Led wattage

[Tab28]

Does a 109 watt fixture with 1 watt bulbs. Have the same par/depth of a 109 watt fixture if the bulbs are 3 watts each?

 

[JOKER]

I would say yes. The wattage of the fixture is the same just will have less led with the 3 watts. Depth is determined by the lens though with led. The smaller the number on lens the more focused they are.

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Does a 109 watt fixture with 1 watt bulbs. Have the same par/depth of a 109 watt fixture if the bulbs are 3 watts each?

Not at all!

PAR/Intensity depends on the following factors.

LED Type: 5 watt LEDs can be over twice as bright as 1 watt LED with both driven at 1 watt.

LED Make and Colour. Some LEDs simply offer more PAR than others.

Driver Efficiency: Some drivers are over 10% more efficient than others.

Optics: Some optics are over 15% more efficient and others simply are not optimized for the size of our tanks.

Powersupply: Its not uncommon for a less expensive powersupply to be 10% less efficient than a more expensive one.

Heatsink: The hotter the LEDs get the dimmer they get. With optimal Thermal Management LEDs are brighter given the same current.

Add all this up and its not surprising that a fixture of lessor total measured watts can be twice as bright while covering more area than another.


NEVER JUDGE A LED FIXTURES BRIGHTNESS/PAR BY ITS WATTAGE

Bill

 

[Tab28]

LED has too many variables.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

Great explanation Bill.
Armed with this information consumers should be able to judge the value and the quality of the light they are about to purchase.