and 460 actinics
6" - 980
12" - 600
18" - 335
24" - 212
30" - 139
36" - 98
42" - 72
48" - 54

Then after we tested for the PAR data:

From Apogee:

Apogee Instruments is committed to helping you make accurate measurements. We recently determined that an op-amp in our radiation meters manufactured between December 1, 2008 and December 1, 2009 had an insufficient settling time. This caused our quantum, pyranometer, and UV meters to read high in high light levels. The meters are accurate from zero to 300 ?mol m-2 s-1, but are 5% high at 750 and 9% high at 2100 ?mol m-2 s-1. The affected serial numbers for your quantum meters, MQ-200, are 1001 to 1254.

To insure that your meters are as accurate as possible under all light intensities, please return it to us for a firmware update and recalibration. We will cover all shipping costs both ways. We expect to be able to return your meters to you within a few days after arrival. Please email [email protected] to coordinate the return. We apologize for this inconvenience and look forward to continuing to work with you to make the most cost-effective measurements possible


So reduce measurements by about 9% I guess.

 

[bigdog1428]

so are these units worth buying yet ,,or should you wait,,,it seems like the technology is great,,but still has a long way to go. imma stick with my mh/t5 combo untill more information is available

 

[aznt1217]

To answer a few questions, for a 72 Bow you do need 2 of these.

Also it's nice to mention if you guys remember a few months back there was a Group Buy Dace did... on the China LED's and a group buy on Reef Central. Warren I believe you have these.

The Evolution LED's and BlueMoonAquatics are pretty much the same ones-- but like you said they probably upgraded with Heatsink (these were in the Dace Group Buy)

 

[pecan2phat]

Ted,
Dave did his own GB on the lights and took out the actinic LEDs (470nm) on his modules but essentially about the same.

There is a GB on these lights by ReefKoi on reef2reef that ends Friday. $279 shipped
http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-koi/46237-official-270-led-group-buy-closes-14.html

 

[itsaNYthing]

people seem to love them on reef2reef