How Can We Help?

Would the Absolute Series Linear Module be compatible with the climate chamber?

I am interested in purchasing the Absolute Series Linear Module 6500K (D65) to install them in a climate chamber (with temperature and humidity control). Do you think it would be compatible with the chamber (at a reasonable temperature and 80% max humidity)?

Also, can I add a realUV 365nm at the end by connecting it with the strips? Is there a compatibility issue with the 12v of the UV strip vs 24v for the absolute LEDs?

While our LED Modules are not IP-rated for protection against the elements, they should be safe to operate in the typical indoor climate conditions referenced in your email. 

That being said, as these LED products are designed to be voltage-specific, we would not recommend utilizing products with a power supply of a mismatched voltage. When that occurs, such as using a 24V supply with a 12V product, hardware malfunctions may occur which would void the product warranty. 

Does your Aluminum Channel works with the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module?

Does the aluminum channel for the LED Flex Strip also work for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module? I see that the channel shows that it is 0.787 inches and the channel shows 0.69. If this doesn't work, do you have channels that do?

Unfortunately, the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module is not compatible with our aluminum channel products. While the LED Modules have a width of 20mm, the channels are only able to accommodate the 10mm width of the LED Strip Light products. 

That being said, you may be able to find a third-party channel option through a company such as Klus Design, which has a large catalog of LED extrusions.

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module Installation Guide

We would look to install this product for a room after I already referred someone else who just placed a big order for this product. I would like to know if you can please send me an email with all items needed to get this fully installed. I'll need about 20 feet from this.

We have attached a link to the product assembly instructions below, which we hope is helpful for your installation planning. Several installation options are described within this document, each containing links to the recommended accessories and connectors needed for the installation type. 

Assembly Instructions For LED Modules

The most common installation type utilizes the WAGO connectors, as can be noted within the above document. The WAGO connectors are attached to the module connectors and are used to install a series of modules end-to-end. Please note that the WAGO ports are sensitive to pressure, and require care during installation. 

For your installation planning, it might be helpful to know that the modules have a maximum combined length of ten units. This means that when more than ten modules are connected together, voltage drop and reduced light output will occur. 

Can you send a list of small(ish) panels based on your ABSOLUTE SERIES LED 99 CRI Modules?

Can you send a list of small(ish) panels based on your ABSOLUTE SERIES LED 99 CRI Modules? If there are none, if you can recommend a suitable diffuser material, I could build my own. I am looking for an 8x10 or smaller panel for film scanning.

While we do have any specific third-party diffusion covers that we could recommend, you may be able to locate a few options from B&H Photo. 

​Based on my own review of their website a moment ago, they appear to have several diffusion material options available. 

Can I bend or cut your 1’ strips?

Unfortunately, the material that LED Modules are made of is not designed to be bent or cut. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

As an alternative, you may be interested in the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip, which features identical output and is designed with designated cut points every 1.6” (42 mm). The individual segments of the LED Strip Light can then be connected to power sources by using our connection accessories. 

I need to prove out a lightbox for a new product. I was thinking about the hard strips, but they are too long. While these flexible ones can be cut, they have less than half the lumens. Maybe an engineer there can suggest a solution?

Here is a bit more about the lightbox/panel:

-They should fit in the 6x8x1 (A4) box/panel, flexible wins

-I am using a Perspex 1TL2 Opal diffuser that cuts half the light to hide the hot spots, so they need to be bright, hard wins

-I need density, and this is where I am stuck. Hard has more LEDs per inch, but the flexible ones are narrower so I can add more strips. Which is better in a 6” wide box (assuming I make it 12” long to fit the hard strips)?

I am also looking at Nichia OptiSolis which is 98CRI and 560lumnes per ft in a flexible format. Can you tell me how your CRI was measured (which device)?

While the LED Modules do have more densely-packed LEDs on the PCB than the LED Flexible Strip, they are also twice the width. As the 20mm LED Module outputs 800 lumens per 1-meter unit, two 1-meter lengths of the 10mm LED Flexible Strip would be able to provide 2500 lumens in roughly the same dimensions (at 1250 lumens per meter). 

​As such, we would likely recommend utilizing the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip due to the denser lumen output compared to the LED Modules. ​This choice also has the benefit of shorter segments and installation flexibility. 

Based on my review of the Nichia OptiSolis, there appears to be a tradeoff where our product can provide a higher CRI of 99, but lower lumens per foot. If you would like to compare our products, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. So long as the LED flexible strips have not been cut or altered, we would be happy to accept them as a return. 

Do you have a picture of the power connection on the strip?

The plan would be to cut these in 4.8” strips and lay them 10 wise next to each other. How would you power that? Daisy chain?

How do you recommend cooling them if encased in a box?

Your spec sheet states a minimum CRI Ra of 95 and CRI R9 of 90. How do I avoid this minimum?

While we do not have a photograph of the reel ends, it might be helpful to know that they utilize barrel jack adapters, which are compatible with the Barrel Jack Plug Adapter or FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. 

These strips can be installed in series or parallel, so long as the maximum output of the power supplies is not reached. As a further consideration, these LED strip lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft (5 meters). If a series of connected segments exceeds that length, increasing voltage drop and diminished output will be encountered. 

We also have several LayoutMap diagrams on our website which illustrate some possible installation types and feature links to the recommended connector accessories. We have placed a few below, in the hopes that they prove to be helpful. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D

When these products are operating, we have measured a typical temperature rise of 54°F (30°C) over ambient temperatures. So long as there is a moderate amount of airflow in your installation, the LED Strip Lights should be able to cool sufficiently for ongoing operation, though dimming the output will also help to reduce the operating temperature. 

The lower CRI Ra and R9 numbers are the minimum that has been found in our internal testing. I can confirm that the majority of the products produced by our facilities provide higher tested numbers than the minimum touted on the product pages. 

Do you have a grow light with high radiance in the UV spectrum?

I bought the Photonblast grow light for a research experiment but realized after experimenting that the light does not go into the UV spectrum. I need a similar light (in terms of being a grow light of the same size) that has high radiance in the UV spectrum (340-400 nm). Do you have any products that would work?

While we do not have any ultraviolet products in the T8 form factor, we might alternatively recommend our line of realUV™ products. 

This product line contains our realUV™ LED Strip Lights, as well as the newly launched realUV™ LED Flex Panel. Each item is available in both 395nm and 365nm versions, ​as well. 

​Beyond this line of products, we, unfortunately, do not have any items which can provide both visible light and significant ultraviolet output. We apologize!

Installation Guides of Absolute Series LED Linear Module

We are working to finish our drawings for the permit. I see that your LED module has all the lighting characteristics I would love to have in my scenario, however, I don't understand how we install it.

Is there a drywall ceiling profile to add it to? If yes is there an exterior 90 degrees corner profile if I want to create frames with lights?

Unfortunately, we do not have any fixtures or channels available in our catalog which are designed to ensconce the Absolute Series LED Modules at this time, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning. 

As an alternative, you may be able to locate third-party channels from Klus Design, which appear to have many different extrusions available in different dimensions. 

We have also attached a link to our installation guide for the product below as well, which includes detailed instructions for each configuration type. 

​LED Module Assembly Guide

I want to create a linear ceiling concept. I DONT'T WANT TO DIM those lights. I have found channels to run the module you have into them, and I have found corners as well.

Will I be able to create my lighting scenario using your module LED? If I don't want to dim them what are the problems I will face during the installation?

We can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module does not require dimming (or connected dimmers) for operation. 

Each order of the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module contains a board of attached modules. This board is much like a Kit-Kat bar, in that the individual modules can be detached with a small amount of force. 

Each ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module has four holes (3.3 millimeters in diameter) that are used for mounting the product to fixtures. These mounting holes are compatible with standard M3 screws. 

The modules can be connected in series by using soldering, pigtail wiring, or the WAGO board-to-board links. All of these options allow for power output from the power source to be shared across the connected LED Modules, as described within the assembly instructions. 

​For a simpler installation, you may alternatively be interested in the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips. These provide identical high-quality 99 CRI output as the LED Modules while offering slightly easier installations within standard aluminum channels. 

What are the beam angles of the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and Strip?

I would like to ask what the beam angles are for the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI products. I am interested in the 6500k products. Also what approximate lux values would be typical if 1.5m (5 strips) were mounted 1.7m above an office desk? Do you have any recommended ranges of Lux values for office home office lighting? I am wondering if 5 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules would be sufficient or if I might need 10 (based on 120-degree angle initial estimates from an online calculator). 

While we, unfortunately, cannot calculate the lux that would fall upon the target surface described, the following photometric reports for the product might be helpful as they list what the lux measurements are at 12” from the source.

ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Module 5000K Photometric Report

ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Module 6500K Photometric Report

Lower Wattage Photon Panel Light

Can you make the 1' by 2' 4000 White Photon panel light in a 50-watt version? Does this panel light come in any other lengths?

Unfortunately, we currently offer the PhotonPanel in a single size and power configuration only.

​While this may not be practical for your particular setup, utilizing a PWM dimmer or a lower-voltage power supply may be viable options for achieving a lower wattage output using the same panel. 

Would we be able to use one dimmer for two panels?

As long as the connected panels do not exceed the power ratings of the dimmer or power supply unit, this would certainly be permissible.

​Specifically, the panels each draw 4.5 amps, so two panels daisy-chained would draw 9.0 amps. The dimmer units have a max amperage rating of 10 amps, so this would be OK, but the power supply would need to have an amperage rating of 9.0 amps or higher to ensure that the total system load is below its capacity (power supply would need be from a third-party, as our power supplies have a max capacity of 5.0 amps).

Do note that the DC input jacks do not allow for daisy-chain input (since the DC jacks are only rated up to 5.0 amps), so the power input (and the dimmer circuit) must be fed through the WAGO terminal blocks. 

UV LED Strip Lights for Cyanotype and Van Dyke Brown Printing

I am considering purchasing the realUV™ LED Strip Lights for cyanotype and Van Dyke brown printing but am unsure of which wavelength would be better. Can you help guide me with this?

Though we are not experts in photochemical reaction installations such as cyanotypes, we are aware that some cyanotypes require a specific nanometer output for optimal curing effects. 

As the 365nm version of our realUV products is further from the visible spectrum, it is able to provide a greater quantity of ultraviolet output for the targets. As such, we would likely recommend the 365nm option over the 395nm option unless your resources specifically recommend 395nm.

As a final note, we have the realUV™ LED Flex Panel in response to customer requests for cyanotype and curing installations, which we hope is a good option for you. This panel is easy to install, can be daisy-chained, and provides the same quality of output as the individual LED Strip Lights. 

Do you have a 24V of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips?

Do you make these in 24V of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips?

We can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips are currently only available in 12V, and we do apologize for any impact that the lack of a 24V option might have on your purchase planning. 

That being said, you might alternatively be interested in the 24V ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules, which offer the same 99 CRI in a different form factor. 

UV LED Panel Irradiance Data

I am looking at the realUV LED Flex Panel. A few questions: 1) Are there options for the density that LEDs are mounted (number of LEDs per foot)? 2) The catalog mentions that "multiple panels pointed in the same direction will linearly increase irradiance values" - how can this be accomplished? Is this assuming the panels are side by side? 3) Do you have an irradiance pattern for the panel? 

We can confirm that there is only one LED density option of the realUV™ LED Flex Panel product at the moment and that the linearly increasing output is achieved by installing panels side-by-side or within a grid pattern. 

While we do not have a full UV Irradiance Document available, irradiance data can be found within the product specification sheet. 

UV LED Replacement Bulb for Screen Printing Machine

I have a screen printing machine that I need to get a replacement bulb for. The original is JP120V1KW it also has FCM on the label. Would you guys be able to reproduce the light bulb with the real UV LED technology? I bought the LED strips from you in the past and they are amazing at curing my screens. They cut my time almost in 1/3 of what it was. It takes at most a minute and this machine is closer to 3-5 exposure time. 

We did a bit of searching and was able to identify the model number as a 1000 watt halogen lamp in a T4 form factor. Unfortunately, we don't have the ability to produce anything in this shape, but we would certainly recommend looking into several of our UV light options.

Our first recommendation is our 20-watt UV flood lamp in 365 nm, which should provide light output in a similar manner as the fixture currently used for the T4 lamp. We've included the link below:

Another option would be our newly launched realUV LED flex panel, which works similarly to the LED strip lights you purchased, but in a multi-row array. Below is the product link:

Both product options are offered in 365 nm wavelengths, which effectively and efficiently target the wavelengths needed for photochemical processes such as screen printing.

realUV LED Lights for Curing Polymers

We manufacture magnesium dies and part of the process is exposing the plate which has a light-sensitive polymer coating currently we use a Thorium Iron Doped bulb. The optimum spectral wave is 386nm to cure the coating. We have experimented with UV LED light. On both tests, the UV LED was very close to 386nm.

The first test was a cluster very tight together and the size of the LED was 3228 if I recall. The closer the light the better it would cure. In the second test, the size was 3228 however they are spaced ½” apart. What we noticed was the exposure didn’t change much when closer to the plate. So I’m not sure if the LED lights need to be closer together or if we need different UV LED lights.

What I noticed on your website you refer to your strips as real UV LEDs. Are there different levels of strength of UV available in UV LED lights? If so what do you have to offer and what makes the difference?

Though we do not sell 386nm ultraviolet products, we have attached a link to an informational article below regarding the differences between the 365nm and 395nm ultraviolet products in our catalog, which we do hope proves to be helpful for your installation planning. 

To summarize, the further the output is from the 400nm visible spectrum, the greater the ultraviolet effect is upon the target. As such, our customers most frequently purchase the 365nm option for curing processes to take advantage of the greater effect. 

As a further note, you might be interested in our 365nm Ultraviolet Flex Panel for curing and other installations. Below is the product link.

We have also attached a link to the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights ultraviolet irradiance pattern below, which charts the microwatts output per square centimeter (μW/cm2).

What is the Difference Between 365 nm and 395 nm UV LED Lights?

UV Irradiance Pattern

Are the Photon Panel Grow Light used different LEDs or different ways of controlling the same LEDs?

You have two different units – are these using different LEDs or different ways of controlling the same LEDs

​We offer two versions of the PhotonPanel product - the 4000K white and RedBoost. Each of these versions uses only one type of LED that is unique to the color variant. In other words, the 4000K white PhotonPanel uses just 4000K white LEDs, while the RedBoost PhotonPanel uses just RedBoost LEDs (there is no mixing of red+blue LED types).

If different LEDs I’m assuming two different spectra, in which case what is the ratio between those over the 560 population

​As described above, since only one type of LED is used, there are no applicable ratios for our product. The spectral output is pre-defined at the LED emitter level. Please reference the spectral output diagram shown on the specification sheet for additional detail on the spectral content.

There are some pictures on your website which I think might be of the ‘red boost’ (no titles) – can’t see any blue LEDs. Am I looking at the right pictures?

​Yes, that is correct. We only utilize a single LED type, so you will not be able to see the individual color components. The violet-magenta color is the light output color for the RedBoost.

Are these panels constant current or constant voltage supply 

​The panels are driven via constant voltage at 24 volts.

How do you achieve dimming on the panels? 

​The most popular way of dimming this product is via PWM. For example, see below for a popular inline dimmer:

​Meanwell HLG can also be used to dim ​- please see below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/how-do-meanwell-hlg-led-power-supplies-work

The Input B method & daisy chain - are these one-shot connectors? 

Input Method B utilizes WAGO terminal blocks, which can be used multiple times. 

What is the effective spread angle? 

​The beam angle is 120 degrees.

Both units are spaced at 108W but the primary unit produces 12,500 lumens whereas the RedBoost is only 2,805 lumens. How do you explain the discrepancy?

​The 4000K white version provides more brightness since it includes a far larger amount of green wavelength energy. Green wavelength energy is very efficient at producing the perception of brightness for humans, which is why it has a high lumen output value.

​Green wavelength energy is not necessarily efficient for plant photosynthesis, however, which is why products like the RedBoost contain less green wavelength energy and focus the output on the blue and red wavelengths. The result is the lumen output value is lower for the RedBoost, but in terms of productivity, the RedBoost is likely on par with or better than a standard white light spectrum.

I had a look at both items and at first glance, it would appear that the Meanwell P/S would be the most advantageous to our application. However, I could not find this item on your website. Can you please send me your website link for these products – specifically the higher power units (600W and slightly below)?

We, unfortunately, do not offer any Meanwell power supply products. We recommend reaching out directly to a Meanwell distributor for further assistance and information on purchasing.

I am aware of the advantages of using light produced only in the blue & red ends of the spectrum – it's why we were interested in your product in the first place. I understand a lumen to be the amount of light per unit second per 1 radian (solid angle) – how does this fit with a “perception” of brightness for an SI unit?

The reason that "lumens" is not an optimal measure of photosynthetic effectiveness is that lumens are calibrated based on the luminous efficiency function (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_efficiency_function). The function defines green wavelength light as producing the perception of brightness most effectively; as such, one can think of lumens as being overly biased towards green wavelength energy.

I had another look at the Photometric graphs on the PhotonPanel page - I noticed that the Y-axis is ‘relative’ intensity (relative to what?) and that you didn’t say the two panels use differing amounts of power. Can I, therefore, infer that I should treat the two graphs as “area under the curve” and that the same amount of power is being distributed accordingly over the two-panel types?

The Y-axis of the spectral power distribution diagrams is in arbitrary units. This means that the irradiance values across the wavelength range are all relative to each other. The only way to perform an "apples-to-apples" comparison here would be to back-calculate the total irradiance of the spectral output (which would be, effectively, the area under the curve) and plot the two curves on the same chart calibrated to the same Y-axis values.

Do both panels consume the same number of watts (108W) – yes/no 

Yes. Both panels have the same input electrical power parameters.

Assuming the answer to above is yes, can I infer that the if I were to SOLEY monitor the output at ~450nm (blue peak), ignoring all the other frequencies for the time being, I would see a lower response on the 4000K unit and a relatively higher response on the Red Boost unit (all other variables being equal – position, distance from source, monitoring method, etc.) – yes/no 

This cannot be determined unless we have a spectral power distribution with the y-axis defined in absolute units, rather than relative units. Both curves are normalized such that their relative peaks reach the top of their respective graphs for readability and comparison purposes. As such, the two graphs with relative y-axis units cannot be compared to each other in any meaningful way.

​

Heat Dissipation of ABSOLUTE LED Series Linear Module 6500K

I purchased a kit of 5 ABSOLUTE LED series Linear module 6500K that I am planning on using for a long testing protocol where the LED lights must be on for about 2 weeks uninterruptedly. I am planning on attaching the LED lights to a wooden wall, should I be concerned about the heating/fire hazard problem? If so, how would you recommend to solve it? 

Based on our product testing, we would not assume that any issues would arise from running the LED strip lights for 12 full days, as our own L70 testing typically utilizes thousands of continuous hours of product operation.

That being said, please note that this product is not UL listed. As such, we have not performed safety testing for how this product might affect nearby heat-sensitive surfaces or surfaces that the products are adhered to, after extended durations of testing. 

​As such, we might recommend utilizing an intermediary surface that is less heat sensitive, if possible, for your installation testing. 

Thickness specifications for Absolute Series LED Linear Module

I need the thickness specifications (PCB, LEDs, and connectors) of your product 7001 for mechanical project planning. 

Below are measurements for the LED Module.

PCB: 1.5 mm

LEDs: 0.65 mm

Connectors: 4.5 mm

Power supply + cables + connectors needed for ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module

I am interested in buying some ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module to build a custom lightbox for "scanning" film strips with a digital camera. I am not 100% clear about all the items needed to make this work. I believe I would need the following: - ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module themselves - FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. 

What type of cables are required to connect the WAGO 2060 connectors between each other to chain LED linear modules? 

What connecter is needed to connect the output of the Filmgrade DC power supply to the first LED linear module in the chain? 3. I intend to build an array of 15 strips (3 packs of 5). 

How many power supplies do you recommend I use in such a case to avoid overloading the power supplies? 

Based on the details provided, we believe that the below guide should contain answers to each of the provided questions. Within the guide, you will find links to each referenced product page, as well as detailed assembly instructions. 

Assembly Instructions For LED Modules

Additionally, as one 24V 120W power supply should be sufficient for installations that utilize fewer than 14 LED Modules (which draw 8.4W per unit), we would recommend utilizing an additional power supply for your installation of 15 modules. 

Further, please note that the LED Modules have a maximum run of 10 daisy-chained units. Installations that utilize additional connected units will likely encounter diminished lumen output. 

I am planning to use the led strips to build a custom lightbox that I will use to scan large-format film sheets.

I would like to know what the ideal distance between the LED and the diffusing plate should be to maximize the uniformity of light intensity. You should be able to determine this by knowing the light intensity distribution as a function of the angle away from vertical and knowing the distance between the LED strips.

We have provided a link for an article from our Knowledge Base below. Within this article, you will find information regarding the LED strip light beam angle, as well as recommendations regarding the calculation of the spacing between the LED lights and the subject. 

​Though originally written for our ultraviolet products rather than for our Absolute Series LED strip lights, as both have an identical 120-degree beam angle, we believe that the information within the article could be helpful for your installation planning. 

Realuv™ Led Strip Light Grid Array Spacing For Even Exposure

Long-time consistency LED Linear Lighting

I'm interested in purchasing ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module - 99 CRI - 1 ft / 280 mm MCPCB for an application that requires a very precise consistency over time, that means that the product should give consistent light intensity over few days, even to a week. Do you have any recommendations or information about how the product I mentioned before is reliable for long uninterrupted service. 

We can confirm that our internal 6000-hour tests of the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules have shown lumen maintenance of approximately 96%, which extrapolates to > 75k hours for L70.

I would like to install the five modules in parallel. Can you please specify all the accessories such as power supply, wiring and adapters that will be needed from that purpose? 

We have attached an assembly guide for the LED Modules below, which we hope proves to be helpful for your configuration planning and installation. Within the guide, you will find links to each referenced product page, as well as detailed assembly instructions. 

Assembly Instructions For LED Modules

Full Spectrum LED Panel for House Plants

I have a basement with ground-level windows, and I have various Full panel LED ceiling boards installed for lights. My gardener recommends I change a few of them to full spectrum (unsure you make these) to keep my more tropical plants healthy as we go through winter (I live in CT). Do you have these I can send a picture of what my current 21” w X 45” panels look like.

We are happy to confirm that we offer several horticulture-focused products in our catalog, which are designed to provide the ideal wavelengths of light output for plant growth and horticulture installation. 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the PhotonPanel™ 100W Grow Light Panel product. With the dimensions of 11”x 22”, you may be able to place two units of the product within the same footprint as your pre-existing panels. 

Additionally, as the Grow Light Panels offer an output of 12,500 lumens, we would also recommend comparing the output to the lights which are currently being used against the Grow Light Panel to ensure that preferable light output is being provided for the space. 

Maximum power per chip of Absolute Series LED Modules

Just wondering what the max power per chip and or per board of your absolute series LED is.

The ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules have a maximum input voltage of 24 volts, at which the current draw is 350 mA.

We, unfortunately, do not provide any technical data or support on the individual components for our products but the above value can be extrapolated to approximately 70 mA per LED based on the configuration of the LEDs on the PCB (five strings of 7 LEDs).

Thermal Specifications for Absolute Series LED Linear Module

Do you have any information on the thermal specifications for your Absolute Series Linear Module (99 CRI)? Eg, maximum temperature, thermal resistances, decrease in longevity with temperature, etc. 

The maximum case temperature for these modules is 85C. We do not have any thermal resistance values, unfortunately.

LED Lights for the Quilt Fabric Storage Area

I need a light system in my wife’s quilt fabric storage area. She needs to shorten and March by overall and small amounts of color. I am thinking of five of these ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module - 99 CRI - 1 ft / 280 mm MCPCBone. One on the ceiling and two down the sides next to the jamb. I am open to other suggestions. I would need to know the other accessories required to string them together. The colors she matches are sometimes hard for me to see. 

Based on the information provided, it does appear that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module - 99 CRI - 1 ft / 280 mm MCPCB product could be a good fit for your installation.

Regarding installation instructions, we have a great page on our website which describes the process in depth and includes links for required accessories, which I have linked below.

Assembly Instructions for LED Modules: https://store.waveformlighting.com/pages/assembly-instructions-for-led-modules

As an alternative, you might also be interested in our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixture product. This item features a high CRI, and a low profile, and can be very easily installed without requiring wiring or power supplies.

I like the tube alternative. How long are the connecting wires between the tubes? Can I order another plug wire? Is there a disadvantage to getting the 6500 vs 5000, you are out of stock of the 5000 4’ tubes.

We are happy to confirm that the Linear Light Fixtures can be connected end-to-end using the integrated plugs. Alternatively, you may choose to utilize the included daisy chain cord for connecting the fixtures, which is 30 cm in length.

Though we do not have longer daisy chain cords available, you will likely be able to find a longer third-party option quite easily as these products utilize the standard 2-prong C8 plug.

If a guide for color temperatures proves to be useful in your planning, I have provided a link to a blog post from our website below.

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/which-led-light-color-temperature-should-i-choose

Difference Between 5000K and 6500K Bulbs: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/art-painting/difference-between-5000k-and-6500k-bulbs

Uniformly-glowing Panels with High-CRI LEDs

I'd like to use your high-CRI LED technology to make (or purchase) a panel that emits light similarly to ceiling panels with opal diffusers. The panel should look uniformly bright as if there are no separate LEDs—like if I were looking at a bright overcast sky through a window. The size should be something like 127cm×86cm, CCT 6500K. Could you recommend a way to achieve this? Can I simply use several LED modules and a third-party diffuser and get uniform brightness this way?

We unfortunately do not have an existing product that can achieve what you are looking for, but your idea of using a diffuser to cover the LED modules / LED strips definitely sounds like the right approach!

​You are correct that leaving the LED emitters exposed would allow the individual LEDs to be visible, so the diffuser cover would be essential. One popular method of incorporating a diffuser is to angle the LED modules upwards into a reflective backing, allowing the light to bounce back and downwards. Since the reflected light no longer shows the individual LEDs, this can also improve the light dispersion.

Photon Series Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights for Horticulture

I am trying to order (2)- Photon 2000 Series Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights. I can't seem to find them on your website.

We regret to inform you that the Photon 2000 Series product is currently discontinued.

We, unfortunately, don't have anything similar, but the closest options for horticulture would be our PhotonBlast, PhotonTube and our PhotonPanel products. Please see the product links below:

Service Duty Temperature Range for Absolute Series LED Modules

What is the recommended operating temperature range for the Absolute modules? I can't find any information on this topic on the website.

The maximum ambient operating temperature of the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules is 120 degrees F. Generally, as long the LED modules remain below 185 F, there are no significant concerns concerning the longevity or reliability of the LED components.

Is your PhotonPanel™ 100W Grow Light Panel and Dimmer UL listed?

We are planning a growth area and would like to daisy chain 3 panels to be on three separate shelf levels but to have them be dimmable -- and were looking at your PhotonPanel™ 100W Grow Light Panel and the FilmGrade DC Power Supply and FilmGradeTM Flicker-Free LED Dimmer. 

We must have UL-listed components. I have purchased some LED panels to test out with plants, but sometimes it is too bright and so I believe dimmable would be useful. Is there a way to do this with your products? 

Unfortunately, apart from our power supplies, the grow light panel and dimmers are NOT UL listed at this time.

LED Linear Module for Color Rendering Installation

I'm looking for a high CRI (Re) color rendering light (I make copies of paintings). I need to put a certain amount of light above me with a tilted head on a light stand-by. Do you have some suggestions? (product code 7001.50.5P) 

Based on the details provided, it does seem that the LED Linear Module product could be a great solution for your color rendering installation.

We're happy to confirm that the module is designed to be compatible with mounted installations using M3 screws, and can further confirm that we have heard of customers in the past who have installed these products into lighting fixtures.

LED Strip Lights for Copying Film with DSLR Camera

I'm planning on replacing the fluorescent tubes in the 24"x36" light table I use for copying film negatives and positives with a DSLR camera. High CRI is important and I want to stay in the D50 or 5600k color temperature range. Do you have any recommendations or know of customer experiences for this kind of application? I'd like to do some tests with the FilmGrade and Absolute series, but I don't see a sample kit for the Absolute D50 lights.

Our D50 and 5600K light sources with 95/99 CRI sound like a great fit for your needs. While we do not have any specific case studies that we could point you towards, I'm confident that these specifications will optimize for color fidelity and accuracy in image capture.

You mention that the dimensions of the light table are 24" x 36" - in which case, it may not be feasible to fit our 4-ft T8 LED tube lights in the fixtures unless your light fixtures happen to be 48".

As you mention, our LED strip lights may be a great alternative option. While some additional assembly and wiring will be required, our ABSOLUTE SERIES D50 LED strip lights, or our FilmGrade 5600K LED strip lights could be installed into your current fixture and provide you with a nice improvement in color quality.

We unfortunately do not offer a sample kit for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights. We do offer a free returns policy, however, so you may want to take advantage of that to test and compare the two products. All we ask is that you keep the LED strips in tact, including keeping the adhesive liner in place.

When evaluating the options for the Absolute LED series the linear modules 5 pack made the most sense for my application, both from a cost stand point and installation in the light table. The listing for the Absolute module 5 pack says they are individually packaged, but they are all on one board. There’s no way to properly compare the FilmGrade strip and the Absolute modules in the light table without separating the modules. Also there’s no information about how to separate the modules.

What should I do? I feel the Absolute linear module listing on the web site is misleading. From the listing I expected to get 5 separate Absolute modules. That would be easy to compare to the FilmGrade by putting two Absolute modules on each side within the light table and running the FilmGrade strip around the perimeter inside the light table. With the 5 modules on a single board it will be very difficult to get even lighting to compare to the FilmGrade strip.

The 5-pack of the ABSOLUTE SERIES are joined together along the long-edge, and can be separated by bending the modules along the score-line. They can be a bit difficult to separate, and may require a bit of force before they begin to loosen a bit.

The 5-pack modules are eligible for return even after they are separated into individual modules, so please feel free to proceed with the installation for testing. Should there be any need to return the modules, we would be more than happy to accept your return.

ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module 99 CRI Wiring Recommendation

I'm excited to use this led module, but I think I bought the wrong wires to plug into the module. I bought the DC female barrel jack plug adapter and some led connector wires, and the led strip-to-strip solderless connector. Now that I'm visiting your webpage again it seems that I only need Female DC Barrel Jack to Pigtail Wire Cable 4-PACK to make it work. Also, while I'm at it, is there anything you recommend to house the module?

We can confirm that the Female DC Barrel Jack to Pigtail Wire Cable mentioned is indeed compatible with the LED Linear Module, whereas the LED Strip to Strip connector in your previous order is not.

Please note that the LED Linear Module requires a 24V DC Power Supply with sufficient power capacity to operate, regardless of the configuration type selected. In case it proves to be useful, more information regarding the assembly instructions for the LED Linear Module can be found at this link: https://store.waveformlighting.com/pages/assembly-instructions-for-led-modules

Regarding housing units, we, unfortunately, do not have any products which are compatible with the LED Linear Module. However, there may be third-party options available elsewhere.

Absolute Series LED modules for a color matching to a Pantone swatch book and small item product photography.

I am interested in the Absolute series LED modules, I just realized the modules won't fit into the aluminum channels you offer, so I'm not certain what to mount them on or use as a diffuser. Do you have any recommendations? Is the type of diffuser material likely to affect the CRI at all? 

I was also wondering about the brightness - each module produces 800 lumens. 

I am also thinking about getting one of your dimmers, is the panel with 2 modules likely to be too bright to use at full strength? 

I was also thinking about trying the North Lux light bulbs, but wasn't sure about the socket type - I'm in the UK. I noticed the Centric Daylight bulbs have an E27 European option though, are those actually the same bulbs as the North Lux? What is the actual CRI for either of these bulbs? The item page says they have a CRI of 95+, and an R9 of 80+, but the photometric report seems to suggest both of these are much higher. Am I reading it wrong? 

I was planning on getting the D65 modules as I'm used to working with natural daylight color temperatures. The Pantone color bridge I'm using says to use D50 for color matching, is the D65 fine for this? Pantone has further confused me by using M1 lighting for the color bridge guide, but M2 lighting without UV for the online color finder - do the Absolute series modules qualify as M1 lighting (the D50 version anyway)? 

First of all, our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules sound like a great option to give you an excellent "building block" for building your own light panel. The 99 CRI is an excellent fit for many color viewing and color-critical applications.

​Whether or not you will need a diffuser will depend on whether there will be any potential for glare. If, for example, you plan on shining the modules directly at the illumination subject, there should not be any issues. For more information, we would recommend our blog article here: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/aluminum-channels-for-led-strip-lights-are-they-worth-it-an-in-depth-look

​If you do decide that the aluminum channels and diffusers are indeed necessary, you may want to consider our flexible LED strip version of the ABSOLUTE SERIES as they will fit inside the aluminum channels without any issues.

Each module produces 800 lumens. It's a bit difficult to provide any recommendations as to whether this is sufficient or excessive for your needs, but you may want to take a look at our lumen estimation calculator, which you can find here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

​Alternatively, a useful rule of thumb is to remember that 800 lumens are approximately equal in brightness to a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

​Transitioning to our household lamp form factors, the NorthLux is not available in an E27 socket variant, so we would recommend our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT versions instead. For more information on E26 vs E27, you may want to reference our article here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/e26-vs-e27-bulbs-are-they-interchangeable

The CENTRIC DAYLIGHT versions also offer an excellent 95 CRI color rendering at 5000K and 6500K, either of which should work well for you. The only minor difference (as noted by their part number including or not including the letter "D") is that the NorthLux is calibrated to D50 and D65 color standards, which may be of interest to you.

The actual color rendering values will depend on the specific bulb. Our guaranteed values are 95+ and 80+ for CRI, respectively, but depending on the specific bulb, these values may fluctuate. CRI, for example, can be anywhere between 95 and 98.

Since you'll be using the lamps for digital arts (rather than printing and visual assessments) with monitors calibrated to D65, our 6500K or D65 product options sound like the best option for you.

Is there a recommended type of material for this, or will any type of translucent plastic do? Are there any materials that look appropriate but I should actively avoid them due to them compromising the CRI too much? If I use completely transparent clear plastic just for a protective 'lid' over the module, will this affect the color temperature or CRI at all? My gut says no on this last one, but thought it was worth checking in case there's something I'm not aware of.

Unfortunately, all materials will absorb and reflect a small portion of the light energy across the spectrum in slightly different ways. We generally recommend using polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass, as these materials generally alter the spectrum to the smallest extent. Some anecdotal testing on our end indicates that polycarbonate diffusers can affect the color temperature by 200-300K. CRI is generally not affected.

I was hoping you might be able to give me some quick advice on setting up the modules - I've made a basic diagram of my plan, but I don't have much experience with this sort of thing, so I was hoping you could take a quick look and see if it makes sense.

I've reviewed the drawing you kindly provided, and everything looks good and reasonable.

Hopefully, this makes sense, if not, let me know! I will most likely put 3 modules on one panel and 2 on a separate one, but I am making the basic assumption that even if I put all 5 on the same panel using the same power supply, it should be ok, as the power supply is 24v, 60W, 2.5A, which seems to cover the minimum requirements for 5 modules, plus a bit extra - is it ok?  

Yes, the power capacity appears to be perfectly fine for this installation. The only thing to be careful of would be to make sure that the wires used to connect the modules have sufficient thickness. Generally, if you're just connecting a single module, you should be fine with 20 AWG or thicker.

Is it okay to use an inline switch sold as a 12V switch, as long as the amp rating is high enough? I found some that say 2 amp max at 12VDC, and one that says suitable for 5-24V but doesn't mention amps... They're all very basic barrel jack connected on/off switches that look identical, but I've read conflicting information online about this issue, mostly regarding the possibility of arcing with higher voltage, so I thought I'd better ask even though most people say it's ok. I'm guessing the current that will go through the switch will only be the 420mA / 10W for a single module though, given how it will be set up.  

There should not be any significant safety issues here, but we would recommend checking with the switch manufacturer to ensure that operation at 24 volts would be permissible. I believe that both the arc voltage, as well as current ratings, would both be of concern here.

Not too bothered about having to replace the switches if they break, but I don't want anything bad to happen to the LED modules. And I'm assuming that connecting and disconnecting the modules via just unplugging any of the connecting wires between the individual module and PSU while it's all switched on is a bad idea? This sort of thing is generally frowned upon, hence my idea about adding inline switches for each module for some brightness control... Sorry if any of these are silly questions, I'm learning this on the fly! 

There should be no issues with the modules, as long as they are not suddenly flooded with voltage or current.

As for the A19 style bulbs, does the article you linked basically mean it's always unsafe to use E26 bulbs in an E27 socket, even when they are compatible with 240V AC?

That is our assessment based on the dimensions and input voltage levels.

Would it be safe to use a NorthLux E26 bulb with a B22 (bayonet socket) to an E26 adapter at 240V? (E27 to E26 doesn't seem to be a thing...) Given that the product page says it's compatible with 240V AC, I assume I wouldn't have to use a step-down transformer or anything?  

Yes, the product is compatible with global input voltages and will operate with 240 volts AC despite having an E26 base.

Do you know if NorthLux bulbs (the D50 version anyway) conform to the M1 lighting standard at all? 

Unfortunately, our D50 products do not conform to the MIUV metamerism requirement for UV fluorescence. As such, you will see our conformance is limited to ISO 3664:2000 and not any of the later standards.

Do the lights emit anything into the UV range at all, or are they closer to the M2 UV-excluded type lights in that respect? Doesn't help either that the bridge guide uses M1 standards and photoshop uses M2 when the paper the guides printed on is full of OBAs.

All of our products do not emit any UV (defined as < 400nm) except for our realUV products.

Except for our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products, the LEDs are based on a royal blue 460 nm emitter with phosphor downconversion, so virtually no energy is emitted below 430 nm or so.

I saw the section about white rendering on the Absolute series product page, does this mean they can activate the OBAs in paper and textiles, at least somewhat? 

You are correct that the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products do have some potential to excite OBAs to improve white rendering. This is due to the underlying emitter being based on a violet emitter which peaks at 420 nm. You'll notice, though, that this is still well within the visible range of the spectrum and does not produce enough ultraviolet energy to provide meaningful improvements to MIUV rendering.

One thing you may want to look into is the realUV LED strip or floodlights​ in combination with our existing visible wavelength range products to improve UV rendering. Unfortunately, we don't have any test data or full solutions here, but this may be worth experimenting with on your end.

What type of connector can I use to daisy chain the PN 2020 that will be spaced 6" apart?

I'm looking to buy (4) PN:2020 lights for some plant shelves I'm building. I want to daisy chain them, but the lights will be spaced 6" apart. What kind of connector can I use so I can run wire between the daisy chain connectors? Also, I don't see a transformer that will drive all four lights on your site. Do you recommend any specific model?

Our PhotonPanel product sounds like a great option for a vertical plant shelf installation. To answer your questions:

The daisy-chain "ports" utilize WAGO 2060 connectors (see here for the datasheet). For variable-length installations such as yours, we generally recommend using low-voltage wire with the maximum thickness permissible for the WAGO connectors (18 AWG).

We do not have any power supplies with sufficient capacity, but we would recommend a third-party manufacturer that has a product of sufficient capacity (we would recommend at least 500 watts for daisy-chaining 4 panels). We generally recommend Meanwell as a reliable manufacturer of power supplies, but it appears they do not have anything higher than 340 watts.

It looks like you can configure a constant current level. Should the constant current be set to 17A to match your spec sheet for four daisy chained PN:2020 panels?

The constant current feature is definitely nice to have and can work very well here to ensure stable operation. The boards are configured to operate via constant voltage without any issues, as long as the voltage level does not exceed 24 volts at any point. Even when staying at or below 24 volts, however, the actual power draw can fluctuate a bit depending on various environmental factors such as ambient temperature (higher temps = higher current draw).​If you are able to keep the current setting fixed via the constant current adjustment, that would ensure that a consistent power draw is achieved, regardless of environmental factors.

How to connect ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules

I see that the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module has connection mechanisms between one another. How does it work, and do I need extra accessories?

ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Modules are approximately 11 inches (280 mm) long, and use the WAGO system. Each module has WAGO 2060 terminal blocks on both ends of each module, one for the positive and one for the negative connection.

All electrical connections to power and between modules is achieved through these terminal blocks. Terminal blocks require insertion of electrical wire (sold separately) between 18-24 AWG, with 0.28-0.35 inches of insulation stripped off.

Alternatively, the modules can be connected end-to-end using WAGO board-to-board connectors shown below:

Additional assembly instructions can be found below:

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Module maximum temperature rating

The ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Modules (PN 7001.50 / 7001.65) are pre-built LED circuitboards designed to operate at DC 24 volts constant voltage.

We do not specify thermal resistance or junction temperature limits and instead use a simplified case temperature (Tc) specification.

The case temperature is defined as the surface temperature of the printed circuit board (PCB). Our recommended maximum case temperature is 185°F (85°C). In other words, as long as the PCB surface does not exceed 185 °F, we are confident in knowing that the LED emitters and components are within their thermal limits.

Our internal tests have indicated that the LED modules have similar reliability profiles at 185°F as well as a lower 130°F (55°C) case temperature point. For both temperature points, lumen maintenance at 6000 hours was 96%, and chromaticity shift (Δu'v') was less than 0.001.

Do you sell the 5000K, 99 CRI module but in a remote phosphor variant?

I am interested in your 5000K, 99 CRI module. The light is truly spectacular.

Do you by any chance sell the same thing but in a remote phosphor variant? If not, do you have intentions to create something like that?

Unfortunately , we do not have any plans for a remote phosphor variant at this time. Based on our current material cost structures for the existing SMD design, we would anticipate that the remote phosphor design would be cost-prohibitive due to the much larger amount of phosphor needed to create a remote phosphor sheet or panel.

And one last question, is it possible for a light with the same properties (5000K, 99CRI) to be made more like a point source rather than module with multiple LEDs? 

Yes, this can be accomplished, but we do not have any plans for this at this time.

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