BLM. Build My Led

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Yeah I think you are correct they should all light up, I did purchased it used and it did not come with any instructions, it is possible they sold me a defective unit or somehow damaged in shipping but I doubt that, I have had it for over 6 years but never used it. I just opened it from the box.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

So I plugged both lights in and they have the same Leds that work and the same that do not. At the edges there are 4 leds on each side that do not lite, so it could be that they never did.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

This picture shows the edge of the light, both sides are the same, it is suppose to be an 18" light.

 

[oreo54]

This picture shows the edge of the light, both sides are the same, it is suppose to be an 18" light.View attachment 3095475

IF I remember bml's were built with 15 diodes in 12". There never was a proper 18" light.
Their diffusers had a LOT of ghosting and it was hard to see ind diodes because of that.
I "sort of see" 15 lit. Count the brightest rays

As for the LED count, our 12" PCB contains locations for 15 LEDs. Hence, the 24" fixture will have 30 LEDs...and the 48" option will have 60 high-power LEDs.

Point is the 18" only has 12" of LEDs.
BTW the serial # has the diode colors encoded in it.
Right past the year of manuf there should be 15 letters that describe the color pattern.

JMALMAKLGLMAJMA...
20000K..maybe.
Thing is that doesn't exactly describe what supposedly it is
6500k, 470, 400, 450, 6500k, 470, 410, 3000k, 450, 470, 6500k, 450, 400, 470, 6500k

15.
GUESS and more than likely NOT CORRECT but a fun guess.
4@6500k (a)
4@470 (m)
3@450 ( l)
2@410 (j)
1@3000k (g)
1@400 ( k)

Including this link for me
Has 3 different fw "codes".
"A" looks to be 6500kbtw

BML light spectrum

Hi, I am planning to setup a planted non-CO2 community 450l tank (180cm x 50cm x 50cm), and I am looking for adequate light intensity and spectrum. After looking some websites and reading the threads here, I was impressed with the BML specs and it looks like the spectrum of their Dutch model...

barrreport.com

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Here is the serial number

 

[oreo54]

A = 6500K
B = 5700K
C = 5000K
D = 4500K
E = 4000
F = 3500K
G = 3000
H = 2700K

J = 405
K = 420
L = 450
M = 470
O = 505
P= 525
Q = 590
R = 615
S = 625
T = 660
U =730

450,470,450,K,470,6500k,450,405,450, 6500k,470,K,450,470,450

K is between 405 and 450 or 400?
6 Royal blue
4 Blue
2 6500k
1 405
2 420

Color. really blue w/ a tint of violet...

 

[Midrats]

I can confirm that the 18" models had no more diodes than the 12" at 15.

 

[oreo54]

I can confirm that the 18" models had no more diodes than the 12" at 15.

Yep originally 18" wasn't even available..

Custom LED Strip

Design It Yourself Custom LED Fixtures

web.archive.org

BTW for fun threw 405nm in for "K"
Opps found "K" = 420

 

[oreo54]

And then it was..
CORRECTED OP's light adding 420nm leds..

 

[Opus]

I've got some of their Radium dupes. I still use them on temporary set ups when I need to throw some lights on quick. They've been going strong for years, but aren't the adjustable model so I can't help you there. Too bad BML only serves horticulture anymore.

I was told they sold the company a few years after dropping out of the aquarium side. No idea who bought them. Before they sold you could still call them and get help/service on the aquarium lights. If I remember correctly they sold the bars as 10k, 14k or 20k equivalents. They also sold them for freshwater use. I really wanted to setup a larger freshwater tank back then to see what their lights could do for a planted tank.

 

[Bpb]

I was told they sold the company a few years after dropping out of the aquarium side. No idea who bought them. Before they sold you could still call them and get help/service on the aquarium lights. If I remember correctly they sold the bars as 10k, 14k or 20k equivalents. They also sold them for freshwater use. I really wanted to setup a larger freshwater tank back then to see what their lights could do for a planted tank.

I was crazy about those when they were in business. I agree they are still the best designed strip lights that have graced the hobby. I had two on my Dutch style planted tank, and two supplementing my radiums on the reef tank at the time

 

[oreo54]

BML to Fluence.. Fluence is then bought by Osram.. Osram eventually sells it to Signify...

StackPath

www.ledsmagazine.com

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I want to thank everyone for jumping in and helping out. I had no idea on what kind of light I had, it has been over 7 years since I purchased it and I never used it. I placed it on top of my AI Prime HD arm, my AI Primes HD are more of blue now because it is getting late. So these lights added more of a 12 or 14 K look to me.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

This is the AI Prime no BML

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Here is one more picture of the tag

 

[Opus]

Here is one more picture of the tagView attachment 3096750

It says custom so I guess you picked your own leds. I think I bought the 10k bars for my 75gal tank and added a couple of the reefbrite blue bars that I already had. They really worked well in that combo. Once the lenses started turning brown on mine I just replaced everything with a reefbreeders fixture which I also really like.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I purchased the two BML used, here is the light by itself,

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I could never be able to pick my own LED's I know people got really good at it so much so that the companies were coping there arraignments.