DIY LED Lighting

[AlexKilpatrick]

Solaris is now shipping what is believed to be the first reef LED lighting system (not counting moonlights)

http://www.pfolighting.com/Solaris-Buy-Now.aspx

You can read an analysis of their performance on an aquarium here: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/review2

Using LEDs has significant advantages: much less power, less heat, potentially greater PAR/PUR. However, Solaris' system is incredibly expensive. A fixture that theoretically replaces a 250W MH is about $900. However, even with that high cost, for many people the system would pay for itself in 1-2 years because of lower cooling and power costs.

The Solaris system uses 3W high power LEDs. You can read more about them here: http://www.luxeonstar.com/

The LEDs they use are about 60 lumens, and cost about $8 a piece, or $200 for 25. Add in a $100 for miscellaneous, and you get an LED ficture for about the same price as MH, but with much lower operating costs.

Johnathon has a thread describing his project here: www.jmastreptiles.com/LEDUpgrade.html

I am doing something similar, and will post my results when I get my first set of LEDs.

If you are interested in this, subscribe to this thread. It would be awesome if we could get this figured out enough to have a MAAST assembly party and make some of these ourselves.

[mathias]

lots and lots of pictures :)

[ou812pezz]

this is interesting. too bad I'm flooded with side projects at the moment.

[klondike4001]

I've done my calcs for my 70W MH LED concept and it's about $200 which isn't far from a retro kit for a 70W MH, so it comes up even. No loss but amazing gain. No replacing lights. Let me know how those dimmers work, I may be interested in one or 2 if you can spare them. I should start major building in a month or so. Due to lack of funds, but they're coming fast (I hope). I've updated my project for what I did today. http://www.jmastreptiles.com/LEDUpgrade.html


Thanks for the new thread,
Jonathan

[JeremyGlen]

You should all read this article. It really shows that the Solaris would really work out better than a 250w MH.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/review2

I'm interested in building one for my tank. Shouldn't be too hard since I've only got a 24" long tank.

[klondike4001]

Just an FYI, that's the article that spurred Alex and myself, this is the thread that started this, http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=20816

[AlexKilpatrick]

If the cost of this system is the same as a MH, then you are already way ahead. You will use a lot less electricity, and you won't have to replace bulbs. The LEDs are supposed to last 50,000 hours! Even if it were twice as much, you would recover your investment pretty quickly just based on the bulbs, much less electricity and heat (running ac more).

[urban79]

I dont see how your getting the calcs..

[AlexKilpatrick]

Corrected some of my earlier calculations in the first post. Basically, 1 LED == 10 W of MH, but only uses 3W. That's a 70% reduction in electricity, plus additional reductions for heat in the room, or removing the need for a chiller. Add in the fact that the bulbs essentially never have to be replaced.