Yet another LED light hits the market, this time called the EcoRay 60, presumably because it contains 60 diodes with 60 degree optics (more about that later). Since LED lights are a dime a dozen these days, I'm no longer impressed by them. So - does the EcoRay stand out? Read on...
Firstly, I apologize for the lack of pics in this article, I've misplaced my SD card reader! So, I've made a video review, instead:
I was sent the Ecoray 60 for review, and I must say that it is a confusing light fixture. It has a compact size (measuring 8.5"x14"x2.5") in which it fits 60 uknown diodes in, (Editor's note: apparently they're not Cree diodes - thanks, Clive!) with, as I mentioned, 60 degree lenses. The body is presumaby aluminum but well coated and constructed, includes hanging wires, and is cooled by a single fan (but no real heatsink, although 1w diodes don't produce all that much heat. Update: the manufacturer says the enclosure also functions as a heatspreader). The model I was sent for review includes a single power cord, although Ecoray makes a model with two power cords for separate on/off of the blue and white LEDs. Personal preference dictates which model to order. The LEDs are protected from spray, water, etc via a glass shield, and the electronics appear well isolated from the air moved by the fan, which is good.
Due to the focused lenses, the light it emits doesn't spread much beyond it's size, even when hung from 24+ inches, causing the light to be very intense even at depth in a fixture too small to be designed to illuminate larger, deeper aquariums. This 'rectangular spotlight' effect causes one to question the unit's usefulness, as not many own a small, very tall aquarium. The PAR in the area it does cover is very high (350+ in an area the size of the unit on average at 24"), but again, the coverage area is small. Outfitting the EcoRay with 120 degree lenses and altering the formfactor shape would have made more sense from a practical perspective, in my opinion.
As we aquarists improve our knowledge of LED fixtures, manufacturers are going to have to start putting more thought into the design and quality of their fixtures. I like to see innovation, quality and practicality in the products I use, and unfortunately, the EcoRay 60 fails on innovation and practicality.
Pros: Sturdy
Cons: Poor design, lack of real heatsink, no spectrograph made available
Captive Aquatics Blog Verdict: Poor
$369 (Update: price change)
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