Orphek has just released the OR4, the newest version of its light bars. Since the OR3s, there have been many notable upgrades.
Key Features:
- Dimming: The OR4 now has programmable dimming out of the box without the need for an external controller. The bars utilize the iCon driver, which allows for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control via the app, and Orphek’s 10,000% dimming technology.
- Chips: The chips have been upgraded to 6W dual chips instead of the 5W of the OR3s. These chips are run at a maximum output of 2W to maximize performance and minimize loss of PAR over time.
- Reflector: The bar now features 70-degree reflectors that aid with spread.
- Build Quality: All bars are Ip67 certified and constructed with aluminum bodies and acrylic covers.
- Upgradability: Older light bars can now be upgraded to the iCon dim power supply.
- Ease of Programmability: While other apps can offer the ability to copy and paste templates between lights, ultimately, every company I am aware of forces you to control each fixture independently on its own channel. With the existing Osix controller, up to 6 Orphek devices can be connected and controlled via a single channel, which makes programming much less of a hassle.
Unit Size, Specs and Price: There are four distinct bar sizes that are offered
- OR4 iCon 60: 24 inches – 18 LED’s 30 watts = $165
- OR4 iCon 90: 36 inches – 24 LED’s 40 watts = $185
- OR4 iCon 120: 48 inches – 34 LED’s 60 watts = $205
- OR4 iCon 150: 60 inches – 42 LED’s 75 watts = $310
Available Spectrums:
- Blue Plus – 380-500 nm
- Blue sky – 440-500 nm
- UV/Violet – 360-440 nm
- Red Plus Grow & Refugium – 520-740 nm
- Freshwater Planted – 400-700 nm
The features I am most excited about:
Spectrum:
On my systems, I still run primarily T5s and metal halides to grow my coral since they offer full-spectrum lighting that few LEDs have been able to offer thus far on the market. When viewing the new OR4 bars, I was very happy to see six different spectrum options (data below), some of which have quite remarkable peaks compared to many LEDs on the market.
I am most interested in two spectra
- UV/Violet: this bar has new 390/400 nm diodes that begin emission at 360 nm – as far as I am aware, this LED goes deeper into the UVA range than any other one on the market. 365 nm is a range that some photopigments can absorb; thus, many users of narrower spectrum LEDs available on the market could likely experience faster growth or better coloration with lights that cover this range. Additionally, on this bar, because the 390 and 400 nm diodes are placed together on the dual-chip design, this results in a wider spectrum with a peak wavelength of 402.7 nm, which helps reduce spectral hotspots that single chip models typically face.
- Red Plus Grow & Refugium: While some studies have suggested that red light has a negative influence on coral, spectrographs of natural seawater at shallow depths show a significant amount of red and even far-red wavelengths having sufficient penetration to infer some coral species are exposed to these wavelengths in nature quite regularly. For some time, I have wanted to continue Dana Riddle’s style of experiments, expose different coral species to red and far-red light, and track the results. This bar provides a sound spectrum that could be used for such experiments.
Sun and Moon Synchronization:
While this feature is now a part of all Orphek products that utilize the iCon driver, this program has remarkable potential for coral spawning. For two reasons, Orphek claims that other LED companies have it wrong with their lunar schedules.
- Moonlight is full-spectrum and only appears blue; thus, any LED that only emits blue spectra for its lunar settings is missing the mark if it attempts to emulate nature.
- Natural moonlight registers at 0 PAR and thus does not initiate photosynthesis in corals. Many other companies have detectable (but low) PAR during their lunar schedules, which could lead to differences in coral spawning triggers.
Orphek’s solution to these issues is two-fold.
- They utilize more than just the blue spectra for the lunar cycle.
- Their 10,000% dimming technology (from 0.001% to 100%) allows for the lunar cycle to ebb and flow in the range of 0.001-1% of the lights’ output, keeping the PAR at 0. The lunar phase begins at 0.06% during a new moon and peaks at 1% at a full moon. This partitioning of the lunar phase to 0.001-1 % and the day phase from 1-100% allows for more precise control of PAR than any fixture I am currently aware of on the market.
Combined with the unique dimming technology, which could more accurately reflect natural lunar cycles, the app also allows you to set the lunar and solar cycle to any geographic location on the planet. This could benefit researchers or anyone interested in spawning coral by setting the time to the area where their corals were collected to ensure they spawn on the same cycle as they would in nature, allowing for more predictability over spawning events.
Overall, the new OR4 bars make many impressive claims. While I don’t doubt the data provided to me when I asked Orphek for official comment, I would like to independently verify these results and test the fixtures in the studio. I plan to include these bars in our upcoming light review and play with them for an extended period to give my honest impression of them. I am most interested in verifying the 360 nm emission of the 390 nm LEDs on the UV fixture.
What would you like to see in a review of the OR4?
The OR4 can be purchased here: https://shop.orphek.com/collections/all
Technical Details and Data:
Spectral Data and LED Layout:
PAR Map:
What’s Included
- Power supply
- Extension cord
- Waterproof connector
- Plug
- Hanging kit with 2 mounting brackets and 2 wire hanging and cable assembly
Cord and Hanging Kit Length
- Power cable from light to power box = 59”
- Power cord = 59”
- Steel hanging cable = 10.23”
Electrical:
