thingss to beware of when changing to LEDs

[josh88]

Got it. But I would still like to be pointed in the correct direction to better comprehend everything you are all talking about. Besides the pursute of knowledge base

HTC tapatalk

 

[HUNTER01975]

So I just bought a (apollo 4) led light. and it has white, blue, and red leds in it. If I read all this right I should be able to cover all light bands? secondly I have a 70 gallon tall tank that is 36 inches long and 25 inches deep(top to bottom) and 18 inches front to back. will I be able to have hard and soft corals or will I need more light? I plan on hanging the light above the tank. and using egg crate as a lid for my tank.

you can google search images of the light by searching apollo 4

I tried to post a pic but it kept saying it was to big and I kept making smaller but by the time it was big enough you could not tell what the pic looked like...

 

[dnjan]

LED's are pulse & freq. modulated to in affect change the length of the pulse on and off times to change the colors & output, now days they figured the range required to produce white light which from there they can create the ranges desired. The drivers that do this are just as important as the diode itself, It is similarly done to VFD's to control motor speed but rather light output. One thing is weird is the amount of heat needed to dissipate which is important to do also but in comparing the ratio of light output to heat they are still superior to a tube type light.

Could you elaborate on this a bit?

So one LED bulb could produce different wavelengths based on the pulsing of the driver?

That has a ton of potential in terms of programmable drivers ...

 

[tat2z_21]

I understand that LED Drivers can use PWM for dimming and control, but I have not seen anywhere that this PWM has an effect on the output coloration of the LED. I also understand that there might be a slight spectral shift with the decreased current, and less heat dissipation, but not to the point that you can control the coloration of a single LED. I believe that their is more to coloration then just PWM and voltage drops. For example a RED LED is red because of the following ingredients in making the semiconductor materials

RED
Aluminium gallium arsenide (AlGaAs)
Gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP)
Aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP)
Gallium(III) phosphide (GaP)

Blue
Zinc selenide (ZnSe)
Indium gallium nitride (InGaN)
Silicon carbide (SiC) as substrate
Silicon (Si) as substrate

yellow
Gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP)
Aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP)
Gallium(III) phosphide (GaP)

So the color of a LED has alot more to do with the chemical properties and less to do with the frequency. Unless you are talking about Quantum Dot LEDs which are still in work. Quantum Dot LED's is an emerging, printable thin film electroluminescent device technology, QLEDs are excited electrically to generate light. At the heart of QLEDs are electroluminescent colloidal quantum dots that combine the customizable, saturated, stable color and low-voltage performance found in inorganic LEDs with the solution processability of polymers.

 

[Scooterman]

Yes the doping method and materials have effect of output and colors and the changes I mentioned are insufficient comparison but remember before these modern LEDs they were very limited on materials so it mad a larger effect with the combination of plastics coverings. Way different than now days, so I can retract that idea I see google is your fiend ehh?

I understand that LED Drivers can use PWM for dimming and control, but I have not seen anywhere that this PWM has an effect on the output coloration of the LED. I also understand that there might be a slight spectral shift with the decreased current, and less heat dissipation, but not to the point that you can control the coloration of a single LED. I believe that their is more to coloration then just PWM and voltage drops. For example a RED LED is red because of the following ingredients in making the semiconductor materials

 

[tat2z_21]

Google is a friend of mine, but really it is a website dedicated to all new LED tech that I get all of my information. Another good place to get information on all of the leading edge LED manufacturers and the comparison of all.

LEDs Magazine - LED Technology, Solid State Lighting and other LED Applications

 

[dnjan]

Thanks for the information and reference for future research!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

This thread needs to be a sticky and updated monthly if not weekly as new LED facts are learned.

 

[Scooterman]

Google is a friend of mine, but really it is a website dedicated to all new LED tech that I get all of my information. Another good place to get information on all of the leading edge LED manufacturers and the comparison of all.

LEDs Magazine - LED Technology, Solid State Lighting and other LED Applications

It is elvolving fast these days, It is good to see how much has changed in the past year even, this is a good website. If you happen to read up on new stuff it doesn't hurt to post up post of new stuff like this!:tinfoil3:

This thread needs to be a sticky and updated monthly if not weekly as new LED facts are learned.

I agree, done

 

[tat2z_21]

So has anyone thought of the idea of using UV LEDs as a sterilizer. I found these and was wondering if they are in the right range.

SETi | UV Light Sources | Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc

I figure one or two of these with water passing through a clear piece of acrylic tube, with a reflective background. Just a thought would like to see what people think.

 

[mercenary-grunt]

the uv color of an led is not a true uv. its just a purple. if they were than they would kill things. OBD uses them as a substitute for red. its in the red family to help the corals. but it helps to not let algae grow as easy.

 

[mojoreef]

Ben the ones he linked to are in the UV range.

Hmm not sure TaT, I know the units we run are 40 watts each (as in traditional UV bulb and ballast). It does say they got a contract for water purification, might be worth seeing how many and how much.

Mike

 

[mercenary-grunt]

wow I should have read the link before sticking my foot in my mouth.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2.

 

[tat2z_21]

This would be the proper wavelength, right around UVC range, does anyone know what UVC would do to a piece of acrylic long term.

 

[tat2z_21]

Well after doing a little research, found out that just one of the LEDs cost almost 300 dollars.

 

[Scooterman]

Well after doing a little research, found out that just one of the LEDs cost almost 300 dollars.

LOL Pocket Change!uke:

Seems like they would work but wow, we may need some time to see cost go down.

 

[#1Reefkeepr]

Looks like ima have ta stick to HQI Halides "OLD SCHOOL NOW¿?¿ but if anyone out there has these LEDS we would like to see them in a time capsule on a REEF SYSTeM!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Such as with any new super high efficiency lighting, though the first generations are pricey, but they pay for themselves very quickly in energy and bulb replacement costs.

 

[#1Reefkeepr]

I agree with the cost thing "OVER TIME" but MAN those REEF capable LEDs are no joke on prices!!! And for me I couldn't trust them on my reef??? Only because I never had LEDs other then they make GREAT Shimmer for moonlights!!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I agree with the cost thing "OVER TIME" but MAN those REEF capable LEDs are no joke on prices!!! And for me I couldn't trust them on my reef??? Only because I never had LEDs other then they make GREAT Shimmer for moonlights!!!

Very similar to Halides except a lot more controllable and whereas most of the energy in Halides goes to heat, with LEDs, the vast majority goes to light and to wavelengths desirable for coral.