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Product Review ADA | WASMAS | ZETLIGHT | TWINSTAR | CHIHIROS | LED PAR DATA [The power of light]

tmiravent

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31 Dec 2013
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lisbon
Some food for thought... [edited for easy reading 14.03.2017]

In some discussion's with Nuno we thought would be nice to have some data about LED's.
Remember that this data is not 100% scientific, but we tried to keep the same test conditions for all fixtures. In the worst scenario, the difference between light's give us some clues about they behavior. It was funny do discuss abut light in the end, my conclusion is that all fixtures are good, it depends on what you trying to achieve! The money is also important, usually you get what you paid for...
I add some coments which are my personal thoughts/feelings about the products, be free to ignore or disagree with them.

E27 - STANDARD LED LAMP . 10W
33311019341_649456d2cb_z.jpg

Coments:
-produces a lot of heat, good surface for dissipation is recommended
-4000ºK have lower PAR value (as expected), maybe good for mixing if you like warmer colors
- be very careful, it's a 230v lamp, even after the driver the voltage rate is high!
- priced around 2.5€


REGULAR LED FLOOD . 10W
33283567892_5083d0a481_z.jpg

Coments:
-very low heat, very safe to use 'near' water, led uses 12V current
-easy to install, no need extra dissipation surface
- easy to divide the 230V driver for safer place
- priced around 8€



GU10 - STANDARD LED LAMP . 6W

33438945585_4ac50aba41_z.jpg

Coments:
-produces a lot of heat, good surface for dissipation is recommended
-4000ºK have lower PAR value (as expected), maybe good for mixing if you like warmer colors
-be very careful, it's a 230v lamp, even after the driver the voltage rate is high!
-version with lens is more expensive but can be installed at higher distance...



IKEA LED JANSJO . 2W
33438945715_0ebe5735aa_z.jpg

Comets:
- very safe, seen used in wabi's, just for fun!
- no need to make fixture, is buy and install! You can even choose the color!
- priced 10€


Beamswork HiLumen - Planted Version . 33W
33516365486_b5b658d5eb_z.jpg

Coments:
- this is a true aquarium fixture, i've used with good results
- the uniformity along the fixture is very good and consistent
- very low heat, large surface for dissipation
- uses 12v after the driver, very safe

CHIHIROS SERIE A . 65W
33428308221_cde3be5cba_z.jpg

Coments:
- this is a powerful unit for the price, very simple with lots of light
- I prefer the alternative support's in that can be adjusted in height
- dimmer is very useful and well steeped
- In full power the unit stays cool


Chihiros RGB
33387675136_88065a472a_z.jpg

Coments:
- Watts were measured with a power meter, as you can see is not very accurate... I would say the light is about 40W (not 50W as claimed).
- The color is very nice, well balanced, but slightly more power to the blues.
- Diffuser is not well fitted and deforms to wave form. Doesn't affect light diffusion, but... (could be better).
- Heats much more than other Chihiros (Serie A), at max power (40W in 57cm).
- Manual dimmer works perfectly and is calibrated!



ODYSSEA VIVAGROW 60

33398939586_4f2230a729_z.jpg

Coments:
- this is a cheap unit, perfect for fish keeping or lowtech
- wireless comand is an extra to play with

ZETHLIGHT
33056372170_2f744d17dd_z.jpg

Coments:
- I expected a bit more from this one...
- well build, with options to connect to controller
- a little bit dated, more power would be very nice!

33439444515_cb4c356a7f_z.jpg

Coments:
- this 2 units make Zethlight name to the top!
- top construction and configuration with lots of power to grow everything
- I was very surprised with QMaven, you can control power, color and dimmer



DICI
33439445365_01e11348d7_z.jpg

Coments:
- old school, very simple, very classic, a fixture that will last a life
- If you love HQI this is a very good option



TWINSTAR
33398938276_37c2bce092_z.jpg

Coments:
- I was surprised with the power output of these TS
- The design is beautiful, well build, feels solid
- A dimmer would be a great add to the pack
- Too much blue for my taste but works fine with fish
- The diffuser kill's the shimmering effect, but blend's nicely the colors

- Acrylic leg's turn's the fixture for specific measure, could be more flexible for non standard tanks


WAS-MAS
33398939066_aee6b9fe78_z.jpg

Coments:
- Simple, powerful and effective.
- For high tech lovers, this will take plants to extreme
- Acrylic stand flexible can adapt to different tanks, non standard, well done
- For ADA style lovers a good, cheaper yet powerful option
- I would dream with a dimmer...


ADA
33439444945_906b7f33f1_z.jpg

Coments:
- there's no much to say
- You love it or not!

33439443965_93a23895cc_z.jpg

Coments:
- One of the lights of the moment, you have to see it to believe!
- As ADA products, very simple working process with no options, just on and off
- The colors are not well reproduce in photo, the life rendition is amazing
- The color balance (RGB) is balanced with the same intensity for each channel
- The shimmering is absent due to diffuser, look's less bright than other ADA led's, but...
- But when you measure the light is all there! very powerfull
- The fixture stays very cool
- The construction is the best you can expect, and is not cheap to buy it!
- Like other ADA stuff, you love or not! I would took one with me if €€€


All measures took in darkness, open space to avoid reflections, except when quoted.
Always took reading in the axis of light (the best value), except when quoted.
Sensor used was Apogee SQ-120* without the LED correction factor (direct measures).

* Apogee Underwater factor correction 1.08
** Using 'Underwater-PAR-Calculator' made by apogee.
*** Correction factor for LED (when compared with T5) CW -4,2% ; NW -6,1%; WW -9,9% (not applied to this test)
 
Last edited:
Which make E27 bulb ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Updated the information!
I been searching led's for a time, the brand is not so important as we might think...
I observed improvements in design and construction between generation of assembling (same brand and model).
Always look at the specifications they tell a lot about the product.
I have different brand E27 with very similar light power values.
cheers
 
Last edited:
We are very lucky on being neighbors, always having fun and learning always more about the hobby ...

Here are 2 photos of the methodology used by Tiago (tmiravent) to measure the PAR and LUX from my CHIHIROS fixtures ;)

PAR Sensor
29913096534_9af1d63392_k.jpgIMG_2558 by Nuno Matos, on Flickr

LUX Sensor
29913095874_ed3a1dc1ec_k.jpgIMG_2559 by Nuno Matos, on Flickr
 
2xChihiros Serie A 120cm . 65W . 8000ºK
now with water . 120x50x50 tank . 6,5cm fixture high + 2cm water level = 8,5 cm LED to water

cm PAR PAR (with apogee converter factors**)
10 265 213
20 192 140
30 152 106
40 132 110
48 122 82

Thanks for these awesome results!

Is this with 50cm of water?

Would be cool to test this with both fixtures fitted on the tank with readings from front to back at 10cm intervals to see the spread etc with two fixtures.
 
Thanks for these awesome results!

Is this with 50cm of water?

Would be cool to test this with both fixtures fitted on the tank with readings from front to back at 10cm intervals to see the spread etc with two fixtures.

Hi,
this reading was made in Nuno matos tank (120x50x50) with this actual layout:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/crystal-mountain.42683/

We didn't find much loss of power from front to back. To say the truth, near the glass the values increase due to reflection...
Hardscape reflections and shadows can also affect the readings, but you should expect very consistent values with 2 fixtures!
Cheers
 
Hi,
this reading was made in Nuno matos tank (120x50x50) with this actual layout:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/crystal-mountain.42683/

We didn't find much loss of power from front to back. To say the truth, near the glass the values increase due to reflection...
Hardscape reflections and shadows can also affect the readings, but you should expect very consistent values with 2 fixtures!
Cheers
THANKS heaps!!

This has given me very high confidence to plan my next scape. If these Chihiros perform for more than 3 years, then it would be excellent value for money!
 
More light to the lights...
Me and Nuno grabbed the stuff and whent testing a few more.
Some extra considerations can be added in the future, design, built quality, led's quality, extra features, etc.

22746415048_ce228ebdf8_o.jpg

30808132042_0d53990f00_o.jpg


Special tanks to Luís for the time and patience!
enjoy,
cheers
 
Last edited:
Hi, as promised me and Nuno took more readings...

WAS-MAS
32002810942_1eabb85403.jpg


ADA
31309970674_119b79723e.jpg


ADA RGB
31776585010_45df27204d.jpg


Special thanks to Rui and Sónia for time and patience!
cheers
 

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Hi,
this time is Chihiros RGB

33387675136_88065a472a_z.jpg


Watts were measured with a power meter, as you can see is not very accurate...
I would say the light is about 40W (not 50W as claimed).

The color is very nice, well balanced, but slightly more power to the blues.
Diffuser is not well fitted and deforms to wave form. Doesn't affect light diffusion, but... (could be better).
Heats much more than other Chihiros (Serie A), at max power (40W in 57cm).
Manual dimmer works perfectly and is calibrated!
Cheers.
 
Hi,
this time is Chihiros RGB

33387675136_88065a472a_z.jpg


Watts were measured with a power meter, as you can see is not very accurate...
I would say the light is about 40W (not 50W as claimed).

The color is very nice, well balanced, but slightly more power to the blues.
Diffuser is not well fitted and deforms to wave form. Doesn't affect light diffusion, but... (could be better).
Heats much more than other Chihiros (Serie A), at max power (40W in 57cm).
Manual dimmer works perfectly and is calibrated!
Cheers.

Cheers for the info, I was looking at the Chihiros RGB but was not convinced it was high light, I am new to PAR readings, how does this compare to the A-series or A-series Plus? I can only see 120cm A-Series figures in one of your earlier posts.
 
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