Cree vs Bridgelux......what say you?

[technomex]

I am looking for some led fixtures, just not certain if the cost difference between cree and bridgelux is worth it. What are your opinions?

[Zack]

I've had both, cree are noticeably brighter. I believe i cab find a link a friebd sent me comparing all leds. Cree were far superior given the testing. Ive also read there can be anywhere from 15 to 50 percent difference in par between the brands for the same color led.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Id like to see that study. CREE LED is also American made. It really comes down to the specifications of that specific LED.
The other factor to look for is how the LED is being cooled. No fun if you get a high powered LED and its out in a year.
One more thing to look at when getting an LED fixture, if one LED burns out do you lose the whole fixture, or how many LEDs do you lose.

[350gt]

There is a reason most if not all reputable led fixtures use cree leds...

[BBQHILLBILLY]

technomex you will have to be more specific on what you are talking about and the application. you can get a specific LED from CREE or Bridglux, that will do what you want.

[Big_Pun]

i have a vertex fixture and it uses all cree leds. vertex makes nothing but high quality products and im sure they could use any leds they wanted.my tank looks exactly the same under led as it did under mh and t5, colorwise. no lenses either and par numbers are great . i believe its all in what bin cree led they use also, you get all info on vertex site, also the light uses meanwell to power leds.

[alton]

What I am seeing on the commercial side is Cree seems to be always specified. I am talking about pole lights to 2x4 layins with no fans and a warranty of five years.

[Zack]

I just got off work, give ne a minute or two and I'll find that chart

[Zack]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoxR6EPJEgZFdHJ4UC1hbWNHVDJLN0ZhenFiY2w3M 0E#gid=0

[350gt]

Lol what am i looking at zach?

[Zack]

The most complex chart you'll ever see about leds

[350gt]

The most complex chart you'll ever see about leds


Okay im on my phone so was only seeing a part of the sheet... Now i see.

[envy]

I would like to see charts comparing bridgelux vs cree vs luxeon. I am running luxeon leds on my tank.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

zach who was the source of the spec sheet? so far the relationship between the system thermal resistance, drive current, and ambient temperature from the individual data sheet from the manufacturer indicate a stronger current for cree over the bridgelux

therefore again it depends on tank size why you would need a stronger LED over the other. The cost of the LED makes a big difference.
you could get a powerful LED setup on a shallow tank and be overkill on the light. Deeper tanks need more light and more current.
correct me if im wrong.

I believe Zach compared his visual findings from his bridgelux to his cree setup. And for him CREE is brighter. There is more current driving the LED.

I have ran Bridgelux LEDs on 2ft deep tanks with success. Placement is important. sps higher than softies.
I went with long heatsinks so I can get coverage on the edges of the tanks and control the light with a different lense.

[envy]

just saw the charts thanks nanoreefer

[rrasco]

It essentially boils down to CREE being more efficient than BL. With that said, I've been happy with the performance of my BL setups.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

I am looking for some led fixtures, just not certain if the cost difference between cree and bridgelux is worth it. What are your opinions?

need more info tank specs and fixtures looking at and what is the goal? there is allways a brighter LED.

[alton]

I can't believe most LEDS are only rated for 25C, now I know why my manufactures use Cree rated at 85C

[350gt]

I can't believe most LEDS are only rated for 25C, now I know why my manufactures use Cree rated at 85C

Explain?.... Im lost.. Lol

[BBQHILLBILLY]

hmmm 85x33.8F=2873degrees Fahrenheit. Thats insane temps. Temps on Mercury are 400C and Venus is 800C. I dont know how they can validate those temps.:bigsmile:
when would you ever get that hot? Everything around the LED would melt. Im confused. something weird in these stats.
stat needs to be cited

[BBQHILLBILLY]

hmmm 85x33.8F=2873degrees Fahrenheit. Thats insane temps. Temps on Mercury are 400C and Venus is 800C. I dont know how they can validate those temps.:bigsmile:
when would you ever get that hot? Everything around the LED would melt. Im confused. something weird in these stats.
stat needs to be cited

LOLOL obviously im totaly wrong, its 185 degrees farenheit

[Zack]

Lol I saw that and was like... um.... its not that hot lol

[350gt]

Lol...

[alton]

In the electrical field we rate our wire, gear, devices by 60C, 75C, 90C, and 105C. Most items use 75C and most wire is rated at 90C. So what ever the item is it can handle the heat up to that temperature before damage. 85C = 185F whereas 25C = 77F. If the C means something besides the operating temperature the LEDS can handle "Whoops" I made a mistake. One of the questions I have asked my reps is how can a LED pole light standing in a parking lot with a temp of 140 degrees F continue to operate fine when our aquarium lights have to have fans?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

both bridgelux and cree LEDs are tested without failure at 85C, some are lower. Just pull the data sheet, for each LED. A lot of good info out there.
I dont know the source of the one presented here but there is plenty of data sheets out there.

correction tested at 1000 hrs

[BBQHILLBILLY]

heres something

Bridgelux projects that it’s family of LED Array products will deliver, on average, greater than 70% lumen
maintenance after 50,000 hours of operation at the rated forward test current. This performance
assumes constant current operation with case temperature maintained at or below 70˚C.


and the source

http://bridgelux.com/assets/products_portfolio/AN14ReliabilityDatasheet.pdf

I think thats a good quote

[350gt]

Just saying if they were better, ran cooler... I would think the "big" companies would be using them more often as they are cheaper then the crees..... It would increase their profit!

[BBQHILLBILLY]

they are making a lot of profit with the cree fixtures, the LEDs retail are low cost, wholesale lower
but thats not the topic, which is better and its depends on the application

[350gt]

I dont think he asked about application, you brought that up...


Its proven cree is somewhat better.....

not that bridgelux are bad..... But not as good....

[350gt]

If i pay top dollar for a fixture, i want the best in there...... And thats what companies like ecotech, vertex and aqua illumination deliever....

[BBQHILLBILLY]

They do look nice. :bigsmile: Technomex has to chime in here on what hes looking at buying. Many fixtures out there. Many different LEDs. Ton of info here.

[350gt]

I do think i read somewhere that other companies offer better colors which i why in my vega's the red and green are made by osram. I think the same goes for the ecotechs....

Ive never looked into it but i dont even know if cree offers any other colors....

Im too happy with my purchase to worry if there is anything better...... For now atleast.

[alton]

heres something

Bridgelux projects that it’s family of LED Array products will deliver, on average, greater than 70% lumen
maintenance after 50,000 hours of operation at the rated forward test current. This performance
assumes constant current operation with case temperature maintained at or below 70˚C.

and the source

http://bridgelux.com/assets/products_portfolio/AN14ReliabilityDatasheet.pdf

I think thats a good quote

All LEDS and lamps use that statement, some T8 lamps last 28,000 hours and some MH lamps 20,000. The new LEDS I am being told once are out long enough will come with a 100,000 hours statement

[envy]

I do think i read somewhere that other companies offer better colors


I think I read the same I also think reef central has had talks about this topic stating luxeon was better in certain colors and cree in others.

[alton]

Just saying if they were better, ran cooler... I would think the "big" companies would be using them more often as they are cheaper then the crees..... It would increase their profit!

They tried that it cost them heavily, we did a border station in El Paso with 50 pole lights with LEDS $200,000. In less than a year they had to all be changed out. Labor was around $15,000 plus all the new light fixtures.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

All LEDS and lamps use that statement, some T8 lamps last 28,000 hours and some MH lamps 20,000. The new LEDS I am being told once are out long enough will come with a 100,000 hours statement

That is from the data sheet. Cant get better than that. Whats interesting is how factual is the statement to any LED. How did they test 50000hrs or 100000hrs?
Clearly other LEDs data sheet state less.

[envy]

here is something I just found
http://www.cireonusa.com/index.php/case_study/cree-vs.-luxeon

[BBQHILLBILLY]

nice report, surprised cree published it, so it goes phillips rebel, then cree top of the line, then bridgelux from Hong Kong:bigsmile:

[350gt]

King kong??? No way!!!

[rrasco]

"Better color" is such a bad phrase to use. Diodes emit different wavelengths and that is why various brands of LEDs are used....to hit the spectrums that are being targeted.

Comparing diodes to each other as a whole shouldn't be done without an application in mind and metrics defined. CREE are more efficient, but it doesn't mean their "color is better", it means they use less energy to output an equivalent amount of light. If you are comparing for efficiency, then CREE are better. If both diodes output the required PAR and that is your basis for a comparison....how could one be quantified as better than the other? Context is key.

[350gt]

Smart guy...

I was talking about colors......

Red/green/uv....

i dont think cree makes those "colors".

[BBQHILLBILLY]

the data sheet from cree shows the phillips rebel to outperform their LED

[alton]

both bridgelux and cree LEDs are tested without failure at 85C, some are lower. Just pull the data sheet, for each LED. A lot of good info out there.
I dont know the source of the one presented here but there is plenty of data sheets out there.

correction tested at 1000 hrs

I guess the chart is wrong because I did not see any Bridgelux listed as 85C only Cree and Luxeon? One other thing was on CRI, to explain CRI T5HO's are a perfect example. To our eyes they look bright and make everything look great, but to a meter they don't fair as well, both in foot candles and PAR. That was harsh I should of said they are not as bright as our eyes lead them to be?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

page 4 of the pdf file I uploaded and the source that I provided. Its the very 1st on the chart. They tested at 1000 hrs at 85C, no errors.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Bridgelux is in California.

Here is another good link on the Phillips LED, http://reefbuilders.com/tag/philips/

[alton]

Sorry BBQ I was looking at nano reefers chart. I final looked at yours. Funny thing is I just got off the phone with another lighting rep of another manufacture and his take on LED's. When I asked him what he thought of Cree, his answer for Cree was crap. He says Samsung is where it is at? I guess even on the commercial side there are plenty of arguements? Anyway back to my metal halides, let me know when ya'll get this led thing figured out?

[350gt]

lol

[BBQHILLBILLY]

this is why I love to build them. I built 4 Bridgelux diys for a fraction of a single cree fixture and I covered 8ft side to side.
CREE is not the best anymore per their own report, it appears it be this Rebel Phillips LED and testing to 200lm/W. I think there like $5.
The 5watt cree LED seems to beat the performance and that something to look at too. My goal is to save power and pack a punch on reef lighting.

[350gt]

this is why I love to build them. I built 4 Bridgelux diys for a fraction of a single cree fixture and I covered 8ft

lol no comment...

[BBQHILLBILLY]

lol no comment...

no comment needed, correction same cost of a single fixture. not a fraction. but it is 8ft side to side.

it would be nice to put some stronger LEDs on the heatsink

[350gt]

i thought you were going to try those chips out? the 50 watt?

[350gt]

hey you know whats funny.........




We went away from the MH vs LED arguments...




its LED vs LED now!!!!!!!


I love it.... lol

[rrasco]

FWIW, the CREE are not that expensive if you are going to mount them on PCBs yourself. Getting the diodes on a single star MCPCB is a bit pricier. My new fixtures I was going to use CREE and build them similar to the AI pucks to minimize the wiring interfaces. No time to R&D it yet though.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

i thought you were going to try those chips out? the 50 watt?

I was going too, so I could get a stronger light deeper in the tank, but then I realized my goal was to lower energy cost, and a 50W square of little LEDs did not make sense.

[rrasco]

i thought you were going to try those chips out? the 50 watt?

I have plans to at some point. I also want to try out the dream chip.

[350gt]

dream chip?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

rrasco it would make sense to plaster it on the heatsink, but turn off the other LEDs to save energy cost. Put timers on each driver.

[rrasco]

dream chip?

High-powered, multi-channel, multi-chip.

[rrasco]

rrasco it would make sense to plaster it on the heatsink, but turn off the other LEDs to save energy cost. Put timers on each driver.

It depends on the tank. If you can get adequate spread with enough PAR (right wavelengths too), you're good to go. I've seen people mount their fixtures 15' AWL. Kind of like the Kessil fixtures, they are a single point of light with adequate spread and PAR and I've heard great things about them. I believe most people mount those higher than the more prominent LED fixtures on the market.

[350gt]

i have my vegas almost 12" awl, not cause I needed spread but because I was frying some stuff that was placed up high....

[Big_Pun]

this is why I love to build them. I built 4 Bridgelux diys for a fraction of a single cree fixture

you show me a plan on a better fixture than mine that you can build and ill pay you parts and labor.

http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/Products/Lighting/LED/Illumina/IlluminaSR260.aspx

[rrasco]

Mine are like 15" AWL, set at 40% power and can still be deadly.

[Big_Pun]

Mine are like 15" AWL, set at 40% power and can still be deadly.

do you have lens on your leds?

[350gt]

Mine are like 15" AWL, set at 40% power and can still be deadly.


thats some powa!

[BBQHILLBILLY]

you show me a plan on a better fixture than mine that you can build and ill pay you parts and labor.

http://www.vertexaquaristik.com/Products/Lighting/LED/Illumina/IlluminaSR260.aspx

give me your led specs and theres allways a brighter LED, research is allready being done for the next generation of LEDs, buckle your seatbelts:bigsmile:

[350gt]

I would think would want it as pretty as all his colonies of sps in his tank...... no wires and drivers to be seen...


:)

[BBQHILLBILLY]

he said LED not pretty housing

here you go, here some shells at www.catalinaaquarium.com

shell is ez part, patience is the hard part, waiting for the next LED to come out

[Big_Pun]

give me your led specs and theres allways a brighter LED, research is allready being done for the next generation of LEDs, buckle your seatbelts:bigsmile:

i dont want just bright lights i want same features i said better fixture than mine. so yea i dont want to see wires everywhere or bulky housings

read this article
http://myreefstatus.com/2012/10/24/vertex-illumina-sr360-led-saltwater-aquarium-lighting-review/

[350gt]

he said LED not pretty housing

here you go, here some shells at www.catalinaaquarium.com (http://www.catalinaaquarium.com)

shell is ez part, patience is the hard part, waiting for the next LED to come out



actually he said "better fixture"


meaning the whole package.... housing, controls..... everything!!


he paid for more than just some wires and led bulbs...... lmao

[rrasco]

Mine are like 15" AWL, set at 40% power and can still be deadly.

Okay, I lied, I just measured them and they are 12" AWL.


do you have lens on your leds?

Yeah, that's a big part of it. They are 60s, which is why I advise against getting 60s and going with 80 or 90 depending on what is available for the LEDs in the fixture. LED Group Buy will tell you they have lenses built-in, which they kind of do, but they are garbage.


he said LED not pretty housing

here you go, here some shells at www.catalinaaquarium.com (http://www.catalinaaquarium.com)

shell is ez part, patience is the hard part, waiting for the next LED to come out

In my experience, the housing and interfaces are actually the hard part. Catalina is really the only place with housings like that. That's why I opted to (and I'd presume most others) build one out of acrylic. You'll never be able to match a commercial fixture in all aspects for the same price. They have the benefit of buying in volume. Building one-off units doesn't save you that much if anything at all.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

actually he said "better fixture"


meaning the whole package.... housing, controls..... everything!!


he paid for more than just some wires and led bulbs...... lmao


awesome fixture and controller

[350gt]

Very awesome....


reading the review, i want one now.. Lol

next tank i will go that route.... If you get a chance go check chris's out, its sweet and very little disco effect.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

I would like that. We should get a bbq over there on sunday, or one day soon.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Tony, you and Chris, have been leading the LED technology with these fixtures, A++ . Both allways seem to pick the best of the best.

[350gt]

Chris!!! Bbq maast meeting...

[350gt]

Tony, you and Chris, have been leading the LED technology with these fixtures, A++ . Both allways seem to pick the best of the best.


Nah man.... Chris has the best fixture imo....

vegas are okay.... I really liked my sols.

I am glad chris's tank held up well with the transfer...

[350gt]

I mess around alot on this site... Too much sometimes..

but i like all forms of lighting..... Even metal halide..

Im all for what you put into your tank... If you put your time and effort into a light, thats awesome too..... I almost made a supplement led strip for my sols.......

Look how alive the site was with 2 convos(led and apple).... Its awesome and nothing wrong with a good ol debate....

[Big_Pun]

I would like that. We should get a bbq over there on sunday, or one day soon.

let see when my classes end and we will. 2-3 weeks left in summer sessions. im ready!

[350gt]

Cool...

Swap meet and BBQ!!!.....

[technomex]

need more info tank specs and fixtures looking at and what is the goal? there is allways a brighter LED.

I have a 150g brick. 6ft long. I was considering the ai fixtures, but don't like the price. There a few online sellers that use BL or Cree, and are dim-able but the fixtures don't have the fancy programing nor do they have the big ticket price.

[Zack]

It all depends on what your looking for. You can get a china black box for cheap but it's using leds that aren't as good and many just have simple on off programming. For your tank you'd need 4 AI units

[Big_Pun]

I have a 150g brick. 6ft long. I was considering the ai fixtures, but don't like the price. There a few online sellers that use BL or Cree, and are dim-able but the fixtures don't have the fancy programing nor do they have the big ticket price.

i have a friend whos tank i take care of,he had a custom light (black box)made from reef 2 u and it was made with cree leds. well 4-6 months later hes running radion pros and is much happier. there are a few guys on here that where getting in on grouo buys for these chinese box's but now they have nice "mainstream" lights made by reputable companies. i guess in the end you pay up front or later....

[envy]

I have a 150g brick. 6ft long. I was considering the ai fixtures, but don't like the price. There a few online sellers that use BL or Cree, and are dim-able but the fixtures don't have the fancy programing nor do they have the big ticket price.

Have you looked into DIY led kits you can also go this route and get a controller for lights it will save you money and get great results. As long as you keep up with your tank maintenance and parameters.

[technomex]

Lots of great input! I also love the fact that we are no longer arguing about mh vs t5.....now it is led vs led.

4 ai units would be great, but I am just not looking to blow that much cash on technology that is evolving so fast. I found 3 120W fixtures online that use BL led's. They include blues, whites, violet, red and green. They run around $450 shipped. I am leaning toward these, figuring that they'll meet my needs for now....and I've blown 5 bills on worse equipment.

[350gt]

A vega is only $50 more.. And will offer way more in programming... Picked up locally..

[350gt]

Btw i have 3 on a 5' tank... Think i cohld get by with just 2. 3 should work....

[technomex]

Isn't the cost of each vega around $500? The fixtures I was looking at include 3 fixtures.

I guess in the end, you get what you pay for.

[Zack]

Isn't the cost of each vega around $500? The fixtures I was looking at include 3 fixtures.

I guess in the end, you get what you pay for.

I believe they sell for 400 refurbished online from AI.

[KING]

Isn't the cost of each vega around $500? The fixtures I was looking at include 3 fixtures.

I guess in the end, you get what you pay for.
YUP!!!!

[350gt]

Oh 3 for $450.... I thought each...


My bad...

[Scutterborn]

Oh 3 for $450.... I thought each...


My bad...

Dang, Tony! Pay attention!!

:)

[The_wolfeman]

Isn't the cost of each vega around $500? The fixtures I was looking at include 3 fixtures.

I guess in the end, you get what you pay for.

You definitely get what you pay for in this hobby. There are plenty of ways to save a few bucks here and there but I think crucial elements like lights are one thing that should be quality. You would need about three fixtures if you went with AI Vegas, they are rated for 2'x2' of coverage. I have 2 Vegas over a 3' 65g and I love them. Definitely worth the investment.

[alton]

I am bidding a job next week and I went to look at the specs of the pole lights

http://www.cree.com/~/media/Files/Cree/Lighting/Area/THE%20EDGE%20Area%20Square/ledarealight3mda.pdf

On page two it says the LEDS are projected to perform 50,000 hours at 59 degrees F or 15C. But in SOTX we know the fixtures will be in 80 to 90 degree F or 30C. Since Heat is a killer for LED do you divide the 50K by 2 since you are doubling the temperature?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

that is a projected calculation not an actual test calculation, your case temerature will be higher than 100 degrees, the other variable is everything around the LED
not sure on the question, not enough information, I dont make light poles, but if you exceed the test spec, you may have a dramatic loss in integrity
The casing is not vented, was this test done in New York, just my thoughts, where was the testing done

[BBQHILLBILLY]

i forget these lights come on at nighttime when it is cooler and at that height, wind shear will play an affect in cooling.
But if you place something on the car dashboard during the day in san antonio,
the material will change from the excessive heat

[BBQHILLBILLY]

someone help here lol

Thermal Loss

LEDs will decrease in relative flux output as junction temperature (Tj) rises. Most LED data sheets list typical luminous flux at Tj = 25°C, while most LED applications use higher junction temperatures. When using Tj > 25°C, the luminous flux must be derated from the value listed on the LED's data sheet.

LED data sheets include a chart showing the relative light output versus junction temperature such as the one shown in Chart 3 for XLamp XR-E white LEDs. By choosing either a specific relative light output or a specific junction temperature, this graph shows the value for the other characteristic.

For the CFL example, this luminaire is only designed for commercial buildings with vented ceilings. Based on the listed design goals, this design will prioritize light output, efficacy, and lifetime.

XLamp XR-E LEDs are rated to provide an average of 70 percent lumen maintenance after 50,000 hours provided the junction temperature is kept at 80°C or lower. Therefore, the appropriate maximum junction temperature for the CFL example is 80°C. This corresponds to a minimum relative luminous flux of 85 percent as shown in Chart 3. This 85 percent relative luminous flux is the thermal efficacy estimate for the example luminaire.



http://www.digikey.com/Web%20Export/techzone/lighting/lighting-article-110125-Chart3.jpg


Chart 3: Example Relative Intensity versus Junction Temperature Graph for XLamp XR-E White LED

source http://www.digikey.com/us/en/techzone/lighting/resources/articles/LED-Luminaire-Design-Guide.html

[Big_Pun]

shane who cares if my leds crap out ill use warranty or just replace the module easy snap and plug in. another reason to buy from a reputable company.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

dont know what your talking bout Chris, I tried to figure out Altons question, related to his data sheet. I couldnt find his answer lol
May just be a electronics formula somewhere, my electronics is rusty ugh

[Big_Pun]

huh I dont know what your talking bout Chris, I tried to figure out Altons question, related to his data sheet. I couldnt find his answer lol
May just be a electronics formula somewhere, my electronics is rusty ugh
im saying i dont care how long they last at what temp as long as i can easily replace them, everything fails sooner or later

[BBQHILLBILLY]

yes i agree 100%

[envy]

im saying i dont care how long they last at what temp as long as i can easily replace them, everything fails sooner or later

What if it craps out a couple of days after your warranty expires? If your warranty is 1yr and craps out in 1 yr and a couple of days would you care about it then or just say screw it it was about time I bought another. :cool:

[350gt]

Just buy another.... Or pay to get it fixed...

This is the wrong hobby to be in on a budget... :)

[350gt]

Parts are not that expensive for the vega/sols or any ai product..

ai makes them modular for easy upgrades or repairs... Usually a couple of screws, pop out then pop the new piece in... Very awesome...

their CS is awesome.

[envy]

Just buy another.... Or pay to get it fixed...

This is the wrong hobby to be in on a budget... :)

I agree with you on getting it fixed but I am sure no one would go buy another $3000 light system if it gave out a couple of days after warranty ends. Im pretty sure we all have a budget unless your this guy:cool:

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f176/pictures-of-bills-system-149347.html

[Zack]

Parts are not that expensive for the vega/sols or any ai product..

ai makes them modular for easy upgrades or repairs... Usually a couple of screws, pop out then pop the new piece in... Very awesome...

their CS is awesome.

+1

To replace the full innards of a hydra is 4 screws (t10), then 24 t10 screws and you have everything removed .

[350gt]

I agree with you on getting it fixed but I am sure no one would go buy another $3000 light system if it gave out a couple of days after warranty ends. Im pretty sure we all have a budget unless your this guy:cool:

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f176/pictures-of-bills-system-149347.html



thats whats good about some of the higher end fixtures... they are modular.... pop in and play.


not the black box....... not so much...

DIY can always rigged in a new led or driver...... not to hard either....

[envy]

DIY can always rigged in a new led or driver...... not to hard either....

agree I can always order more luxeon leds if led goes out just have to solder but not hard to do either and if its the driver just remove two screws and a couple of wires and attach new and done. I'm also pretty sure we all have backup lights incase an emergency happens with lights or im sure some of us do.

[Big_Pun]

What if it craps out a couple of days after your warranty expires? If your warranty is 1yr and craps out in 1 yr and a couple of days would you care about it then or just say screw it it was about time I bought another. :cool:

very simple to fix parts are available from manufacture, new mother board, drivers are meanwells, actual lights are modular pop on off the heatsink. when i talk to rep they are very helpful especially for $3k fixture they should be. but most probs are simple firmware upgrades.

[350gt]

link to how easy they are to open and replace or repair...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSpck3TVJvk

[350gt]

agree I can always order more luxeon leds if led goes out just have to solder but not hard to do either and if its the driver just remove two screws and a couple of wires and attach new and done. I'm also pretty sure we all have backup lights incase an emergency happens with lights or im sure some of us do.



lol i dont......


But louis at ELEGANT always has a vega or 2 laying around..... I can always scoop up in case of a emergency... :)

[envy]

lol i dont......


But louis at ELEGANT always has a vega or 2 laying around..... I can always scoop up in case of a emergency... :)

Easy upgrade might go that route if I ever decide to put my 135 up again. Would have to get rid of my lumenarc's or I could just use them as hydroponic lights. When you live in town and not in the country you can stop by anytime unless theres a out to lunch sign. Only time I went store was closed with out to lunch sign

[350gt]

could always go led/MH......

[alton]

Easy to change out LEDs unless it is a pole light, $100 an hour for a bucket truck two hour minimum, $95 an hour labor two hours again(drive time). Total with tax $422.17, the lighting manufacture reimburses us $100 so we lose $322.17. Did I mention the owner gets a five year warranty?

[alton]

Check out these fixtures

http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com/library/ll/documents/specsheets/ibl.pdf

Look at page 3, I am trying to find out whose LEDS they are using? Lumen output at 100,000 hours is projected to be 84%.