LED Question

Chef Choy · 12/16/2015, 09:58 AM

Do LED's lose intensity over time like the old bulbs do. Sorry for the dump question, just getting back into reefing (I was in it before LED's were around). Looking at purchasing some Kessels or something to that effect, but am looking for used to help with the cost. I see people posting the age.......didn't know.

Thanks!

Webmanny · 12/16/2015, 12:07 PM

Rule of thumb with LEDs is between 8% to 10% loss per year. However, this depends greatly on the temperature those LEDs are kept at. If you run them on a large heatsink with enough space between them and active cooling, they may lose only 1% per year. If you keep them very hot because of design, they can lose all their usable light in months.

ReefWreak · 12/16/2015, 02:28 PM

It's also worth noting that if you're not used to LEDs, the game is different with them than other lights in that they're much more direct and intense. So even if the lights are run at 30%, and decline at 3-5% per year, you still have much further to go in dialing the light up to deliver the same amount of light at the corals (though I doubt you'd notice much of a difference in LEDs over time).

12/16/2015, 09:58 AM	#1
Chef Choy Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 141	LED Question Do LED's lose intensity over time like the old bulbs do. Sorry for the dump question, just getting back into reefing (I was in it before LED's were around). Looking at purchasing some Kessels or something to that effect, but am looking for used to help with the cost. I see people posting the age.......didn't know. Thanks!

12/16/2015, 12:07 PM	#2
Webmanny Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: 33612 Posts: 2,461	Rule of thumb with LEDs is between 8% to 10% loss per year. However, this depends greatly on the temperature those LEDs are kept at. If you run them on a large heatsink with enough space between them and active cooling, they may lose only 1% per year. If you keep them very hot because of design, they can lose all their usable light in months. __________________ 32 gallon Biocube, DIY LEDs and Triton Method. My N=1 study of me, validated by me, and supported by completely anecdotal evidence, states that my advice is 100% correct, most of the time.

12/16/2015, 02:28 PM	#3
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	It's also worth noting that if you're not used to LEDs, the game is different with them than other lights in that they're much more direct and intense. So even if the lights are run at 30%, and decline at 3-5% per year, you still have much further to go in dialing the light up to deliver the same amount of light at the corals (though I doubt you'd notice much of a difference in LEDs over time).