Heat Tolerance Of Acrylic

[jeffopentax]

My 120 acrylic tank has approximately 1/2" thick eurobracing (think the thing was built in japan or some damn place that uses metric). If i were to set my leds on the eurobracing, is there any chance of melting? Would be much easier than hanging or rigging up some type of legs as i'll be using 2x 3ft fixtures.


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[Luke.]

Idkman but my kessils are on goose necks and I can't touch my kessils for more then 3 secconds that's how hot they get after about 6ish hours of being on I think over time it would or atleast i wouldn't trust it ,

 

[nathan]

I wouldn't trust it either plus you are heating up your led lights probably more then they should be... I'd say no.

 

[jack]

I have a laser thermometer that's probably what you would need if you can't borrow one scrappy tire on sale for 30

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[jack]

But if it gets too hot it will disform it and that sucks I even herd of untempered glass bracing crack from mh lihts

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[jeffopentax]

I have a laser thermometer that's probably what you would need if you can't borrow one scrappy tire on sale for 30

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Good idea! I can borrow one from work.


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[AdInfinitum]

Typically we bend or form acrylic at around 275 Fahrenheit but it will begin to lose structural integrity before that point. Most high output LED'S need to stay a bit below that temperature for maximum lifespan. Even if you just put a small spacer inbetween it would be better than direct contact. The lights must have a case or some spot that you could raise to allow air to circulate between the acrylic and the emitters...it will improve the safety and lifespan of both.....

BTW all acrylic is metric thickness...

 

[jeffopentax]

Typically we bend or form acrylic at around 275 Fahrenheit but it will begin to lose structural integrity before that point. Most high output LED'S need to stay a bit below that temperature for maximum lifespan. Even if you just put a small spacer inbetween it would be better than direct contact. The lights must have a case or some spot that you could raise to allow air to circulate between the acrylic and the emitters...it will improve the safety and lifespan of both.....

BTW all acrylic is metric thickness...

All useful information! I'll post a pic tomorrow of what i have to work with.


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[jeffopentax]

I've only had it on about an hour, but so far the acrylic on the light hasn't warmed up at all. Will leave it on and ask my wife to check it throughout the day.

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[Poseidon]

i would vote no jeff,
water will splash and condensate on the lens fairly quickly, heat may not be an issue but there are a number of other reason not to, you dont have much of a lip on the outside, i feel like it would be only a matter of time til the light was accidently bumped in

Hang it up, hanging always looks much neater and if you tweak it a bit, makes accessing the tank a whole lot easier as well

 

[jeffopentax]

The reason i was looking to not hang them is they always seem to get in the way while working on tank. Tank has to have a canopy, which already limits access somewhat. Wife's orders. So, given the resounding "no", looks like i'll be hanging them. Will have to devise a way that i can still push them back out of the way.


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[Poseidon]

The reason i was looking to not hang them is they always seem to get in the way while working on tank. Tank has to have a canopy, which already limits access somewhat. Wife's orders. So, given the resounding "no", looks like i'll be hanging them. Will have to devise a way that i can still push them back out of the way.


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ive seen some neat pulled systems, even a curtain/blind system used once,
your pretty handly jeff you can rig some stuff up

 

[scubasteve]

I know my Ai sols burn my arm hair if too close to lens lol.