LED Pico Light

[spazizz]

Ok Im finally thinking about doing LEDs, which would be my cheaper route...

 

I will be lighting 1.25 gallon betta cube. would it be cheaper to make my own light or use one of these screw in type bulbs.

[evilc66]

Screw in. A PAR20 lamp would light that tank nicely.

[wombat]

Evil (or anyone), any cool ideas for fixtures for a large bulb like the PAR38?

[nanoreefnate]

is there any way i can still get these bad boys? are they strong enough to light a small frag tank with SPS in it? thanks -Nate

[evilc66]

Evil (or anyone), any cool ideas for fixtures for a large bulb like the PAR38?

Best ideas I have found so far are PAR38 track lighting gimbals, or track lighting pendants. I haven't seen any desk lamps that would look good with that large of a bulb, or would be able to support the weight. You wouldn't need to mount the track to the ceiling. They can be cut to length, and mounted off hanging arms like MH or T5 pendants.

 

The MR16 or GU10 bulbs have more fancy lamp options, but don't have the power we need.

 

is there any way i can still get these bad boys? are they strong enough to light a small frag tank with SPS in it? thanks -Nate

Soon, and yes

[nanoreefnate]

AWESOMENESS thanks sir. (king of LED's)

[nosser]

still waiting patiently...

[gabe3eb]

Evil, you are going to make me do it, aren't you... >.<

 

*subscribed and planning my pico now*

[evilc66]

I have been poking around on some hardware sites today, and Lowes has the perfect track head for all of these lamps.

 

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=prod...08-000&bc=c

 

No can or surround, so it will take any E26/E27 based bulb. I'm probably going to pick up a full set of hardware for 4 lamps for my tank tonight after class. Track, heads, and power cord will all cost less than $100.

[wombat]

I like it, but am kind of digging the look of this fixture better for the PAR38 bulb. Excited to see them coming!

[evilc66]

I found one similar to that at Home Depot for a PAR30. I have other plans for it though

 

Picked up the parts yesterday. Looks sharp, and easily fits all the different bulb sizes. I ended up getting all the parts in black, but they have white too.

[nosser]

I found one similar to that at Home Depot for a PAR30. I have other plans for it though

 

Picked up the parts yesterday. Looks sharp, and easily fits all the different bulb sizes. I ended up getting all the parts in black, but they have white too.

 

 

can't wait!

[evilc66]

Pitchers coming after work

[evilc66]

Pitchers as promised

 

Detail shot of the track lighting. Cost about $75 for the full setup at Lowes (not including pvc).

 

This is how I currently have it set up over my 40B. 2x 12Ks and 2x 20Ks.

 

Side shot.

 

FTS. Pictures don't do it justice. It's not really as dark as that in real life. The sand flares out if I up the exposure comp to make the image brighter, and I don't feel like fooling with it in PS. I'm going to raise the fixture about 4" to get a little better spread throughout the tank, and to blend the bulbs together a little better.

[badfish816]

those are sick man

[wombat]

Very very nice Evil.

 

What color options do you plan on offering for the PAR38 bulb? Would it be possible for instance to get an all white bulb and an all blue bulb?

[evilc66]

Maybe later. More likely the all blue if I decide to offer that. Could be a cool actinic add on. I'm going to stick with the 12K and the 20K lamps for the time being.

[jdskidawg]

I Want one!

[evilc66]

Well, you will be able to get them soon. Some of you may have seen the announcement I have made here, and as a result, the new lamps will be up for sale soon on the Nanotuners website. These are currently on display at MACNA at the Nanocustoms booth, so if you are there, stop by.

 

We have about 17 lamps available for the first batch, but another 100 are on the way from the manufacturer. Price is to be set soon.

[Aquabacs]

Had a friend direct my to the site to check out the LED threads over here. Beautiful work you have done. Since your annoucement has been made, I guess I will have to wait next week to pick up few 20k lights from nanotuners.

 

I also wanted to know if it is possible to order through you a light set up with all red cree leds with narrow optics. I only keep non-photosynthetic corals and the light is only using to highlighting a few corals. Lights are only on for a short period of time a day so no concern over causing algae issues.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[evilc66]

This is something that is in the works. It may be a month or two before we start offering things like that. Because we get the lamps straight from the manufaturer pre configured, we will only be able to choose a few select lens options. Keeping three or four color temps with five different lens options will be an inventory nightmare. We will be reviewing what options make the most sense soon.

[evilc66]

Oh, forgot to mention something. At MACNA this weekend while the lamps were on display, who came by? None other than the lighting man himself, Dr. Sanjay Joshi. He brought a full entourage of people that are in the know in the hobby, including Julian Sprung (breeder extraordinaire). Everyone was really digging the lamps, commenting on the overall look, heatsink temperature, color, and PAR output. I think what everyone was commenting on the most is how simple it is. I felt like a kid that just got an A+ on his science project.

[badfish816]

you didn't spill something on them or wet yourself from being so nervous did you? jk, congrats. that's an awesome achievement.

[wombat]

Sanjay is not intimidating in the slightest...super funny and friendly guy. Evil, are you going to have him run some tests on any of these bulbs?

[Aquabacs]

No problem, Clive. Waiting a month is not a issue. Currently using a narrow optic red bulb but would prefer the Cree option. If in a month or so it is not availble for normal production and if you would consider making one up custom, let me know.

 

 

Mike