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White LED experiment

  • #81
Phase II, D. capensis

Recent test subject donations from a generous benefactor
Mahalo nui loa :hail:

Increased the distance just a touch.... for this phase I moved away from the 10gal for that reason. Now using a highly specialized LED/CP test chamber ;)
IMG_1912.JPG


Av
Hmmm... I don't think I would be able to source such specialised equipment here in the UK :-))
 
  • #82
LOL, well.... lookie here
http://www.orchidweb.com/detail.aspx?ID=2428

Notice their newest model in their video ;)
New wider spectrum "chip mounted" more natural white LED
(may or may not be the same LED Im playing with, just dunno)
hmmmmm, but no auxillary optics.... and using single chip instead of Tri-Star module.

He talks about increased canopy penetration and the issue with shadows...
Wow... identical observations!

However, notice no heatsinking... so either they are under-driving it or just letting it run excessively hot

Can you say "die young, stay pretty"
;)


(thanks for the heads up Paul)
 
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  • #83
However, notice no heatsinking... so either they are under-driving it or just letting it run excessively hot
This is indeed unusual, as high power single chip LEDs usually run very hot on their own. I wonder how they are overcoming this?
 
  • #84
How much power would a high power single chip LED be using?
 
  • #85
Mach, depends on how hard you drive it.... at max it would probably be a little over 3.5 watts

The industry standard is (absolute minimum) one inch of heat sink surface area per watt of power. I am running many times that and using a fan per factory recommendations.

Heat is the number one killer of high power LED's and the effects are cumulative. Every time it gets hot, it becomes weaker.

They are unique in that the light itself is cool, you dont feel radiant heat like you do wth other light sources.... but the LED can get very hot.

Butch
 
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  • #86
Hmmm. OK that is making me think. the vid clip said they were running 4 watts. so about the same, without a heat dispersing unit. OK. all becoming more odd.
 
  • #87
Maybe they have de-rated the life expectancy of the chip to compensate for running hot? Though, I do not know how you would calculate this.
 
  • #89
Mobile,
Obviously a much better engineered product then the Orchidweb product.... but the 20 degree models are definitely too narrow for our applicaiton.
I'm very curious, nice looking unit.... what is the price?

(I would avoid Orchidweb's product)

First cape (alba) pic:
luxeon_cape.jpg

(Already showing pretty nice dew production)

The other cape (red) was smaller and is taking longer to recover
Av
 
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  • #90
Mobile,
I'm very curious, nice looking unit.... what is the price?
£54 GBP ($82 USD) for 13.5W PAR 38, £38 ($58 US) for 9W PAR20 (40°)
 
  • #91
7.17.10
IMG_1940.JPG

Drosera capensis var. alba is absolutely loving the LED IMHO

Cheers'
Av
 
  • #92
Looking Good Butch!

So, are you planning on adding more? Switching over to these...?
Mmmm, after I got a bunch of T-5's, not I am going to have to dump them!
Well, I went from VHS to DVD to Blu-ray... I guess I can make the change!

Joking aside, nice results!
Will it "redden up" some of the plants too? I am wondering about the spectrum width...
Nah, just picking on ya!
I do think this is the wave of the future tho.
Just hope I can afford it!

Take care!
 
  • #93
that is a good question. Sort of the plan to have the red from in the treatment at the same time. Also can compare pics with those that are being grown here in full sun to see difference.
 
  • #94
I'd say so too Butch! It looks GREAT! How about some more pics?
 
  • #95
that is a good question. Sort of the plan to have the red from in the treatment at the same time. Also can compare pics with those that are being grown here in full sun to see difference.

Yes, it was my intention too but the red is just now showing new growth.... its lagging in its recovery

Another week or so should do it, I see the beginnings of 3 new leaves poking through the substrate

Paul, at the current price level I don't think T5's have anything to worry about for primary lighting applications, at least for a couple more years. But now for a special application or presentation then yep... this LED may be the light of choice.
 
  • #96
It's late, my mind is a blur, and I had a wild thought....
With those here who demand that VFT's be grown outdoors,
primarily for the pure light of the sun....
would that perhaps be an acid test of sorts?
Kinda like shooting for the moon?

Sorry, I should be in bed sleeping instead of asking for someone or something to walk on water...
but I was thinking of some "death cube" at the local Lowe's, with one of these lights glued to the top with an actual "thriving" VFT inside!
Ah, now I can go to sleep with that vision in my head!

Sweet Dreams! :-D

(Hey, not a bad idea/challenge really, is it?) Like the mini-reef aquariums on the market now-a-days, this could revolutionize the CP market, with new toys to decorate an executive's office!
Oh man, I HAVE to get to bed! :crazy:
 
  • #97
Thanks MM :hail:

Paul.... its all just a vivid daydream, now back away from the hookah
The light that you see does not originate from the LED old friend :p
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TNnQcL5t9yU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TNnQcL5t9yU&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

hehehehe, not a bad idea at all.... but one step at a time ;)
Av
 
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  • #98
Ok so for another question... So far it sounds like the T5s price wise and result wise still ave the upper hand but what about in comparison to T12s and T5s? Surely they are cheaper but in your opinion would you see better results with 1 or 2 LEDs vs 1 T12?

Great work btw Butch :)
 
  • #99
not really an apple vs. apple comparison Yann.
The LED's put a lot of energy in a small area, so more like a ubber efficient CFL then a linear tube
The big hurdle is now cost, to do an entire rack would require quite an investment.

However, if you wanted a 10 or 20 gallon UHL with a peltier then LED would be the light of first choice. High intensity with no heat.... seemingly ideal for such an UHL apps
 
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