Where to Buy LED Diode Beads?

[Seadub]

I want to play with the LED layout on my photon fixtures. Reefbreeders sells individual Bridgelux leds but they don't stock 440nm or the 400nm UVs. Any suggestions?

 

[Seadub]

ttt

 

[madjoe]

Steves leds or ebay i bought from both

 

[Seadub]

Steve's doesn't appear to have Bridgelux. I've combed eBay with no luck. I can find whites but no colors. Is there a particular seller you've used?

 

[SkullV]

Ledgroupbuy.com. They don't seem to have those colors in right now though.

 

[Milhouse]

I want to play with the LED layout on my photon fixtures. Reefbreeders sells individual Bridgelux leds but they don't stock 440nm or the 400nm UVs. Any suggestions?

Aliexpress.com

 

[Seadub]

I looked at Allexpress but the sellers sell in larger lots.

 

[skunkmere]

if you use cree or luxeon they will work too and be brighter.

 

[Seadub]

Using stronger LEDs won't be a problem for the photon drivers?

 

[gmguy496]

also ive heard that unless its a bigger led array or RB bridgelux doesnt actually make the led its just labeled as bridgelux idk how true that is but the person i heard that from seams to be the diy led guru of nano reefs and r2r... and the cree and luxeon arent stronger in terms of power u just get more bang for ur buck with them like if u look at the lumia 5.1 and 5.2 the 5.2 uses mostly cree leds and u get the same light output and uses 30 less watts then the 5.1

 

[Seadub]

This is the first time I've attempted anything like this, so this is a very naive question. I'm pretty sure the unit is wired with the beads (I haven't opened it up yet - it's a Photon 16), but I notice CREE and other LEDs come mounted on a daisy-like disk. If I buy some that are already mounted, do I take the bead off the disk or just solder it with the disk? Some LEDs would have the disk and others would not. Or, it might be that disks always need to be used and I'll need to order them separately?

 

[SkullV]

also ive heard that unless its a bigger led array or RB bridgelux doesnt actually make the led its just labeled as bridgelux idk how true that is but the person i heard that from seams to be the diy led guru of nano reefs and r2r... and the cree and luxeon arent stronger in terms of power u just get more bang for ur buck with them like if u look at the lumia 5.1 and 5.2 the 5.2 uses mostly cree leds and u get the same light output and uses 30 less watts then the 5.1

The biggest difference is spectrum. ReefLEDLights sells very high end binned CREE LEDs so they carry an excellent spectrum. At the same time some CREE LEDs are worse than some Chinese no-name chips.

 

[Seadub]

Excellent info! Thanks,everyone
What about the bead mounted on a disk versus not mounted on a disk?

 

[SkullV]

The diodes can be removed from the disk easily. Generally they are just mounted by the solder points and have thermal grease under them.

 

[Seadub]

Thank you, Ted! It's relatively easy to find 400nm mounted on star disks. Knowing this and that I can mix CREE with Bridgelux is very, very helpful.