Yes, the question is how much of the 500W is gong to end up as UV vs visible light ? My array ended up being around 200 watts and works well... For an 11x14 print area it gives me 6min exposures for the Na2 Pt/Pd process. One big advantage of using the LED strips is you can make it as big or small as required - If I had my time again I'd build a bigger box, but that's because I've moved house and have a bigger darkroom now.
Faster printing times are not necessarily better -- and longer exposures may produce better images.
Just something to think about when designing your light system.
More here for discussion: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
Elaborate?
James touched on this one with his post. A lower wattage array can have a greater output given it is cooled properly, more efficient and have less waste heat energy. Using 500W is a bit redundant if you use poor heat management, may appear good on paper but how do you know its true output?
Michael, more than one way to skin a cat. But yes, as a rule of thumb, proper heat management is crucial. In terms of lux output, energy efficiency, stability and diode life.
Me and Michael are saying the same thing? You don't need a PhD for this, maybe for interpretation on the interwebs though.
Apologies I misunderstood your statement "A lower wattage array can have a greater output given it is cooled properly,"
p.s. Still waiting for the elaboration on "If only it were that easy"
I am simply using laymens terms (which of course are going to open to nuanced interpretation). What is the point of speaking in engineer gibberish on a photo forum? (or "wankineer" I like to call it).
I doubt the first CPU cooler you linked would of been sufficient, at least I am not aware of any ~500W consumer CPUs.
As for the second one might be more suitable however it comes from the same place as these shonky LEDs anyway.
Has anyone here tried this unit or have an opinion ??- I currently own a Nurac Metal Halide unit and want to go larger and am waiting for any reviews on this unit before purchase.
My area of interest is exposure for negatives to produce Pt Pd prints and Tri Colour Gum over Palladium
sorry for the copy and paste that follows but this is right off their website.
STARLIGHT UV LED Screen Exposure System
Starlight is NuArcs versatile and affordable tabletop or stand-mounted UV LED screen exposure unit. Its ideal for conventional exposures, and an optional CTS retrofit kit turns Starlight into a computer-to-screen (CTS) UV LED screen exposure system. Starlight's UV LEDs save energy costs, reduce screen exposure time, speed up production, and operate at far lower temperatures than metal-halide lamps. And, unlike expensive metal-halide bulbs that require replacement every year or two, Starlight's UV LED light source can last for decades. In fact, M&R is so confident in the longevity of Starlight's screen-exposure LEDs that it backs them with a limited lifetime warranty against failure in normal use. And the high density of M&Rs screen-exposure LEDs (6840 on Starlight 3140 and 4320 on Starlight 2331) provides the finest detail, the most uniform coverage, and the quickest exposures available. M&Rs Starlights have more than three times as many LEDs per square inch as some competing products.
Starlights sophisticated digital touchscreen controller automates screen exposures. All the operator needs to do is select the appropriate exposure preset and press START. The entire process, including vacuum, exposure, and shutdown, takes place without further operator involvement. Starlight allows the operator to walk away after initiating the process because Starlight ensures that exposures will not begin until proper vacuum has been reachedand vacuum and exposure LEDs will shut off automatically upon completion of exposure. Vacuum and exposure times can be set between 0.1 and 999.9 seconds. And Starlights Job Recall speeds processing and increases productivity by enabling operators to save and recall up to 24 vacuum and exposure profilesand identify each with a unique name or description.
Starlights quickly expose direct, capillary, and indirect emulsions. They work particularly fast on photopolymer emulsions, which can be exposed in as little as three to five seconds (results will vary based on emulsion type and thickness). Starlight UV LED screen exposure units can be located in areas housing unexposed screens because the ultraviolet light source and vacuum frame are enclosed, and the screen exposure lamp can't be turned on while the blanket frame is open. Starlights also incorporate several strips of yellow, non-exposing LED inspection lights for convenient setup. Starlights are available in two sizes: Starlight 2331 is capable of exposing screen frames up to 58 x 79 cm (23 x 31) and Starlight 3140 is capable of exposing screen frames up to 79 x 102 cm (31" x 40"). Starlight 2331 is perfect for small and startup shops, while Starlight 3140 makes it easy for medium-size shops to quickly process larger screens and higher volume. If you're looking for blazingly And Starlight 3140 is compatible with most sizes of M&Rs Tri-Loc Registration System. fast quality exposures at an unbelievably affordable price, you'll find it all in the Starlight.
M&R is the worlds largest manufacturer of screen printing equipment, and the online M&R Store features a wide variety of genuine M&R OEM parts and screen printing supplies. The NuArc line includes UV LED exposure systems, CTS computer-to-screen imaging systems with built-in UV LED exposure capability, exposure units for CTS and conventionally generated screens, lithographic imaging systems, and freestanding vacuum frames. All equipment from The M&R Companies is built with M&R's unsurpassed attention to detail and commitment to quality, durability, innovation, and design excellence, and is backed by M&Rs unparalleled 24-hour access to service, support, and premium parts.
I didn't speak in wankineer - you said that a lower wattage array will give out more light if it is cooled better which in wankineer terms is incorrect. Unless you know more about LEDs than I do in which case please explain..
You're using lots of none-wankineer terms like "shonky leds" which have zero semantic content so I don't know what you're on about. Adding solid information to the thread would be really cool please.
Tim
p.s. Maximum single CPU wattage is about 300W (overclocked AMD FX) but cooling should keep CPUs down to 50 degrees (approx). LEDs can cope with more temperature, approx 80 degrees in some cases. So a CPU has to be kept at +25 over ambient and an LED at +55 over ambient. The CPU needs a lot more heat shunting. Hence I reckon a high powered water cooled heatsink should be enough.
Sorry you are not worth my time.
http://www.electronics-cooling.com/2006/11/thermal-challenges-in-led-cooling/
As someone who works in the optical industry and understands the full effects of the power levels of UV that are being tossed about here....
Buy some UV blocking goggles so you don't get cataracts.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/361234806025
$16 is a helluva lot cheaper than cataract surgery.
If that's the closed unit in the picture above...I'd keep the goggles on!
Be safe and have fun!
Tim Parkin
I saw this ad for LED unit about a year ago and I too was quite excited, now I am in the need of a larger unit than 20 x24 and am weighing the options. I can get Mercury Vapour and Metak Halide units on the used market , in fact I found a technician with parts supply in my area. These are in the price range I am at, but I really am quite interested in hearing about anyone that has used the LED approach to making Pt PD prints.
As an aside- I make silver gelatin large negatives with a Durst 76 Lambda- I can make 30 x 40 inch negatives that are fantastic for contact purpose on Silver and of course any and all other alternative process.
What interests me about the LED unit I posted about is the possibility of making a dual process unit... Silver & Pt Pd- I believe the UV units would be way too strong for silver (maybe I am wrong) and the LED technology makes me think that the adjust-ability of light output would be greater and I could purchase one machine and use it for making large Contact prints on either Ilford Warmtone or Hand Coated PT PD papers.
any thoughts on this??
Bob
I think a dual purpose Silver and Pt Pd unit would be fantastic, I actually have a 515
being able to make a vacuum table would be a piece of cake.
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