chinese led lights

[biecacka]

Everyone see they are made using iron, aluminum is an upgrade?

[fetta]

Cappy can you post pics of the corals under the different color lights

[mlott132]

Originally Posted by biecacka

Everyone see they are made using iron, aluminum is an upgrade?

Yes, aluminum is a $20 upgrade and it does not come painted. I was going to go with aluminum but I think that the fact I can't get them in black might be a deal breaker for the upgrade. My lights will be mounted in open air, no canopy, so I don't think that the steel case is going to be an issue. Figure with an open top and the lights being 10 or so inches above the water that the chances of corrosion will be minimal.

[cappymrgn]

Originally Posted by fetta

Cappy can you post pics of the corals under the different color lights

I'll get a few shots posted as soon as I can. Hopefully tonight. I dont have a great camera though so I dont know how the pics will come out.

[mlott132]

UPDATE! Just received an email from Lyn that they can do a black aluminum case! Think that is the route I am going to go.

As far as optics is 60 degree too much for a standard 75 gallon tank? Should I go with either 90 or 120?

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by mlott132

Yes, aluminum is a $20 upgrade and it does not come painted. I was going to go with aluminum but I think that the fact I can't get them in black might be a deal breaker for the upgrade. My lights will be mounted in open air, no canopy, so I don't think that the steel case is going to be an issue. Figure with an open top and the lights being 10 or so inches above the water that the chances of corrosion will be minimal.

There is a big difference between steel and Iron. A good grade of steel will withstand most conditions while a cheap grade of steel will slowly rust in just exposure to air and normal humidity. Now if we are taking Iron like they list it will rust and corode regardless where you put it. In a room with a fish tank it will even rust faster.

If it is truely Iron the only solution is to clean the surface with steek wool then paint it with an epoxy based paint and hope that it does not chip in the long run.

The $20 upograde to alumnium is realy worth it. It will mahe the fixture much lighter as well as last much longer.

[TropTrea]

Originally Posted by mlott132

UPDATE! Just received an email from Lyn that they can do a black aluminum case! Think that is the route I am going to go.

As far as optics is 60 degree too much for a standard 75 gallon tank? Should I go with either 90 or 120?

Yhis will vary by how high you want to mount the fixture over your surface. The 120 degree I would rule out completly unless your mounting it 1 or 2" above the water level. The 90 degree will wirk great up to about 6" above the water surface and the 60 degrees will work fine from 6" up to about 12"

[darimont]

Could someone pm me the email for the main contact person at Twilight.

Thanks

[bhazard451]

Some differences between two of the popular companies:

Evergrow d120:
Aluminum housing, manual dimming, customization, no finned heatsink

Twilight group 120w:
LCD controller with sunrise/sunset, 0-10v dimming drivers with separate power supply internally, iron housing (with aluminum upgrade for extra), customization, finned heatsink.

It's best to order in bulk so you can get a discount. I'm not sure RC allows organizing group buys though. These can be shipped in medium flat rate boxes for $11 if someone wants to buy a bunch and ship to other members if the discount is good.

[mlott132]

Originally Posted by darimont

Could someone pm me the email for the main contact person at Twilight.

Thanks

PM sent

[mlott132]

Originally Posted by TropTrea

Yhis will vary by how high you want to mount the fixture over your surface. The 120 degree I would rule out completly unless your mounting it 1 or 2" above the water level. The 90 degree will wirk great up to about 6" above the water surface and the 60 degrees will work fine from 6" up to about 12"

Thanks for the info. Going to stick with the 60 degree optics and upgrade to aluminum case.

[darimont]

Originally Posted by mlott132

Thanks for the info. Going to stick with the 60 degree optics and upgrade to aluminum case.

Due you recommend optic's for a 22" depth and what angle would you recommand. I would like to mount these about 6" off the surface.

[mlott132]

Originally Posted by darimont

Due you recommend optic's for a 22" depth and what angle would you recommand. I would like to mount these about 6" off the surface.

Originally Posted by TropTrea

This will vary by how high you want to mount the fixture over your surface. The 120 degree I would rule out completly unless your mounting it 1 or 2" above the water level. The 90 degree will wirk great up to about 6" above the water surface and the 60 degrees will work fine from 6" up to about 12"

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by darimont

Due you recommend optic's for a 22" depth and what angle would you recommand. I would like to mount these about 6" off the surface.

The general rule is, the closer to the water you are, the wider angle and higher number optic you want to use. 60 or 90 degree would be fine.

You'll get more spread without optics, but you sacrifice light strength. Personally, I would always use optics. My light with optics is much brighter and stronger in-tank than the no optic one I have.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by cwaist

Ive had a few different led light units from china and to be honest when i tested them with my par meter i was getting really good par readings.
A 120w led fixture that i tested gave more par than my 250w halides at the time.
Although par is not everything.
Saying that though every one of the china led lights has only lasted about 4 to 5 months before the leds burned out i think they always skimp on the heatsink a relay on fans too much and obviously if a fan breaks or fan filter gets blocked thats it the leds are going to over heat and burn out in no time.
Id say save your pennies and invest in a better quality fixture which will last you a good 10 year so you actually say some cost saving.

A few of these actually remedy this now. The Nova fixture and the Twilight one both use finned heatsinks now with the fans. They also run the leds at 530-600mah (2w) to extend the lifespan. If something fails, it won't be due to heat.

These are a nice alternative to pricier premium fixtures and DIY. It falls in between. There is no commercial brand name alternative with such features anywhere near the price range.

It's taking me forever to build my higher quality Cree DIY fixture, because I just don't have the time to finish it lately. Time is money too.

[darimont]

Thanks Guy's. One more question on the twilight's with the moon lights and timer. Does it have a 3 channel timer and can the moon lights be dimmed?

[Fish_Freek]

bhazard, do you think the twilight fixture is better than the D120? I was going to order 2 D120 fixtures but wasn't aware they don't use finned heatsinks. Will this cause problems down the road?

[Dobbs1101]

Did anyone see this 180w 24'' fixture from Twilight? looks like the 120w but larger. $310 shipped. A bit more $$ but for 24'' fixture still not bad. Wonder if I would need 2 for 2x2x4 120g tank. might be overkill for me but for a long tank, 6-8' it might cut down needing 3 fixtures as opposed to 4 or 5.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...593825063.html

Why does there have to be so many options. I like the sunrise/sunset option from Twilight but not sure of a ratio, 1:1 or 2:1 B/W...argg confused more than ever.

Bhazard - is lyn from twilight? did you come up with a light ratio yet. Is red or green worth giving up blue or white leds? I might take your lead when you come up with your final light.

[mlott132]

Originally Posted by darimont

Thanks Guy's. One more question on the twilight's with the moon lights and timer. Does it have a 3 channel timer and can the moon lights be dimmed?

This is the information that Lyn gave me on the timer. I spec'd mine with a separate dimmer for the moonlights.

The light is dimmable as the timer,controlled by the LCD.With the LCD display controller,you can set at most 6 timings and 6 different LEDs work ratios.For example,we set as follows:

Timing 6:00am 9:00am 　12:00 15:00pm 18:00pm at most 6　
　LED luminance ratio 　0% 　50% 　100% 　50% 0% 　/


The light will work at 6:00pm,and turn off at 18:00pm automatically.From 6:00am to 9:00am the LEDs are dimmable from 0% to 50% gradually.And the same with others.You can set any timing and ratio you want,after the setting,the light will work as it all the time,even power off(the timer has memory function).If you want to change,just reset it.

The light has 3 dimmers,that means you can set 3 different time,and the timer is your local time,all dimmers will work as the timer time.For example,local time is 09:00am,you can set dimmer1 work at 06:00am,dimmer 2 work 08:00am,dimmer 3 work at 19:00pm,when the timer time reach to 06:00am,the dimmer 1 will work,the same with the other 2 dimmers.

[mlott132]

Bhazard451, did you use the AliExpress Escrow payment method or PayPal straight to Twilight?

[Philly guy]

Did anyone see this 180w 24'' fixture from Twilight? looks like the 120w but larger. $310 shipped. A bit more $$ but for 24'' fixture still not bad. Wonder if I would need 2 for 2x2x4 120g tank. might be overkill for me but for a long tank, 6-8' it might cut down needing 3 fixtures as opposed to 4 or 5.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...593825063.html

Why does there have to be so many options. I like the sunrise/sunset option from Twilight but not sure of a ratio, 1:1 or 2:1 B/W...argg confused more than ever.

Bhazard - is lyn from twilight? did you come up with a light ratio yet. Is red or green worth giving up blue or white leds? I might take your lead when you come up with your final light.

That unit uses 1w LED's. They have a 180W unit that uses 80 3w LED's. The dimenisons on that unit are the same as the 55 3w LEd unit.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Dobbs1101

Did anyone see this 180w 24'' fixture from Twilight?

Bhazard - is lyn from twilight? did you come up with a light ratio yet. Is red or green worth giving up blue or white leds? I might take your lead when you come up with your final light.

1 watt leds. Not enough penetration or light to be useful.

I ordered this one, but then changed it to 3 channels of dimming instead of 2 for $9 more.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs...olesalers.html

blue460nm:white14000k:red630nm:green515nm: orange610nm:violet400nm
=34:15:1:2:2:1

2:1 ratio. Might be a little too blue, and probably could use another violet. We'll see when it arrives. I can always solder different color bridgelux leds in later if I don't like the color.

[bhazard451]

Originally Posted by Fish_Freek

bhazard, do you think the twilight fixture is better than the D120? I was going to order 2 D120 fixtures but wasn't aware they don't use finned heatsinks. Will this cause problems down the road?

Not really. Finned heatsinks are almost overkill for a light running 530-580mah when its max is 700mah. The pcb board has some thermal protection on it.

I haven't gotten the Twilight one yet, but the Evergrow Nova A4 I got is a quality fixture. The reefbreeders d120 I got is similar to Evergrow's. I'll be selling this one once I get the Twilight one, or when I finish my DIY light.

[darimont]

Originally Posted by mlott132

This is the information that Lyn gave me on the timer. I spec'd mine with a separate dimmer for the moonlights.

The light is dimmable as the timer,controlled by the LCD.With the LCD display controller,you can set at most 6 timings and 6 different LEDs work ratios.For example,we set as follows:

Timing 6:00am 9:00am 　12:00 15:00pm 18:00pm at most 6　
　LED luminance ratio 　0% 　50% 　100% 　50% 0% 　/


The light will work at 6:00pm,and turn off at 18:00pm automatically.From 6:00am to 9:00am the LEDs are dimmable from 0% to 50% gradually.And the same with others.You can set any timing and ratio you want,after the setting,the light will work as it all the time,even power off(the timer has memory function).If you want to change,just reset it.

The light has 3 dimmers,that means you can set 3 different time,and the timer is your local time,all dimmers will work as the timer time.For example,local time is 09:00am,you can set dimmer1 work at 06:00am,dimmer 2 work 08:00am,dimmer 3 work at 19:00pm,when the timer time reach to 06:00am,the dimmer 1 will work,the same with the other 2 dimmers.

mlott132, how much extra was the dimmer for the moon lights? Due you have a link for your order?

[mlott132]

Not sure how much extra the dimmer was, but I think it was only a couple dollars. Here is the link to the light I am getting.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs...olesalers.html