Sadly Luc, the only real way to be able to control lighting with any success is go LED route. Fluorescent has almost no control, only on off.
29g LED Lighting system build thread
- Thread starter Cory Keeper
- Start date
I do think you are wrong there.
With old magnetic ballast on T8 lighting, I agree, but with electronic ballast you will be able to dim T5's to from 5% (maybe even 0%) to 100% if my memory serves me correct.
Philips has light control systems doing just that for T5's.
But for my part, it would be a slow transfer from T8 to a combination of T5 and LED.
And for the computer/control part, not only light, but water/parameter control as well.
With old magnetic ballast on T8 lighting, I agree, but with electronic ballast you will be able to dim T5's to from 5% (maybe even 0%) to 100% if my memory serves me correct.
Philips has light control systems doing just that for T5's.
But for my part, it would be a slow transfer from T8 to a combination of T5 and LED.
And for the computer/control part, not only light, but water/parameter control as well.
Beg to differ on the pricey part. No means I'm trying to vote down LED-solutions, but T5's can be controlled over network in a DIY setup. A matter of getting the schematics and code together, which is why I was asking 1oooop for info on it.
Component cost for T5 equipment are not extremely expensive, and dimmers are commonplace materials that can be had at reasonable prices at every home-depot or whatever DIY-shop.
LED will absolutely be the way of the future, it might as well be my next setup, skipping T5 altogether, but don't count it out yet, it is a very valid and very good solution in every respect.
Component cost for T5 equipment are not extremely expensive, and dimmers are commonplace materials that can be had at reasonable prices at every home-depot or whatever DIY-shop.
LED will absolutely be the way of the future, it might as well be my next setup, skipping T5 altogether, but don't count it out yet, it is a very valid and very good solution in every respect.
sigh...I know I'm going to regret getting involved in this.I didn't read all the posted answeres but. I think some of the people here need a little help with leds. here is a link to a circuit/resistor program to help. I do a lot of led projects, just not aquarium stuff
http://metku.net/index.html?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/ledcalc/index_eng
http://metku.net/index.html?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/ledcalc/index_eng
yeah, with these expensive LEDs, stay away from resistors, use current limiters whenever possible. I'd hate for you to fry your LEDs cause you trusted $200 worth of LEDs to $2 resistors.
Two words: Thermal Runaway.
Two words: Thermal Runaway.
