Led Par testing

[mojoreef]

If anyone has some LEds that they want to test with a par meter let me know. I have limited use of one right now and would be interested in taking some readings to see what they put out


Mojo

 

[1guydude]

i live in graham and have some par bulbs u can take readings of! Also i just got a stark led light from gbr.....just cant figure out how im gonna set it up lol!

 

[user 26995]

You can come up and check the new Acan unit I just got!
I would really be interested to know!

 

[NC2WA]

I have 48 LED actinic LEDs on my system you can test...would be nice to know what PAR 3w Crees give out.

 

[1guydude]

Im closest lol!
ive got rapids par bulbs and ecoexotic! I wanna know which is better...
and i wanna know if my new stark fixture is any better than my t5 fixture! Im gonna say ya just from lookin at it lol!

 

[mojoreef]

OK oneguydude shoot me an email with you phone number and I will try to swing by today sometime. Kirk I tried to call you but your number wasnt working. Lorrie I have to go up your way next weekend so I will call you and see if we can work something out.


Mojo

 

[justforfun]

well i got this sweet new technology dual mh with t-5...lol...oh yah and 2 led strips

 

[akunochi]

I have Ai Sols...I sent you a PM. Oh and I am in Graham also.

 

[akunochi]

Par results of AI Sol Super Blue standard optics

Lights are 15" above the tank


6" below lights outside optics (Air) 800
6" below lights inside optics (Air) 1900

6" Below water level (21" below lights) 220
12" below water level (27" below lights) 195
Bottom of tank (39" below lights) 145

 

[1guydude]

Ecoexotic par38 bulb
40deg optics
5 3w crees
21w consumed

1 1/2ft above tank

6" out of water
1900par

6" under water
160

6" under water and 6" left and right
70-80par

12" under water
135par

 

[1guydude]

rapids led par38
80deg optics
17w consumed
7 3w crees powered at 2w

1ft above tank

6" out of water
600par

6" under water
75par

12" under water
60par

-I would suggest less optics and more leds!!!!

 

[1guydude]

Stark led
60deg optics
60w consumed (w/fan)
20 3w crees

8" above tank

6" out of water
800par

6" under water
270par

12" under water
220par

24" under water
bottom of the tank
60par

 

[dnjan]

Are those all tested over the same tank, or is water clarity having an effect on the under-water readings?

 

[mojoreef]

No we tested the lights that were over each persons tank. I would say the water quality in both tanks was pretty good, but the par testing was not done in a controled fashion, just a stick the par meter under the lights and take some readings. I would say it gives a somewhat clear picture though.


Mojo

 

[dnjan]

Some of the losses between 6" above and 6" below didn't make sense.
I guess it could be reflector-related.

 

[mojoreef]

No Don I would expect that, same for all lighting. YOur going from air to water and their is no comparing the two as to penetration. The only reason I actually did that test was just to see what the clean output was. One thing that we didnt put figures up for was the spread, whe we tested at the same distance from the light and then started to move the meter away from directly under the light, their was a dramatic loss in par. An example was on Seth's light I think, when we were 6 inches under the water surface I believe we were getting 225?? but when we moved a couple of inches (maybe 2) from directly under the light fixture it dropped to about 40-60?? .


Mojo

 

[Scooterman]

Are these all LED's? That seems like a dramatic drop when moving out from directly under the lamp, is this true fro all of them? Do they appear to be more of a Spot type light rather a spread over a larger area?

 

[dnjan]

Sorry for not typing enough. what I meant was the difference in losses between 6" above and 6" below didn't make sense.

Unfortunately, it appears that LED lights may have to go through a slow development period in terms reflectors just as MH lighting did.

 

[mojoreef]

Are these all LED's? That seems like a dramatic drop when moving out from directly under the lamp, is this true fro all of them? Do they appear to be more of a Spot type light rather a spread over a larger area?

That I can not say as the ones above are the only ones I have tested. The Light bulb its self has a spot light effect. They have what they call optics that can come with them (And these had them on) what those optics are is basicially concaved glass lens that they sit behind, these lens are cut in degrees, Seth would have to chime in on the degrees his were I can not remember, Devins optics are listed.

Unfortunately, it appears that LED lights may have to go through a slow development period in terms reflectors just as MH lighting did.

Yea that is for sure but I do like the route they are taking and I dont think its going to take that long. One thing everyone should be looking at here though is the wattage of these lights above. We are talking relitively low watts and I think their is an expectation of comparing them to MH whcih is not fair.


Mojo

 

[dnjan]

I would be more concerned with even-ness of coverage (as you get with a good MH reflector) than with actual intensity.
As far as PAR per watt, LED's are fantastic!