LED question

[kshafer]

I'm looking at some LED strip lights from Current USA and Ecoxotic. Both are touting the "shimmer" effect that the lights produce. I've seen some Youtube videos of tanks with LED lighting and if the videos are a good representation I'm not so sure that I like the shimmer. I found some of the videos to be distracting or almost annoying. In other videos I didn't notice much shimmer. Could someone with LEDs please comment on that issue? Thanks.

 

[Spiracle]

I have had my DIY LED setup for four months and I love it. The shimmer is created by surface agitation. If you have none, or very minimal surface agitation you won't get any shimmer. Personally, I think the shimmer is really natural looking, like the suns rays piercing moving water. Unless your pump is creating hurricane force flow, don't worry about it.

 

[blacklongfellow]

Sure, no problem.... as long as the toggle switch is rated for the amps used, it will be fine.

Check the amperage of the 12v led strip light, if you can. If they are rated as Watts, then use this formula

Amps =watts divided by volts.....so a 30 watt light would be 30 divided by 12 volts, or 2.5 amps.

Watts = volts times amps....so a 12 volt light at 2.5 amps, would be 30 watts..

But most led strip 12v are low wattage, and most toggle switches can handle at least 20 amps, or 240 watts, so you can put many on there.

If for instance, the lights are 2 amps each, waterproof led strip light and the toggle will handle 20 amps, (240 watts) you can use 10 lights.