Mars Aqua, LED Burnout. Normal or no?

[Hugh Mann]

So, there I was, dissecting my two 165w Mars Aqua lights to clear out river sludge, when I discovered several of the LEDs appear to be burnt out. Literally.

These lights are several years old now, and I am wondering if this is normal wear and tear on these cheap, chinesium lights, or if this is perhaps a side effect of their unexpected submergence, despite being unpowered?

Either way, assuming the aforementioned river sludge didn’t nuke the lights entirely, can one go about replacing the individual LEDs? Is it worth the time?

 

[DesertReefT4r]

That looks like normal use after 9+ months. At the price I would replace with higher quality lights. AI, Red Sea or Radion. Vipar Spectra if on a budget, much better diode mix than Mars Aqua.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Good to know. Thanks.

My budget is extremely tight, as these lights are among the cheapest things the aforementioned river water/sludge wrecked.

 

[dhnguyen]

Replace the LEDs. It's not difficult to do at all. A bit tedious but not difficult.

 

[oreo54]

Good to know. Thanks.

My budget is extremely tight, as these lights are among the cheapest things the aforementioned river water/sludge wrecked.

There are dozens of threads and vids describing how to replace the diodes.


Actually many of those " burnt" ones still work but contaminants in the cheap lens overlay discolors from the high photon energy flux.
Doesn't help much to know that though.
Some people just remove that lens ( one on the diode). Considering the cheap cost of diodes and simplicity of replacement... why?

 

[Hugh Mann]

Replace the LEDs. It's not difficult to do at all. A bit tedious but not difficult.

The real questions are, where to source new LEDs of the right type/colour/spectrum, and how to tell if it’s the whites or blues that went “fwoosh”.

 

[oreo54]

The real questions are, where to source new LEDs of the right type/colour/spectrum, and how to tell if it’s the whites or blues that went “fwoosh”.

Usually blues/ violets.
Whites look yellow.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1W-3W-5W-W...p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
One seller pick no pcb, 3 watt, and color of your choice.