LED Drive Current Explained

[acroholic]

A little casual reading for those interested in LED technology:

http://reefbuilders.com/2009/12/21/underdriving-or-overdriving-leds-coralskys-jeff-littlejohn-explains-led-drive-current/#more-13462">http://reefbuilders.com/2009/12/21/underdriving-or-overdriving-leds-coralskys-jeff-littlejohn-explains-led-drive-current/#more-13462</a>

Dave

 

[brianjfinn]

Awesome! I'm such a nerd about LEDs. Don't know why, but they truly fascinate me.

 

[acroholic]

I should have THE state of the art LED fixture over my 60 gallon tank in January sometime. You are welcome to come by and inspect it.
Dave

 

[acroholic]

Looks like driving LEDs are a balancing act just like halides or T5s. Find the sweet spot that maximizes light output while still getting long life. Seems if you overdrive any light source efficiency goes down and lifespan goes down.

Overdriving Radium SE halide bulbs can take their usable life down to 6 months vs 9-12 months.
Dave

 

[dakota9]

I wonder why electricians in the hobby (like RockDog) don't make their own DIY LED, I'd like to see that.

I would if I have the time to study up on it.

 

[lilrobb]

The problem is less making it as more to get the needed HO LEDs for a reasonable price.

 

[grouper therapy]

Dakota9;434375 wrote: I wonder why electricians in the hobby (like RockDog) don't make their own DIY LED, I'd like to see that.

I would if I have the time to study up on it.

I'm not an electrician but I'm working on one. Researching a little more but have some components already.

 

[wmboots]

LED's are slowly coming down in price but still a challenge to find reasonable priced lights that will work or have the lifespan, there are quite a few lowend lights but they have plenty of flaws or they are so cheaply made they will burn out very quickly. keep your eyes on plasma that will be the next great thing and they will be very inexpensive once the hit the market and you won't need a 1000 little diodes to do the job but 1 little eraser sized lamp will do the job

 

[brianjfinn]

Acroholic;434344 wrote: I should have THE state of the art LED fixture over my 60 gallon tank in January sometime. You are welcome to come by and inspect it.
Dave

Dave, I'd love to take you up on this offer. I've been so amazed at all the varied uses for LEDs. They're incredibly versatile.

I do have to read up on those Plasma bulbs, however. This is the first I've heard of them. Very interesting...

 

[acroholic]

wmboots;434424 wrote: LED's are slowly coming down in price but still a challenge to find reasonable priced lights that will work or have the lifespan, there are quite a few lowend lights but they have plenty of flaws or they are so cheaply made they will burn out very quickly. keep your eyes on plasma that will be the next great thing and they will be very inexpensive once the hit the market and you won't need a 1000 little diodes to do the job but 1 little eraser sized lamp will do the job

Plasma bulbs are limited as to what type of kelvin range they put out right now. I think (don't hold me to it) they only go up to 6000 kelvin right now. That would be so yellow. The individual plasma bulbs are in the $600 cost range right now. As they are now you'd need strong blue supplementation to make a plasma light even close to acceptable There was a thread on Reef Central about a guy trying to make a DIY plasma:

 

[rockdog]

Dakota9;434375 wrote: I wonder why electricians in the hobby (like RockDog) don't make their own DIY LED, I'd like to see that.

I would if I have the time to study up on it.

Time and money... but I have some stuff I am playing with, we will see.

Jason

 

[dakota9]

Rockdog;434563 wrote: Time and money... but I have some stuff I am playing with, we will see.

Jason

Yeah........ That comment was meant to flush out your ideas. Hope something comes to fruition