LED Life?

rmcaum · 05/09/2013, 12:53 PM

I just got a new aquaray (aquabeam) 600 Ultima dual combo LED to put over my 29 gallon. After reading more than anyone should about PAR and PUR, I am pretty comfortable with the choice for this size of tank. The question is about the 50,000 hour life expectancy of the newer LEDs.

I would love to dawn/dusk ramp up/down, and potentially leave them on one or two percent for a moonlight cycle. Not sure yet if I can go from zero, to one to two percent to simulate new, full and wane and wax, but I will figure that out later. Just quick math says that running 12 hours a day would burn through the 50,000 hours in 4,167 days or about 11 and half years. If I run a daylight period of 12 hours, then leave the lights on a very low percentage through the night, does that effectively cut the life span in half by running the lights 24 hours a day? Even at the lower percentage, or does the lower percentage not effect the life span as greatly as 100%.

Just for the record, I would never expect the effective life span to last for 50,000 hours as claimed. Just wondering if it would be better to kill them completely over night to double the life that they do offer. Does dimming effect the life span in general? Variable voltage has been known to reduce the operating life of lots of electronics. Maybe it is best just to go 100% on for 12 hours then 100% off for 12 hours (for the life of the lights, not necessarily for the natural aspect of the lighting cycle for inhabitants.) That's a different topic. Thanks in advance.

brad_G · 05/09/2013, 01:16 PM

I'm not sure on most of them but the 400-420 get burnt spots if you have those

rmcaum · 05/10/2013, 08:13 AM

Burnt spots on the coral, or burnt spots on the LEDs? I am basically trying to figure out if the $165 investment of the controller to run a moonlight cycle will also cut the effective life of the lights. For $10 I can get an in line dimmer to controll the intensity, but it would be nice to have the automation.

05/09/2013, 12:53 PM	#1
rmcaum Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Lexington Posts: 128	LED Life? I just got a new aquaray (aquabeam) 600 Ultima dual combo LED to put over my 29 gallon. After reading more than anyone should about PAR and PUR, I am pretty comfortable with the choice for this size of tank. The question is about the 50,000 hour life expectancy of the newer LEDs. I would love to dawn/dusk ramp up/down, and potentially leave them on one or two percent for a moonlight cycle. Not sure yet if I can go from zero, to one to two percent to simulate new, full and wane and wax, but I will figure that out later. Just quick math says that running 12 hours a day would burn through the 50,000 hours in 4,167 days or about 11 and half years. If I run a daylight period of 12 hours, then leave the lights on a very low percentage through the night, does that effectively cut the life span in half by running the lights 24 hours a day? Even at the lower percentage, or does the lower percentage not effect the life span as greatly as 100%. Just for the record, I would never expect the effective life span to last for 50,000 hours as claimed. Just wondering if it would be better to kill them completely over night to double the life that they do offer. Does dimming effect the life span in general? Variable voltage has been known to reduce the operating life of lots of electronics. Maybe it is best just to go 100% on for 12 hours then 100% off for 12 hours (for the life of the lights, not necessarily for the natural aspect of the lighting cycle for inhabitants.) That's a different topic. Thanks in advance.

05/09/2013, 01:16 PM	#2
brad_G Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 193	I'm not sure on most of them but the 400-420 get burnt spots if you have those

05/10/2013, 08:13 AM	#3
rmcaum Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Lexington Posts: 128	Burnt spots on the coral, or burnt spots on the LEDs? I am basically trying to figure out if the $165 investment of the controller to run a moonlight cycle will also cut the effective life of the lights. For $10 I can get an in line dimmer to controll the intensity, but it would be nice to have the automation.