Buildmyled bars still a good choice?

[Boxfish]

Wondering if Buildmyled light bars are still a decent option for strip lighting. Found new old stock 48" antitic w/ red 75w for $ 75. Ok price? They also have a 48" bright white w/antitc bar and a antitic bar but is flickering for first 15 min operation. $pair for $100. Looks like the pair buy has had a replacement driver 150w driver feeding both bars. Thoughts?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi,

Not a diy led guy. Let’s see if we can bump

 

[Bpb]

They’re not diy. It’s a brand. They’re fantastic. The best made strip led lights that ever hit the market. Shame they stopped making them

 

[Unholy_Rigatoni]

I had two 24 inch ones they were pretty good, but my short Refugium strip wasn't quite water resistant as it did suffer from salt creep eventually. It did the flickering business so you may want to pop off the screws and peek inside the housing if possible.

 

[alton]

My oldest was purchased in 2012 and still going strong. I own seven in total. The flickering maybe just the driver?

 

[alton]

I would get separated drivers

 

[oreo54]

Wondering if Buildmyled light bars are still a decent option for strip lighting. Found new old stock 48" antitic w/ red 75w for $ 75. Ok price? They also have a 48" bright white w/antitc bar and a antitic bar but is flickering for first 15 min operation. $pair for $100. Looks like the pair buy has had a replacement driver 150w driver feeding both bars. Thoughts?

Many of the bml light used inventronic drivers so "exact" replacements for the orig ar a bit hard to find, at least in the past.

Numbering system follows the inventronic format.
http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/38966-repair-of-bml-36-planted-tank-light/
Using one driver for both bars, if I understand this correctly, isn't the best idea.
If the driver was replaced but it wasn't matched there is a possibility that the bars were over driven from the orig. specs.. so lifespan "may" be shortened..

Hard to guess about the flickering but may be a mis-matched or faulty driver..

Bars used quality diodes and I believe holographic diffusers. At least they seemed high quality.

There were multi-channel versions as well..

Oh and besides being customizable there are a bunch of different lens choices..
https://aquariumspecialty.com/blog/build-my-led-xb-series/
bottom line is not really enough info and "I" doubt I'd pay $100 for a flickering light.. ;)

 

[Bpb]

It’s hard to find the data now but I specifically remember reading they used exclusively Philips lumileds in their strips driven at 1 watt. They had them recessed in a parabolic reflector much like the reef brite strips are, but also had the holographic diffuser plate as well. The spread from the one strip was spectacular. I wish I had never sold it

 

[Boxfish]

Thanks for the help I think I'm going to pass on the lights but here is the link for the one in the best shape. The seller does not have more info or paperwork but did send me a few more pics but nothing telling me the detail of the build. If someone wants link here it is seller has multiple auctions. https://www.ebay.com/itm/48-Custom-...-Light-Strip-with-75w-LED-Driver/153740965286

 

[oreo54]

Thanks for the help I think I'm going to pass on the lights but here is the link for the one in the best shape. The seller does not have more info or paperwork but did send me a few more pics but nothing telling me the detail of the build. If someone wants link here it is seller has multiple auctions. https://www.ebay.com/itm/48-Custom-...-Light-Strip-with-75w-LED-Driver/153740965286

That one looks quite sweet....
1400mA constant current driver..
27 ~54 Vdc likely....

 

[oreo54]

It’s hard to find the data now but I specifically remember reading they used exclusively Philips lumileds in their strips driven at 1 watt.

They used a collection of diode manuf.

The XB series of striplights from BuildMyLED uses the latest and greatest chip sets from all LED manufacturers, but this go around the XB is getting dressed up in Osram Oslon diodes with huge gains in brightness.

https://reefbuilders.com/2014/01/16/buildmyled-xb-series-ready-brighten/

 

[Bpb]

They used a collection of diode manuf.

https://reefbuilders.com/2014/01/16/buildmyled-xb-series-ready-brighten/

I suppose I stand corrected. I swear I read that they were using Philips diodes primarily. It’s possible that was before the XB series was released or well after. I’ve had sleep and whiskey since then. At any rate. That eBay auction price is a steal I may have to grab that for myself

 

[oreo54]

I suppose I stand corrected. I swear I read that they were using Philips diodes primarily. It’s possible that was before the XB series was released or well after. I’ve had sleep and whiskey since then. At any rate. That eBay auction price is a steal I may have to grab that for myself

Well you aren't "exactly" wrong.. BML just used a collection of manuf inc. Phillips..
Wayback machine is your friend.. ;)
https://web.archive.org/web/20141116111404/http://www.buildmyled.com/why-buy-from-build-my-led

Reason #4

Most LED fixtures use Chinese LEDs built with components obtained from the lowest bidder and, frankly, they are junk. The LEDs we use are made by the world’s leading manufacturers: Philips, for example, and must meet rigid quality control standards.

 

[alton]

Led drivers have been a nightmare for our service team since there are so many variations. I believe here shortly they are coming out with a driver that can be programmed to match any led? One company claims they have one, I haven’t had a chance to use it yet