The second generation LED tubes from SunBrite are a 180 degree turnaround from the rocky start of SunBrite’s first LED lighting offering. After going back to the drawing table, the company has not only strongly shored up the tubular LED platform but they have also reinvented themselves as a company and the way they make their tubes. Whereas the first generation LED tube was a complete OEM with no heatsink, 5mm LEDs and a crummy power supply, calling the new handmade LED tube a second generation effort is a serious understatement. Sunbrite’s LED tubes are now made from components with five or six custom molds. The significant heatsink distributes over 10 grams of mass per watt of LED. These new tubes are using Cree-based, Edison and BridgeLux LEDs and the diodes are purchased without primary optics so SunBrite can apply their own, custom-designed primary optic with a native directivity of 60 degrees. Finally, all the diodes are hand-soldered to their PCB in SunBrite’s own factory where all the gen2 tubes are assembled in house. Perhaps the only downgrade from the original SunBrite LED tube is the lack of fine differences between color temperatures of the 5mm LEDs and the high powered one watters that are found in the Gen2. However, SunBrite makes up for it by offering a vast diversity of color combinations of lamps with white, blue, royal blue, red and UV LEDs. The even spread of a bank of these LED tubes rocking efficient primary optics makes for some respectably high PAR numbers which we will revisit in a subsequent post. In the meantime, more information about colors, sizing and pricing can be viewed on
SunBrite’s own webpage and be sure to follow the break for lots more pictures of the second generation LED tuebs from SunBrite LED.
Sunbrite UVA LED with emission peak at 370nm
Red LED for supporting strong "vegetative" growth
You can see the beam of the 60 degree primary optic against the plastic cover right over it.
original Sunbrite tube on the left, gen2 on the right
The custom made plastic endcap makes the Gen2 LED tube appear a lot more thought out in design. Original Sunbrite tube on the right, gen2 on the left
original Sunbrite tube on the left, gen2 on the right. The heatsink for the 24", 13 watt model on the right is 148 grams, versus none for the old 11 watter.
The LEDs of Sunbrite's second generation tubes are all hand-sodered. Notice the generous amount of solder gripping this diode to it's PCB.
Sunbrite LEDs are blessed with one of the first custom made primary optics with a native 60 degree directivity
Every part of the new gen2 LED tubes from SunBrite are serviceable. We can imagine a lot of DIY efforts getting thrown at this newly ruggedized format for LED lighting.
The power supply driver for the Gen2 LED tubes fits inside of the heatsink of the tube.
I can put together a 42 LED panel (3-5W Cree LEDs) for less than $200. Marineland wants $449.00 for the same setup using just 1W LEDs. 2.5 times more expensive for 60%+ less light. I think I'll stick with DIY. 
