Mark M Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm in the market for 6 - 10 led tubes and I only really need them to light in orange. I had a look on Thomann and the starville standard jobby comes with an IR remote but they don't appear to be linkable which may mean they are fiddly to get them all the same colour? Or will they remember there settings so the colour only needs selecting once? Is there a better solution out there? The budget is pretty tight but don't going higher than the starvilles, especially for a Uk based supplier. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac.calder Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Generally the LED IR controlled stuff will remember it's programming after it is powered off. Most of them tend to use the exact same control protocol (we have about 8 different LED items used by our styling department that are all IR controlled - all the remotes are interchangeable even though they are from different manufacturers), which makes me think that it is a fairly standard OEM control board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niclights Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Have you considered using fluorescent tubes instead? It seems overly complicated and almost certainly more expensive to use LED's. The fluoro's are efficient, pretty much last forever and replacements are easy to come by should they fail or break. I recommend Encapsulite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 Thanks for the info. I forgot to say that the tubes are going to be suspended from a roof, 30 ft up so access is going to be difficult which made me think the LED route would be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley R Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 You can buy LED tubes that are linkable. You can either get them that are just controlled by a dedicated control box, or you can get one that has the capability to be controlled Via DMX. I think in Oz they are nicknamed "Happy Tubes". simply just a strip of LED's with frosted cover and I think its two leads coming out each end. These might be little overboard, if you just want orange all the time. Something that just crossed my mind. Ive started to see in the local electrical wholesalers LED tubes, designed to retrofit standard fluro tubes. You might be able to get these with orange LED's and a frosted cover? I would imagine this to be a fairly cheap solution if available and you wont have to change the lamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomHoward Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 If you're using either fluorescent tubes, or retrofit LED tubes (which may save the need for the occasional replacement, but would cost a fair bit more), LEE Filters do all their filters as a tube covering: http://www.lightmoves.com/whatsnew/leesleeves2.jpg Which is something I've always liked the look of - once they are fitted to the tube the effect is very neat, you really can't see the separate covering. (If you wanted to do it even cheaper, you could roll a fluoro tube in gel and join at the hidden edge with scroller tape, but it wouldn't be as neat or re-usable.) Quick add - if you're using the LED retrofit tubes, you might add a diffusion in there as well so that you can't see the individual LED elements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac.calder Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Yep... Happy Tubes *shudder*... However there is a decent price difference. You are looking at 20-30 pounds for an IR remote controlled tube... You are looking at 75-100 pounds for DMX control. Not too bad if you are talking one-offs but happy tubes are best used in large batches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley R Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 If you're using either fluorescent tubes, or retrofit LED tubes (which may save the need for the occasional replacement, but would cost a fair bit more), LEE Filters do all their filters as a tube covering: http://www.lightmoves.com/whatsnew/leesleeves2.jpg Which is something I've always liked the look of - once they are fitted to the tube the effect is very neat, you really can't see the separate covering. Quick add - if you're using the LED retrofit tubes, you might add a diffusion in there as well so that you can't see the individual LED elements. Definitely add some frost if using the LED's (Should have mentioned that earlier). Didn't know that LEE made pre made covers for Fluro tubes :D I don't think they were that much, maybe $30* ea? compared to $5* ea. * Figures coming from a slightly tired, and very forgetful memory! You have been warned! Yep... Happy Tubes *shudder*... However there is a decent price difference. You are looking at 20-30 pounds for an IR remote controlled tube... You are looking at 75-100 pounds for DMX control. Not too bad if you are talking one-offs but happy tubes are best used in large batches. After a little bit more thinking, If the OP only needs orange, seems a waste to have all the RGB capability, when only the red and green LED's are ever going to be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomHoward Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 If you don't need any control TLC also have a 'LED Tube light' in orange for £15. No idea what it is, or whether it has any control other than mains in.http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Disco_Index/LED_Tube_Lights/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 Thanks once again for the info and links, will have a look through them all shortly. One thing which I found out this morning is that the tubes need to hang, so that potentially rules out any of the standard fittings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 If you're using either fluorescent tubes, or retrofit LED tubes (which may save the need for the occasional replacement, but would cost a fair bit more)... Retrofit LED tubes to replace fluorescents are a strange idea, apparently just jumping on the bandwagon that LED is energy efficient. They are actually no more efficient than a standard triphosphor tube (sometimes less so), are often much dimmer than the tube they replaced, don't last any longer than the tube, and cost way more. I can't understand why anyone would want to use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomHoward Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Retrofit LED tubes to replace fluorescents are a strange idea, apparently just jumping on the bandwagon that LED is energy efficient. They are actually no more efficient than a standard triphosphor tube (sometimes less so), are often much dimmer than the tube they replaced, don't last any longer than the tube, and cost way more. I can't understand why anyone would want to use them.I did think that myself, although I would have thought they would last a little longer. The output would be probably be less, and they would be directional as well, as opposed to a fluorescent tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamtastic3 Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 TomHoward, that TLC link is great!. I've been looking for led tubes in single static colours for an install and you've hit the nail on the head. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardtank Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 TomHoward, that TLC link is great!. I've been looking for led tubes in single static colours for an install and you've hit the nail on the head. Cheers! Did you get these Jamtastic? I'm looking at getting them and want to know how bright they are. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamtastic3 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Not yet, no. The install fell through unfortunately. But I'm guessing they would be bright enough for visual displays. I'm thinking view will be on par with the cheap rgb mood tubes - YouTube may be a help I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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