What does “retrofit“ mean?
Retrofit refers to the option of converting conventional T5/T8 tubes to the JBL LED SOLAR system. You can, without having to remove the aquarium cover or make any structural changes, simply "plug" the new LED into the old tube sockets for operation. Many cat owners are unable to operate an "open" aquarium and therefore need an aquarium cover. The aquarium surroundings also sometimes prevent an open installation. In such cases the retrofit installation is ideal.
What is the maximum aquarium height for which the JBL LED SOLAR range is designed?
The JBL LED SOLAR NATUR and EFFECT are for aquariums with a maximum length of 170 cm. The typical height is 60 or 70 cm. The PAR value, which is important for plants, and the amount of luminous flux in LUMEN both decrease with increasing water depth and with cloudiness and refraction at the water surface. You can see from the following measurements that at up to 70 cm water depth there is still enough nutritious light for your plants:
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Can I regulate two LED SOLAR NATUR or two LED SOLAR EFFECT with one controller unit?
No, this is not possible. The cable switch only offers space for one JBL LED SOLAR NATUR and one EFFECT.
Can I operate an LED SOLAR EFFECT unit on its own?
The operation of the LED SOLAR EFFECT on its own does not provide the lighting, which is absolutely necessary for fish and plants, in sufficient quantities. Due to the existing plug configuration, which has been selected for your safety, the LED SOLAR EFFECT must be operated together with a LED SOLAR NATUR. If you individually purchase the LED SOLAR EFFECT which is intended only as a supplement to the LED SOLAR NATUR, you will not have all the necessary accessories. This is why you only find the driver (power supply), the IR receiver and the remote control in the box of SOLAR LED NATURE. And that’s why the LED SOLAR EFFECT can only be operated in combination with the LED SOLAR NATUR.
Why doesn't the LED switch off immediately when used with the JBL SolarControl?
Whether for theme aquariums or in manual mode, whether for a lunch break or at sunrise or sunset, the LEDs always dim down slowly. This always provides your fish and plants with a natural light profile and also protects your LEDs and increases their lifetime.
Can I operate several LED SOLAR units with one remote control?
You can operate several IR receivers with one remote control. In doing so, the IR receiver needs to be mounted near or at the aquarium cabinet so that it can be reached unimpeded by the IR signals of the remote control. All remote controls work with the same wavelength. This enables you to operate all the receivers with just one remote control unit.
Can I connect two LED SOLAR NATUR units to just one power supply?
Unfortunately this is not possible - you will need two power supplies. One driver (power supply) has the capacity to connect one LED SOLAR NATUR and one LED SOLAR EFFECT, which together create an efficient and ideal aquarium lighting. If you need a high power light aquarium and have a particularly large number of plants, you can easily install another LED SOLAR NATUR with another driver, which is included with each LED SOLAR NATUR kit free of charge. The power supply cannot handle the power of two LED SOLAR NATUR units. Therefore, we strongly advise against the use of a home-made adapter.
How many dimming levels does the JBL LED SOLAR have?
When using the JBL LED SOLAR with the IR receiver, you have 8 dimming levels. The setting options with the JBL LED SOLAR CONTROL are varied and can be changed in the course of the day at programmed times.
Can the LED SOLAR be placed directly on a glass brace?
LEDs produce heat, which the metal heat sink on the back of the JBL LED SOLAR dissipates. In order to avoid unwanted discoloration on the protective glass, uneven illumination in the aquarium and heat problems on the LED, the LED SOLAR NATUR and EFFECT units should always be mounted at a distance of min. 1 cm to the material below (e.g. a glass brace). The brackets enclosed for installing them as a top assembly or the wire suspension mean that no direct contact is necessary. Installing a retrofit in the tube socket is likewise safe.
What happens if my LED light falls into the water?
The IP67 (IP68 for Gen 2) protection class ensures that you can even use the LED with closed covers and high humidity without damaging the luminaire. However, it must never be operated directly under water. Its protection class states that the luminaire is dustproof and protected during a temporary submersion. However, this does not mean that the LED may be operated submerged! You will also find a note on this in the manual. Should the LED accidentally fall into the water and be submerged, the IP67 (IP68 for Gen 2) protection class will serve as a protection for your personal safety against electrical accidents. In such cases, please unplug all the mains plugs first - do not reach for the LED immediately - and only then remove the device.
As long as the LED light is on, there is no problem with moisture under water. The resulting heat provides additional protection. If the lighting is switched off and cooled down, condensation can still form on the inside, as if glasses were fogging up. Please therefore install the LED light at a distance of at least 15mm from the highest water level. After an accidental submersion, you will need to have your LED inspected by the JBL Customer Service Team at the factory.
How do I clean the LED light bar?
Please disconnect the mains plug of the driver (power supply) for all maintenance work!
Do not use any hard items or aggressive cleaning agents for cleaning. Remove any limescale from the bottom of the light with a JBL WishWash cloth, moistened with JBL Clean A, once a week. If required, remove dust and other deposits from the top of the light with a lint-free dry cloth.
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How can the LEDSOLAR NATUR and EFFECT be installed?
There are only three ways to attach the JBL LED SOLAR NATUR and EFFECT units to an aquarium and none of these involve “simply” placing the LED on it.
1. Retrofitting: using the enclosed adapters, you fit them at both ends of the LED body and put it into the old tube sockets (T5/T8).
2. Top assembly: with the enclosed brackets, the LEDs can be safely positioned on the edge of the aquarium, without any danger of them falling in or being too close to the water surface.
3. Suspension: Using the LED SOLAR Hanging accessory, you can position your LED down hanging from the ceiling so that it hovers above the aquarium.
Can I use the controller unit with only one LED SOLAR NATUR?
Yes, this is possible. However, we recommend the combination of NATURE and EFFECT in theme aquariums to keep the setting as close to the biotope as possible. Without an EFFECT, the settings of the theme aquariums are adjusted accordingly. Operation without a SOLAR NATUR LED is not possible.
Do I need the acclimatisation mode at all?
We recommend you use the acclimatisation mode after switching to the JBL LED SOLAR technology. This applies in particular if you switch from a conventional T8/T5 tube technology or a very weak LED to this system. In contrast to many other systems, a JBL LED NATURE is sufficient to provide your entire aquarium with sufficient light and to encourage even demanding plants to grow vigorously. In short: it’s powerful! No matter which theme aquarium you’re using, you need to select the acclimatisation mode at the beginning, as this will make it easy for your plants to adjust from their previous illumination with fluorescent tubes to the much brighter light of the LED without any problems. Of course, any program can also be selected without acclimatisation.
How much lumen does my LED SOLAR NATURE have?
On the back of your packaging and in the instructions for use you will find a table that shows the lumen specification (at 4000 K) per product type. Unlike other LED types, the LED SOLAR NATUR mixes the light of cold white and warm white LED to produce the three possible Kelvin numbers. Maximum flexibility for your aquarium type. None of the LEDs runs at the maximum power of 100 %, thus ensuring a long lifetime. This makes it possible to generate lumen values that are almost always identical. The deviation between the 3 colour spaces is minimal.
