Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Pet Shops and Product Reviews => Tank Equipment Reviews => Topic started by: Sue on January 06, 2015, 12:24:37 PM

Title: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light/Arcadia Classica Striplight
Post by: Sue on January 06, 2015, 12:24:37 PM
EDIT - see post #5

Further edit (3 December 2017) - the name has now changed to Arcadia Classica Striplight. Link (http://www.arcadia-aquatic.com/product/classica-striplight/)




I recently purchased two of these lights, a white and a blue.


The white one was an accident as I clicked the wrong colour when I purchased it. However it is actually perfect as a light for my quarantine/hospital tank.
The blue light is in my main tank as moonlighting, it switches on 15 mins before the main light turns off, and remains on for a further hour.



Both strips have 6 leds; the unit is submersible (rated IP68) and attaches to the tank wall by means of two brackets with suckers. The unit can be rotated within the brackets allowing the light to be angled. My only concern is that suckers do tend to wear and I do not know yet if replacements are easy to find.
The mains cable is 2 metres long and attaches to the plug adapter with a usb connector. There are two cable clips provided to hold the cable in place. The white light came with the plug adapter in the same pack while the blue light arrived with the plug adapter in a separate box.


So far I am impressed with the lights. The white one is bright enough for a 25 litre quarantine tank. The blue is even adequate as moonlighting for a 188 litre tank.
But I would not use one of these lights as the sole lighting for a tank over 30 litres.


Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Richard W on January 06, 2015, 01:03:38 PM
Just a clarification, I assume when you say "mains lead" that this is actually not carrying mains but that the "plugs" you mention include a power supply which will produce an output of just the few volts needed by the LEDs. A USB connection would certainly not be safe, or legal, for mains voltage.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on January 06, 2015, 01:39:42 PM
I didn't explain very well  :-[

The light unit has a cable coming out of it. At the other end is a usb plug. This plugs into something that looks a bit like a 13 amp plug which Arcadia refer to as a power adapter. This can be seen in the photos in the link.
The power adapter plugs into the mains, and I presume it 'does something' to the mains electricity in much the same way as the box labelled 'AC/DC adaptor' on the end of the mains cable for my Aqua One tank's LED light.

I have amended the wording of the first post.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: SteveS on January 06, 2015, 02:16:10 PM
The 13A plug with a USB socket built into it is a new universal adapter. It came about via an EC directive regarding chargers for mobile phones, but is being applied to many devices that require the use of an AC/DC adapter. The USB adapter can be used with any device that supports USB charging. These include mobile phones, ebook readers, MP3 players, tablets and, as you have found out, LED lights, fans and radios. It will, hopefully, become more and more common as time passes.

...and I presume it 'does something' to the mains electricity...
It coverts 240V 50Hz AC current from your mains socket into 5V DC for your device.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on January 10, 2015, 01:36:38 PM
Post #5


I put this light into my tank two and a half weeks ago.
The package and the website say the light is submersible which I assumed meant it was OK to put it under water.

I did a water change yesterday and noticed there was water inside the light.

I emailed Arcadia about it, but it was late on Friday afternoon so I will have to wait till next week for a reply. It may be a fault with this particular light, or there could be a design flaw. Needless to say it is now in a bucket in the greenhouse.



My QT has a perspex lid so I put the white light on top of the lid rather than underwater.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: chris213 on January 10, 2015, 08:26:16 PM
hi sue just to be nosey and also becuase i just bought some led lights for my 60 liter tank ( the second hand light unit that came with it is a little temper mental and i dont seem to be able to fix it ) i was just wondering what the wattage was on the white light you bought
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on January 10, 2015, 09:25:10 PM
Unfortunately, it doesn't say. It has a transformer which says output 5v DC 500mA max, if that means anything to you. The box just says 'low wattage'.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: chris213 on January 11, 2015, 07:59:55 AM
Thanks sue - just bought one of the interpet versions the box lists as 4,7 watt led unit to replace a 15 watt fluorescent.Tube with led light being much brighter iam hoping that it will at least be equal if not brighter than before ,(certainly seems a lot brighter on a demo version in shop ) will fit it all in this week and post the results as a comparison  :)
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on January 11, 2015, 02:15:48 PM
Started a new thread on LED lighting here (http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,1633.0.html) as I want to keep this thread for comments on this specific LED light.

Feel free to start another thread in the Equipment Review section on your new light  :)
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on January 12, 2015, 12:29:38 PM
I have received a reply from Arcadia about the water inside the unit.

Quote
The unit is safe to use. The LEDs themselves are conformal coated which gives the IP67 rating and electrical protection


I will plug it back in, but instead of placing it underwater I will put it on top of the cover glass.



I still don't like the idea of it allowing water inside though.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: ColinB on January 12, 2015, 12:38:42 PM
IP67 protection means only temporary insertion in water! It would need an IPx8 for continuous insertion in water.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on January 12, 2015, 12:45:43 PM
I think it might be a misprint in the email - the packaging does say IP68.


And google tells me that IP67 is for immersion up to 1 metre depth with the test being 30 mins while IP68 is for depths over 1m with testing time being continuous.



Edit:
I emailed them back to check which IP rating they meant.
Quote
Sorry I should have wrote IP68. It is fully waterproof and submersible

To my mind, waterproof means that the cyclinder shouldn't get any water inside not that the individual LEDs are water resistant. Maybe that's just me though  :-\
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on February 19, 2015, 03:56:31 PM
An update on this LED light.

Since being told it is safe to use, I have placed the strip on top of the cover glass where it works quite well as a transition between main lights on and total darkness.

However, I have noticed that recently the LED at the end where the cable enters the light has stopped working and the next one is not nearly as bright as the other four. Yesterday evening, I emailed the chap I was in contact with last month about it and had a reply at 8:20 this morning asking for my address and they'll send me a new one.
I did ask if they wanted the faulty one back but no, they don't.
Quote
As it is a sealed unit it is difficult to learn anything from it. We do monitor the return rate though.



It is possible that I bought a faulty light, and that the recent problem with a non-working LED is due to the water that got inside the unit.

When it works, it does the job well but I would be reluctant to advise anyone to use it under water. For use outside the tank or on a cover glass, it is fine.
Title: Re: Arcadia Classica Aqua-brite LED light
Post by: Sue on February 20, 2015, 01:49:38 PM
I can't fault Arcadia on customer service. I emailed them my address at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon and the replacement light has just arrived.






And better service from Royal Mail as well. They didn't lose it like they lost the gas bill in January or the birthday cards from my son to my husband and mother (sent to me in the same envelope)