Solis® High-Power LEDs for Microscopy


  • High-Power LEDs Designed for Microscopy Applications
  • Typical Collimated Output Powers from 570 mW to 7.1 W
  • Compatible with Thorlabs’ Port Adapters for Cerna®,
    Nikon, Olympus, Leica, and Zeiss Microscopes
  • Two Driver Options

SOLIS-1C

Cold White LED,
4.2 W Output Power (Typical)

 

Application Idea

A Solis® High-Power LED Installed on the Epi-Illuminator Module of a Cerna Modular Microscope

Related Items


Please Wait
Item #a Color
(Click for
Spectrumb)
Dominant
Wavelengthc
Typical
Collimated
Output Power
SOLIS-365C UV 365 nm 4.0 W
SOLIS-385C UV 385 nm 5.1 W
SOLIS-405C UV 405 nm 5.0 W
SOLIS-415C Violet 415 nm 7.0 W
SOLIS-445C Royal Blue 445 nm 7.1 W
SOLIS-470C Blue 470 nm 3.7 W
SOLIS-505C Cyan 505 nm 1.5 W
SOLIS-525C Green 525 nm 3.1 W
SOLIS-4C Lime 565 nm 6.1 W
SOLIS-590C Amber 590 nm 570 mW
SOLIS-595C Amber 595 nm 1.1 W
SOLIS-617C Orange 617 nm 2.4 W
SOLIS-623C Red 623 nm 4.8 W
SOLIS-660C Deep Red 660 nm 2.7 W
SOLIS-740C Far Red 740 nm 3.3 W
SOLIS-850C IR 850 nm 3.6 W
SOLIS-940C IR 940 nm 3.7 W
SOLIS-1C Cold White N/Ad 4.2 W
SOLIS-2C Warm White N/Ae 4.0 W
SOLIS-3C Day Light White N/Af 4.6 W
  • LED specifications are nominal values. See Specs tab for complete specifications.
  • A file with data for the LED spectra can be downloaded here.
  • For LEDs in the visible spectrum, the dominant wavelength indicates the wavelength at which the LED appears brightest to the human eye. For UV and IR LEDs, the dominant wavelength corresponds to the peak wavelength. The dominant wavelength for visible LEDs may not correspond to the peak wavelength as measured by a spectrograph.
  • This LED has a correlated color temperature of 6500 K.
  • This LED has a correlated color temperature of 3000 K.
  • This LED has a correlated color temperature of 5700 K.

Features

  • 20 Wavelengths Available (See the Table to the Right for Options)
  • Fanless Design Efficiently Dissipates Heat without Introducing Vibrations
  • Lightweight Package for Mounting Directly to Microscope Ports, Eliminating the Need for Liquid Light Guides (LLGs)
  • Collimated LED Output through Large Ø48.3 mm (1.90") Clear Aperture
  • Integrated Electronics Enable Smart Safety Features with Compatible Drivers
  • Compatible with Port Adapters for Use with Olympus, Nikon, Leica, Zeiss, and Cerna® Microscopes
    (Sold Separately Below)

Configure Your Solis® LED System

  • Solis LED Head
  • LED Driver (Choose One, Sold Separately) 
    • DC20 Plug-and-Play Driver with External TTL Input
    • DC2200 Touchscreen Driver with Advanced Modulation Functions
  • One Microscope Port Adapter (See Table Below for Compatibility Information)

Thorlabs' Solis LEDs for microscopy deliver several watts of total output power from a lightweight, vibration-free package. They provide high-power illumination that can be coupled directly to the epi-illumination path on a microscope. Light from the LED is collimated through a large Ø48.3 mm aperture that can be attached via an adapter (available separately below) to the epi-illumination paths of many industry-standard microscopes from Olympus, Nikon, Leica, and Zeiss as well as the six-cube epi-illumination path available on many of Thorlabs' Cerna Microscopes. To install, select one of Thorlabs' microscope port adapters (available separately below), screw it onto the end of the housing, and secure the LED to a compatible microscope. Each Solis LED includes a user-installable diffuser plate (Item # DG20-1500), which can be used to make the output profile of the LED more uniform, and can help to provide even illumination at the sample plane.

The lightweight design features passive cooling instead of an internal fan in order to eliminate vibrations that normally degrade image quality in a microscopy setup. Each LED is mounted to a heatsink inside of a 127.8 mm x 127.8 mm x 162.0 mm vented housing to efficiently dissipate heat. As an added level of protection, the integrated internal memory is programmed to trigger an automatic shutdown if the LED internal temperature reaches 95 °C, preventing damage from overheating. The LED will restart after it has cooled to a temperature below 95 °C. For more Solis LED performance information when using Solis LEDs, please see the Performance tab.

Solis LED Drivers
Click to Enlarge

Thorlabs offers two options for powering a Solis® LED: the plug-and-play DC20 driver (left) and the touchscreen DC2200 driver (right).

Solis LED Drivers
We offer two driver options for our Solis LEDs. The DC20 Plug-and-Play Solis LED Driver (available separately below) features a knob that provides LED current control and functions as an LED On/Off switch as well as a BNC input for external TTL modulation signals.

The DC2200 Touchscreen LED Driver (available separately below) has an intuitive, touchscreen interface that supports both basic current control and more advanced modulation functions for the Solis LED head. For example, this driver allows the LED output power to be set at a fraction of the maximum desired brightness, and it control the LED drive current. For users that require modulation control, the driver integrates both internal and external modulation and pulsed modes. Internal modulation modes include settings for sine, square, and triangle waveforms as well as ways to generate rectangular pulse trains. External modulation modes allow this driver to accept an arbitrary waveform from a function generation or external TTL signals for syncing on/off states with other lab equipment.

Both drivers automatically read and set the current limit from the Solis LED's internal memory to protect against overdriven currents. A comparison of the two drivers is provided on the Solis LED Drivers tab.

Item #a Info Color
(Click for
Spectrumb)
Dominant
Wavelengthc
Minimum
Collimated
Output Powerd
Typical
Collimated
Output Powerd
Max
Current
(CW)
Max
Forward
Voltage
Bandwidth
(FWHM)
Emitter
Size
Collimating
Optics
(Installed)
Typical
Lifetime
SOLIS-365C info UV 365 nm 3.0 W 4.0 W 4500 mA 4.0 V 10 nm 2 mm x 2 mm LB1723-A
ACL25416U-A
>12 000 h
SOLIS-385C info UV 385 nm 4.0 W 5.1 W 4500 mA 4.0 V 12 nm 2 mm x 2 mm >29 000 h
SOLIS-405C info UV 405 nm 5.0 W 3.9 W 4500 mA 4.0 V 12 nm 2 mm x 2 mm >40 000 h
SOLIS-415C info Violet 415 nm 5.8 W 7.0 W 2000 mA 14.0 V 14 nm 3.5 mm x 3.5 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-445C info Royal Blue 445 nm 5.4 W 7.1 W 9000 mA 3.8 V 23 nm Ø3 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-470C info Blue 470 nm 3.0 W 3.7 W 4000 mA 8.0 V 34 nm 2.8 mm x 2.8 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-505C info Cyan 505 nm 1.0 W 1.5 W 4000 mA 6.5 V 42 nm 2.8 mm x 2.8 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-525C info Green 525 nm 2.4 W 3.1 W 9000 mA 5.0 V 32 nm Ø3 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-4C info Lime 565 nm 3.2 W 6.1 W 10 000 mA 4.3 V 100 nm 2.6 mm x 3.2 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-590C info Amber 590 nm 350 mW 570 mW 1000 mA 12.5 V 16.5 nm 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-595C info Amber 595 nm 700 mW 1.1 W 700 mA 14.0 V 77 nm 2.8 mm x 2.8 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-617C info Orange 617 nm 1.5 W 2.4 W 10 000 mA 4.0 V 17 nm 2.6 x 3.2 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-623C info Red 623 nm 3.8 W 4.8 W 9000 mA 4.8 V 17 nm 3 mm x 3 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-660C info Deep Red 660 nm 2.0 W 2.7 W 1000 mA 12.5 V 21 nm 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-740C info Red 740 nm 2.0 W 3.3 W 1500 mA 13.4 V 45 nm 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm LB1723-B
ACL25416U-B
>10 000 h
SOLIS-850C info IR 850 nm 2.7 W 3.6 W 1000 mA 13.8 V 39 nm Ø6.5 mme >40 000 h
SOLIS-940C info IR 940 nm 2.5 W 3.7 W 2000 mA 7.5 V 55 nm 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm >10 000 h
SOLIS-1C info Cold White N/Af 3.3 W 4.2 W 9000 mA 3.5 V N/A 3 mm x 3 mm LB1723-A
ACL25416U-A
>10 000 h
SOLIS-2C info Warm White N/Ag 3.2 W 4.0 W 1500 mA 12.5 V N/A 5 mm x 5 mm >100 000 h
SOLIS-3C info Day Light White N/Ah 3.5 W 4.6 W 10 000 mA 3.5 V N/A Ø4.25 mm >10 000 h
  • LED specifications are nominal values.
  • A file with the LED spectral data can be downloaded here.
  • For LEDs in the visible spectrum, the dominant wavelength indicates the wavelength at which the LED appears brightest to the human eye. For UV and IR LEDs, the dominant wavelength corresponds to the peak wavelength. The dominant wavelength for visible LEDs may not correspond to the peak wavelength as measured by a spectrograph.
  • Measured at the Max Current (CW). The LED output power can be decreased by lowering the current supplied to the LED.
  • This LED is comprised of four emitters with a lens of the specified diameter.
  • This LED has a correlated color temperature of 6500 K.
  • This LED has a correlated color temperature of 3000 K.
  • This LED has a correlated color temperature of 5700 K.
Scaled SOLIS Spectra
Click to Enlarge

A comparison of the typical collimated output for a Solis LED. The actual spectra will vary from LED to LED within specifications.
General Specifications
Clear Aperture Ø48.3 mm (Ø1.90")
Weight 1 kg
Dimensions 127.8 mm x 127.8 mm x 162 mm
(5.03" x 5.03" x 6.38")
Operating Temperature (Non-Condensing) 0 to 40 °C
Storage Temperature -40 to 70 °C
Internal Temperature to Trigger Automatic Shut Off 95 °C
Diffuser (Included) DG20-1500
Two Retaining Rings (Included) SM2RR

LED Output Power
The actual spectral output and total output power of any given LED will vary due to variations in the manufacturing process and operating parameters, such as temperature and current. Both a typical and minimum output power are specified to help you select an LED that suits your needs. Each Solis® high-power LED will provide at least the minimum specified output power at the maximum current. In order to provide a point of comparison for the relative powers of LEDs with different nominal wavelengths, the spectra in the plot to the right have been scaled to the typical collimated output power for each LED. The intensities shown in this graph are representative, not absolute. An Excel file with normalized and scaled spectra for all of the mounted high-power LEDs can be downloaded here.


Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
The output power remains stable over a 24-hour period. Small dips in the curve are due to slight variations in climate condition (±2 °C).

Click to Enlarge
Shown are the SOLIS-1C, SOLIS-2C, and SOLIS-3C LED spectra scaled to typical power. The region in blue indicates a drop in the spectral flux. The SOLIS-3C provides significantly more power for applications that require strong illumination at these wavelengths, such as excitation of GFPs.

Stability at Elevated Room Temperatures

The thermal dissipation performance of these Solis® LEDs has been optimized for stable power output. The heat sink is directly mounted to the LED mount so as to provide optimal thermal contact, prolonging the life of the diode by keeping the junction temperature at the lowest possible minimum.

One characteristic of LEDs is that they naturally exhibit power degradation with time. Often this power degradation is slow, but there are also instances where large, rapid drops in power, or even complete LED failure, occur. LED lifetimes are defined as the time it takes a specified percentage of a type of LED to fall below some power level. The parameters for the lifetime measurement can be written using the notation BXX/LYY, where XX is the percentage of that type of LED that will provide less than YY percent of the specified output power after the lifetime has elapsed. Thorlabs defines the lifetime of our LEDs as B50/L50, meaning 50% of the LEDs with a given Item # will fall below 50% of the initial optical power at the end of the specified lifetime. For example, if a batch of 100 LEDs is rated for 4000 mW of output power, 50 of these LEDs can be expected to produce an output power of ≥2000 mW after the specified LED lifetime has elapsed.

Solis LEDs can be operated at room temperatures from 0 to 40 °C. An elevated room temperature can be useful if a sample and microscope needs to be maintained at such temperatures for experiments. The graph at the right shows measurements of the output power for a SOLIS-3C LED at 40 °C over a period of 24 hours; the output power remains stable after the initial warm-up period.

Increased Power for Light-Excited Fluorophores

The Solis LED light sources are designed for use in fluorescence microscopy, such as GFP or GFP-derived fluorescent protein imaging. Thorlabs offers LEDs for specific wavelengths as well as white LEDs that cover the entire visible light spectrum. SOLIS-1C, SOLIS-2C, and SOLIS-3C white LEDs provide high-power excitation light for many fluorophores. However, the output power is not the same at every wavelength, as seen in the graph to the right. Most LEDs exhibit a drop in output power from 470 nm to 520 nm. While most imaging applications are unaffected, other light-sensitive applications may require more power in this region.

With a constant output power from 450 nm to 650 nm, the SOLIS-3C LED offers significantly more power in this region compared to the SOLIS-1C and SOLIS-2C LEDs. To demonstrate this, we measured the irradiance of the SOLIS-1C and SOLIS-3C LEDs by placing a FB480-10 480 nm bandpass filter in front of an S120VC detector at a distance 200 mm on-axis from the LEDs. The irradiance of the SOLIS-1C and SOLIS-3C LEDs with the filter were 38 µW/mm2 and 45 µW/mm2, respectively. Thus, when compared to the SOLIS-1C, the SOLIS-3C is most beneficial when higher power is needed in this wavelength range. Note that these irradiance values are not representative of the irradiance across the whole spectrum, but rather from 470 nm to 490 nm.

Solis® LED Pin Diagram

Solis Connector
Male 12 Pin Neutrik MiniCON Connector
Pin Connection
1 LED Cathode
2 LED Cathode
3 Not Used
4 LED Anode
5 LED Anode
6 LED Anode
7 LED Anode
8 LED Cathode
9 LED Cathode
10 Not Used
11 EEPROM (Data) I/O
12 EEPROM (Data) Ground

Do-It-Yourself Mounting Options

While the Solis® LEDs are designed to mount easily to a microscope port, they can also be mounted to an optical table or breadboard. A 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped hole is provided at each corner on the back of the housing for custom mounting applications. The front aperture is internally SM2 threaded (2.035"-40), which provides compatibility with Thorlabs' SM2 Lens Tubes and 60 mm Cage Systems.

Below are two examples of how a Solis LED can be mounted to an optical table. The top photo shows a Solis LED mounted using a cage plate and Ø1" post. The bottom photo shows a Solis LED mounted using a Ø2" lens tube, lens tube slip rings, Ø1/2" posts, and Ø1/2" post holders. Please refer to the tables to the left for a list of components in each mounting setup.

High-Power LED
Click to Enlarge

The SOLIS-1C shown mounted to an optical table using the SM2T2 adapter, a LCP01 60 mm cage plate, and a Ø1" post.
Cage Plate Mounting
Description Imperial Item # Metric Item # Quantity
Solis® LED for Microscopy See Below for Options 1
SM2 (2.035"-40) Coupler, External Threads SM2T2 1
60 mm Threaded Cage Plate, 0.5" Thick (Two SM2RR Retaining Rings Included) LCP01 LCP01/M 1
Ø1" Pedestal Pillar Post, 8-32 (M4) Taps Ø1" Post
(RS1.5P8E Shown)
Ø25.0 mm Post 1
Clamping Fork, 1/4"-20 (M6) Captive Screw CF125C or CF175C CF125C/M or CF175C/M 1
Lens Tube Mounting
Description Imperial Item # Metric Item # Quantity
Solis® LED for Microscopy See Below for Options 1
SM2 (2.035"-40) Lens Tube SM2L15 1
Ø2.20" SM2 Slip Rings, 8-32 (M4) Tap SM2RC SM2RC/M 2
Ø1/2" Post, 8-32 (M4) Setscrew Ø1/2" Post Ø1/2" Post 2
Ø1/2" Post Holder Ø1/2" Post Holder Ø1/2" Post Holder 2
Post Holder Base BA2 BA2/M 1
Scaled SOLIS Spectra
Click to Enlarge

The SOLIS-1C shown mounted to an optical table using an SM2L15 lens tube, two SM2RC lens tube mounts, two Ø1/2" posts, and one BA2 post holder base.
Components for Cerna® Compatibility
Epi-Illumination
CSE2100 or CSE2200 Epi-Illuminator Module with Turret for Six Filter Sets
SM2A56 Dovetail Adapter
Click to Enlarge
Once locked into place, the LED requires no additional support.
Click to Enlarge
An exploded view of the Solis® LED and its connection with the CSE2100 epi-illuminator module.

Using Solis® in Cerna® Microscope Systems

Solis® LEDs, which can have either narrowband or broadband spectra, are useful for a range of applications within Thorlabs' Cerna microscopy platform:

  • Fluorescence Microscopy
  • Reflected Light Microscopy
  • Near Infrared/Infrared (NIR/IR) Microscopy

They are recommended as epi-illumination sources for a Cerna microscope, and can be used with the CSE2100 or CSE2200 Epi-Illuminator Modules.

Mounting a Solis LED onto an epi-illuminator module requires an externally SM2 (2.035"-40) threaded adapter with a male D3T dovetail (Item # SM2A56). First, thread the adapter securely onto the Solis LED. The adapter utilizes the dovetail to attach to the epi-illuminator module; simply insert the adapter and LED into the back of the module, then secure the dovetail with the side setscrew using a 5/64" (2mm) hex key. See the figures to the right for details, and the epi-illuminator module web presentation for additional information about microscope dovetail connections.

Please contact Technical Support to use a Solis LED in a trans-illumination configuration.

Thorlabs offers two options for driving our Solis® LEDs. The DC20 is a basic option that allows users to control the intensity of their LED using a control knob on the top or via an external TTL signal for modulation. For more advanced applications, our DC2200 drivers provides a touchscreen interface that allows users to control the LED current, select internal or external modulation modes, and more. The table below provides a comparison of key controller features.

Solis® LED Driver Selection Guide
Item # DC20 DC2200
Photo (Click to Enlarge) Solis LED Driver DC2200 LED Driver
LED Current / Forward Voltage (Max) 1 to 10 A / 5.0 to 14.0 Va 1.0 A / 50.0 Vb
2.0 A / 35.0 Vb
4.0 A / 15.0 Vb
5.0 A / 10.0 Vb
10.0 A / 5.0 Vb
Noise and Ripple
(1 Hz to 10 MHz, RMS, Typical)
<400 µA <100 µA from 0.0 to 4.0 A
<200 µA from 4.0 to 10.0 A
Internal Modulation Modes - 0.1 Hz to 20 kHz (PWMc Mode)
1 µs to 10 s On or Off Time (Pulse Mode)
20 Hz to 100 kHz (Internal Modulation Mode
with Sine, Square, Triangle Waveforms)
External Modulation
(Arbitrary Waveform)
- DC - 250 kHz
[Small Signal Bandwidth (Sine)]d
TTL Modulation (External) DC to 1 kHz (Square Wave, PWMc) DC to ≥18 kHze
LED Control Interface Knob to Control LED Current,
BNC Port for TTL Modulation
Easy-to-Navigate Touchscreen Interface,
Brightness and Constant Current Operating Modes,
Internal and External Modulation Modes,
SMA Port for External Modulation Accepts
TTL Signal or Waveform from a Function Generator,
USB Interface for Remote Control
Current Limit Automatically Read and Set from the Solis LED's Internal Memory to Protect the LED from Overdriving
External Software Interface No DC2200 GUI
Other Compatible LEDs - Mounted
Collimated
Fiber Coupled
MCPCB Mountedf
  • The maximum LED current and forward voltage are dependent on each other: the DC20 cannot drive an LED with a 14 V forward voltage at 10 A. The DC20 is compatible with all Solis LEDs and will automatically select the appropriate current/voltage combination for the connected Solis LED.
  • For Solis LEDs connected using Terminal 1. The DC2200 can also be used to drive Thorlabs' mounted, collimated and fiber-coupled LEDs, which use a separate terminal and are subject to different current and voltage limitations. See the complete web presentation for details.
  • PWM = Pulse Width Modulation
  • Small Signal Bandwidth: Modulation not exceeding 20% of full scale current. The driver accepts other waveforms, but the maximum frequency will be reduced.
  • Given for an output current at "High" TTL level not exceeding 10% of the selected current range limit.
  • Requires the CAB-LEDD1 cable.

Software for the DC2200 Driver

The available software can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Software

Software Version 1.0 (July 31, 2015)
Firmware Version 1.3.0 (August 26, 2020)

GUI software, firmware, and firmware upgrade wizard downloads for the DC2200.

Software Download

Posted Comments:
Satheesh Kumar  (posted 2020-11-07 11:15:50.61)
Hi, I am interested to buy SOLIS 445 C LED. My requirement is 75 mm collimated Spot diameter. Is it possible to make this possible using any external optics like expander etc... What if the power if we measure 50 mm from the top surface of my sample? Is it possible to combine 445, 525 and 623 SOLIS LEDs using combiner with collimated o/p of 75 mm diameter?
wskopalik  (posted 2020-11-10 10:06:11.0)
Dear Satheesh, Thank you very much for your inquiry! I will contact you directly so we can find a good solution for your application.
Simon Meaney  (posted 2020-03-05 22:25:33.147)
Do you have any available data on the rise and fall times of SOLIS LED's using the DC2200 driver? I'm interested in the white LED's (SOLIS-3C as an example), I assume these are phosphor coated? How do these times compare to a narrowband SOLIS LED (SOLIS-623C as an example)? Thanks
nreusch  (posted 2020-03-09 04:49:54.0)
This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! While we do not explicitly specify rise times for our SOLIS LEDs, we can provide some data on what you can expect. When combining DC2200 with any SOLIS LED, the driver electronics will limit the rise time. The external modulation mode of DC2200 allows up to 250 kHz, which leads to a period of 4 µs. Depending on the exact LED and operation settings (e.g. modulation with 50% of max current or 100% of max current), we measured rise times in the 1-2 µs range for our broadband SOLIS LEDs, which is comparable to what you could expect with the electronic limitations of the DC2200 modulation. Even though LEDs with narrower spectral intensity distribution will have a shorter rise time, you will not be able to make use of these shorter life times with our drivers. We will contact you directly to provide some data.
per-olof.larsson  (posted 2019-02-20 09:40:54.993)
1. I presently have a 100 W short arc mercury lamp (Osram HBO) on my Nikon Eclipse 400 microscope. It is not optimal for delivering light in the 450-500 nm region. Will your Solis-470C make a better job? How much better? How can I find out the difference? Literature reference? Diagrams? I really need a high light output. 2. Can I easily attach the Solis to my microscope ? 3. With the DC 2200 driver the light can be modulated. I probably want to use it in e.g. 1 ms flashes spaced 100 ms - 1 s apart. I suppose that is possible? Have short flashes a "square profile", i.e. is the rise time and descent time very short? 4. Can I coordinate the flashes with the exposure by my Andor DU-897 camera? Thanks in advance - Best, P-O L
wskopalik  (posted 2019-02-26 07:20:37.0)
This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! I will answer your questions one by one: 1. The SOLIS-470C has a typical output power of 3.7 W with a dominant wavelength of 470 nm. So it emits most of its power in the spectral range you need. The Osram HBO lamps emit light in a wider spectral range and also emit the light in all directions. So it is unfortunately hard to compare the two light sources without further information about the HBO lamp and the way it is used in the microscope. 2. We offer the adapter SM2A17 to mount the SOLIS LEDs to Nikon Eclipse microscopes. 3. Modulations like this are possible on the DC2200. You can use the "Pulse Mode" to generate pulses with on and off times between 1 µs - 10 s. Rise and fall times are typically in the µs range. So for pulses of 1 ms you can assume a square profile. 4. The DC2200 has an external modulation input. So you could e.g. synchronize the DC2200 and your camera with an additional external pulse or signal generator. I will contact you directly so we can talk about the open questions.
russoblanc  (posted 2018-07-12 14:13:24.58)
Hello, I have an Olympus BX51WI microscope equipped with a conventional fluorescence source (mercury lamp). I would like to change to a LED based light source. Has the Solis-3C enough power to excite GFP and tdTomato in living slices of the brain? Can I adjust the power finely to apply the proper level of excitation without bleaching a fluorophore? I´m also interested in a compressor for vibration isolation tables. Your makes 30db noise at 1 m....is that comparable to the noise a fridge makes? Can this compressor feed several vibration isolation tables? I currently have two. Thank you very much. Best, Raul
swick  (posted 2018-07-19 05:19:01.0)
This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. The Solis-Series could be driven with the LED driver DC2200. At the LED driver it is possible to precisely adjust the electrical current so, yes, it is possible to adjust the optical power. If the optical power will be sufficient to excite GFP and tdTomato depends on the optical setup. Basically the optical power from the Solis-Series should be sufficient for such applications. The compressor only runs when the vessel becomes too empty to fill the table, so it is only going to run every couple of days for a few 10s of seconds depending on how much the table get moved. You can run 2 tables per compressor, but will need a pressure regulator (PTA013) for each table, after the compressor.
philipp.leippe  (posted 2018-06-14 19:49:07.193)
Will the adapter SLSLLG3 couple the SOLIS efficiently to a 5mm LLG?
nreusch  (posted 2018-06-20 09:39:28.0)
This is a response from Nicola at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry! In order to achieve an efficient coupling, the NA of lens and LLG need to be chosen carefully. For the SOLIS series, however, it is also important that heat can be dissipated efficiently. We performed some tests showing that the SLSLLG3 might not be the best choice for our SOLIS LEDs, because it does not allow for sufficient air circulation. I will contact you directly for further assistance.
pchiang5  (posted 2017-08-28 16:59:43.2)
Hello, I would like to install the LED light source on my axiovert 135. However, I do not have the illumination adapter (connecting tube between light house and filter holder) on the microscope. Is it possible to use your Lens Tubes instead? if yes, could you provide a specific combination of part number for the purpose? please see below for the information of the illumination adapter: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/11/Axiovert_100_135_135M.pdf Thanks
swick  (posted 2017-08-30 03:10:08.0)
This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. I will contact you directly for assistance.
massimo.baroncini  (posted 2017-07-08 00:37:14.977)
Is it possible to couple a SOLIS LED with an optical fiber to make a high power fiber coupled led?
swick  (posted 2017-07-12 03:20:05.0)
This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. In general it is possible to attach optical fibers or liquid light guides to our Solis-Series via the SM2-thread at the output aperture. The optical power which can be coupled into the fiber this way, would be less than what our standard fiber-coupled LEDs (MxxxFx-Series) provide. I have contacted you directly for assistance.
james.a.strother  (posted 2017-05-17 16:19:05.607)
Would it be possible to put together a Solis LED with a wavelength closer to 470nm? The 445nm offering is a bit too blue-shifted for the two most common fluorophores, GFP and Alexa Fluor 488. Osram makes a high power 460nm LED that would be much better.
swick  (posted 2017-05-19 03:04:35.0)
This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the feedback. I will contact you directly for discussing the LED you have mentioned.
wandner  (posted 2017-05-04 12:06:58.73)
Dear Sir / Madam, are there Solis High Power LEDs available with a wavelength at about 740 nm? Best regards, Karl Wandner
swick  (posted 2017-05-08 03:35:05.0)
This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. At the time we do not offer Solis High Power LEDs near to 740nm. I will contact you directly to discuss alternative solutions.
peh1  (posted 2017-02-21 19:36:51.57)
dear hornet, i bought E3633A 200W Power Supply, 8V, 20A or 20V, 10A from keysight
tfrisch  (posted 2017-02-24 09:32:56.0)
Hello, thank you for your feedback. While we have not used this supply, we appreciate your leaving a recommendation for other customers who need a solution before our coming release
s.m.hornett  (posted 2017-01-04 10:18:50.54)
Is it possible to supply a cheap on/off power supply for these LED's?
swick  (posted 2017-01-05 04:26:29.0)
This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for the inquiry. We will release a lower priced LED driver for the Solis-Series in the near future. I will contact you directly to provide further information.
reynolds.gw.2  (posted 2016-11-09 09:02:44.617)
Hi, Can you offer a Solis High power LED at the 700 (ish) nm wavelength? Thanks, Geoff
wskopalik  (posted 2016-11-14 11:12:13.0)
This is a response from Wolfgang at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry! We will evaluate if a SOLIS LED at this wavelength can be customized. I have already contacted you directly to further discuss your requirements.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Selection Guide
(Click
Representative
Photo to Enlarge;
Not to Scale)
Wavelength Unmounted
LEDs
Pigtailed LEDs LEDs in
SMT Packages
PCB-
Mounted LEDs
Heatsink-
Mounted LEDs
Collimated LEDs for Microscopy
(Item # Prefixa)
Fiber-
Coupled LEDs
b
High-Power LEDs for Microsocopy Multi-Wavelength
LED Source
Optionsc
LED Arrays
Single Color LEDs
250 nm LED250J
(1 mW Min)
- - - - - - - - -
255 nm LED255W
(0.4 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED255J
(1 mW Min)
260 nm LED260W
(1 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED260J
(1 mW Min)
265 nm LED265W2
(1.6 mW)
- - M265D2
(10 mW Min)
M265L3
(10 mW Min)
- - - - -
M265D3
(24 mW Min)
M265L4
(24 mW Min)
275 nm LED275W
(1.6 mW)
- - M275D2
(45 mW Min)
M275L4
(45 mW Min)
- - - - -
LED275J
(1 mW Min)
280 nm LED280J
(1 mW Min)
- - - - - - - - -
LED280W
(2.3 mW)
285 nm LED285W
(1.6 mW)
- - M285D3
(50 mW Min)
M285L5
(50 mW Min)
- M285F4
(420 µW)
- - -
290 nm LED290W
(1.6 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
295 nm LED295W
(1.2 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
300 nm LED300W
(1.2 mW)
- - M300D3
(26 mW Min)
M300L4
(26 mW Min)
- M300F2
(320 µW)
- - -
310 nm LED310W
(1.5 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED315W
(1 mW)
325 nm LED325W2
(1.7 mW)
- - M325D3
(25 mW Min)
M325L5
(25 mW Min)
- M325F4
(260 µW)
- - -
340 nm LED340W
(1.7 mW)
- - M340D3
(53 mW Min)
M340L4
(53 mW Min)
- M340F3
(1.06 mW)
- - -
LED341W
(0.33 mW)
365 nm - - - M365D1
(190 mW Min)
M365L2
(190 mW Min)
M365L2
(60 mW)d
M365F1
(4.1 mW)
SOLIS-365C
(3.0 W)e
Chrolis
(1130 mW)
LIU365A
(31 mW)
M365L3
(880 mW Min)
M365D2
(1150 mW Min)
M365LP1
(1350 mW Min)
M365LP1
(350 mW)d
M365FP1
(15.5 mW)
4-Wavelength
Source
(85 mW)
375 nm LED375L
(1 mW)
- - M375D4
(1270 mW Min)
M375L4
(1270 mW Min)
- M375F2
(4.23 mW)
- - -
LED370E
(2.5 mW)
385 nm LED385L
(5 mW)
- - M385D1
(270 mW Min)
M385L2
(270 mW Min)
M385L2
(90 mW)d
M385F1
(10.7 mW)
SOLIS-385C
(5.8 W)e
Chrolis
(1250 mW)
-
M385L3
(1240 mW Min)
M385L3
(450 mW)d
M385D2
(1650 mW Min)
M385LP1
(1650 mW Min)
M385LP1
(520 mW)d
M385FP1
(23.2 mW)
4-Wavelength
Source
(95 mW)
395 nm LED395L
(6 mW)
- - M395D3
(400 mW Min)
M395L4
(400 mW Min)
- M395F3
(6.8 mW)
- - -
M395D4
(1420 mW Min)
M395L5
(1130 mW Min)
M395FP1
(20.1 mW)
M395LP1
(1420 mW Min)
Wavelength Unmounted
LEDs
Pigtailed LEDs LEDs in
SMT Packages
PCB-
Mounted LEDs
Heatsink-
Mounted LEDs
Collimated LEDs
for Microscopy

(Item # Prefixa)
Fiber-
Coupled LEDs
b
High-Power LEDs
for Microsocopy
Multi-Wavelength
LED Source
Optionsc
LED Arrays
Single Color LEDs
405 nm LED405L
(6 mW)
- - M405D2
(1500 mW Min)
M405L4
(1000 mW Min)
M405L3
(440 mW)d
M405F1
(3.7 mW)
SOLIS-405C
(3.9 W)e
Chrolis
(900 mW)
-
M405L4
(510 mW)f
4-Wavelength
Source

(290 mW)
LED405E
(10 mW)
M405LP1
(1200 mW Min)
M405LP1
(450 mW)d
M405FP1
(24.3 mW)
415 nm - - - M415D2
(1640 mW Min)
M415L4
(1310 mW Min)
- M415F3
(21.3 mW)
SOLIS-415C
(5.8 W)e
- -
M415LP1
(1640 mW Min)
420 nm - - - - - - - - Chrolis
(710 mW)
-
4-Wavelength
Source
(95 mW)
430 nm LED430L
(8 mW)
- - M430D2
(490 mW Min)
M430L4
(490 mW Min)
- - - - -
445 nm - - - - - - - SOLIS-445C
(5.4 W)e
- -
450 nm LED450L
(7 mW)
- LEDS450
(250 mW)
M450D3
(1850 mW Min)
M450LP1
(1850 mW Min)
- - - - -
455 nm - - - M455D3
(1150 mW Min)
M455L4
(1150 mW Min)
M455L3
(400 mW)g
M455F3
(24.5 mW)
- 4-Wavelength
Source
(310 mW)
-
M455L4
(490 mW)d
465 nm LED465E
(20 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
470 nm LED470L
(170 mW)
EP470S04
(18 mW Min)
- M470D2
(650 mW Min)
M470L4
(760 mW Min)
M470L4
(330 mW)d
M470F3
(17.2 mW)
SOLIS-470C
(3.0 W)e
4-Wavelength
Source
(250 mW)
LIU470A
(253 mW)
EP470S10
(100 mW Min)
M470D3
(760 mW Min)
475 nm - - - - - - - - Chrolis
(630 mW)
-
490 nm LED490L(3 mW) - - M490D3
(205 mW Min)
M490L4
(205 mW Min)
- M490F3
(2.3 mW)
- Chrolis
(120 mW)
-
4-Wavelength
Source
(50 mW)
505 nm LED505L
(4 mW)
- - M505D2
(400 mW Min)
M505L4
(400 mW Min)
M505L3
(150 mW)g
M505F3
(11.7 mW)
SOLIS-505C
(1.0 W)e
4-Wavelength
Source
(170 mW)
-
M505D3
(400 mW Min)
M505L4
(170 mW)d
525 nm LED525E
(2.6 mW Max)
- - - - - - SOLIS-525C
(2.4 W)e
Chrolis
(180 mW)
LIU525A
(111 mW)
LED525L
(4 mW)
LED528EHP
(7 mW)
530 nm - - - M530D3
(370 mW Min)
M530L4
(370 mW Min)
M530L3
(150 mW)g
M530F2
(6.8 mW)
- 4-Wavelength
Source
(100 mW)
-
M530L4
(160 mW)d
554 nm - - - MINTD3
(650 mW Min)
MINTL5
(650 mW Min)
- MINTF4
(21 mW Min)
- - -
565 nm - - - M565D2
(880 mW Min)
M565L3
(880 mW Min)
- M565F3
(13.5 mW)
SOLIS-4C
(3.2 W)e
Chrolis
(350 mW)
-
4-Wavelength
Source
(106 mW)
570 nm LED570L
(0.3 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
590 nm LED590L
(2 mW)
EP590S04
(3.5 mW Min)
- M590D3
(230 mW Min)
M590L4
(230 mW Min)
M590L3
(60 mW)d
M590F3
(4.6 mW)
SOLIS-590C
(350 mW)e
Chrolis
(140 mW)
LIU590A
(109 mW)
LED591E
(2 mW)
EP590S10
(18 mW Min)
M590L4
(100 mW)d
4-Wavelength
Source
(65 mW)
595 nm - - - M595D3
(820 mW Min)
M595L4
(820 mW Min)
- M595F2
(8.7 mW)
SOLIS-595C
(700 mW)e
- -
Wavelength Unmounted
LEDs
Pigtailed LEDs LEDs in
SMT Packages
PCB-
Mounted LEDs
Heatsink-
Mounted LEDs
Collimated LEDs
for Microscopy

(Item # Prefixa)
Fiber-
Coupled LEDs
b
High-Power LEDs
for Microsocopy
Multi-Wavelength
LED Source
Optionsc
LED Arrays
Single Color LEDs
600 nm LED600L
(3 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
610 nm LED610L
(8 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
617 nm - - - M617D2
(600 mW Min)
M617L3
(600 mW Min)
M617L3
(230 mW)d
M617F2
(10.2 mW)
SOLIS-617C
(1.5 mW)e
4-Wavelength
Source
(210 mW)
-
M617D3
(660 mW Min)
M617L4
(660 mW Min)
M617L4
(280 mW)d
623 nm - - - - - - - SOLIS-623C
(3.8 W)e
- -
625 nm LED625L
(12 mW)
- - M625D3
(700 mW Min)
M625L4
(700 mW Min)
M625L3
(270 mW)d
M625F1
(13.2 mW)
- Chrolis
(490 mW)
-
M625L4
(490 mW)d
4-Wavelength
Source
(240 mW)
630 nm LED630L
(16 mW)
- - - - - - - - LIU630A
(208 mW)
635 nm LED631E
(4 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED635L
(170 mW)
639 nm LED630E
(7.2 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
645 nm LED645L
(16 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
660 nm LED660L
(13 mW)
- - M660D2
(940 mW Min)
M660L4
(940 mW Min)
M660L4
(400 mW)d
M660F1
(14.5 mW)
SOLIS-660C
(2.0 W)e
4-Wavelength
Source
(210 mW)
-
670 nm LED670L
(12 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
680 nm LED680L
(8 mW)
- - M680D2
(180 mW Min)
M680L4
(180 mW Min)
- M680F3
(2.7 mW)
- - -
700 nm - EP700S04
(5 mW Min)
- M700D2
(80 mW Min)
M700L4
(80 mW Min)
- M700F3
(1.7 mW)
- - -
EP700S10
(30 mW Min)
730 nm - - - M730D3
(540 mW Min)
M730L5
(540 mW Min)
M730L4
(165 mW)d
- - - -
740 nm - - - - - - M740F2
(6.0 mW)
SOLIS-740C
(2.0 W)e
- -
750 nm LED750L
(18 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
760 nm LED760L
(24 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
770 nm LED770L
(22 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
780 nm LED780E
(18 mW)
- - M780D2
(200 mW Min)
M780L3
(200 mW Min)
M780L3
(130 mW)d
M780F2
(7.5 mW)
- Chrolis
(40 mW)
LIU780A
(315 mW)
LED780L
(22 mW)
M780D3
(800 mW Min)
M780LP1
(800 mW Min)
800 nm LED800L
(20 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
810 nm LED810L
(22 mW)
EP810S04
(16 mW Min)
- M810D2
(325 mW Min)
M810L3
(325 mW Min)
M810L3
(210 mW)d
M810F2
(6.5 mW)
- - -
EP810S10
(90 mW Min)
M810D3
(363 mW Min)
M810L4
(363 mW Min)
830 nm LED830L
(22 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
840 nm LED840L
(22 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
850 nm LED851L
(13 mW)
- - M850D2
(900 mW Min)
M850L3
(900 mW Min)
M850L3
(330 mW)d
M850F2
(13.4 mW)
SOLIS-850C
(2.7 W)e
- LIU850A
(322 mW)
M850D3
(1400 mW)
M850LP1
(1400 mW Min)
870 nm LED870E
(22 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED870L
(24 mW)
880 nm - - - M880D2
(300 mW Min)
M880L3
(300 mW Min)
- M880F2
(3.4 mW)
- - -
890 nm LED890L
(12 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
910 nm LED910L
(10 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED910E
(12 mW)
930 nm LED930L
(15 mW)
- - - - - - - -
940 nm LED940E
(18 mW)
- - M940D2
(800 mW Min)
M940L3
(800 mW Min)
M940L3
(320 mW)d
M940F3
(14.2 mW)
SOLIS-940C
(2.5 W)e
- -
970 nm LED970L
(5 mW)
- - M970D3
(600 mW Min)
M970L4
(600 mW Min)
- M970F3
(8.1 mW)
- - -
Wavelength Unmounted
LEDs
Pigtailed LEDs LEDs in
SMT Packages
PCB-
Mounted LEDs
Heatsink-
Mounted LEDs
Collimated LEDs
for Microscopy

(Item # Prefixa)
Fiber-
Coupled LEDs
b
High-Power LEDs
for Microsocopy
Multi-Wavelength
LED Source
Optionsc
LED Arrays
Single Color LEDs
1050 nm LED1050E
(2.5 mW)
- - M1050D1
(50 mW Min)
M1050L2
(50 mW Min)
- - - - -
LED1050L
(4 mW)
M1050D3
(160 mW Min)
M1050L4
(160 mW Min)
M1050F3
(3 mW)
1070 nm LED1070L
(4 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LED1070E
(7.5 mW)
1085 nm LED1085L
(5 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
1200 nm LED1200E
(2.5 mW)
- - M1200D2
(30 mW Min)
M1200L3
(30 mW Min)
- - - - -
LED1200L
(5 mW)
1300 nm LED1300E
(2 mW)
- - M1300D2
(25 mW Min)
M1300L3
(25 mW Min)
- - - - -
LED1300L
(3.5 mW)
1450 nm LED1450E
(2 mW)
- - M1450D2
(31 mW Min)
M1450L3
(31 mW Min)
- - - - -
LED1450L
(5 mW)
1550 nm LED1550E
(2 mW)
- - M1550D2
(31 mW Min)
M1550L3
(31 mW Min)
- - - - -
LED1550L
(4 mW)
1600 nm LED1600L
(2 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
1650 nm LED1600P
(1.2 mW)
- - M1650D2
(13 mW)
M1650L4
(13 mW)
- - - - -
1750 nm LED1700P
(1.2 mW
Quasi-CW,
30 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
1850 nm LED1800P
(0.9 mW
Quasi-CW,
20 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
1950 nm LED1900P
(1.0 mW
Quasi-CW,
25 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
2050 nm LED2050P
(1.1 mW
Quasi-CW,
28 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
2350 nm LED2350P
(0.8 mW
Quasi-CW,
16 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
2700 nm LED2700W
(0.15 mW
Quasi-CW,
1.0 mW
Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
2800 nm LED2800W
(0.3 mW
Quasi-CW,
2.0 mW
Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
3400 nm LED3400W
(0.3 mW
Quasi-CW,
2.0 mW
Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
3800 nm LED3800W
(0.18 mW
Quasi-CW,
1.5 mW
Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
4200 nm LED4300P
(0.03 mW
Quasi-CW,
0.2 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
4300 nm LED4300W
(0.18 mW
Quasi-CW,
1.5 mW
Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
4500 nm LED4600P
(0.006 mW
Quasi-CW,
0.12 mW Pulsed)
- - - - - - - - -
Wavelength Unmounted
LEDs
Pigtailed LEDs LEDs in
SMT Packages
PCB-
Mounted LEDs
Heatsink-
Mounted LEDs
Collimated LEDs
for Microscopy

(Item # Prefixa)
Fiber-
Coupled LEDs
b
High-Power LEDs
for Microsocopy
Multi-Wavelength
LED Source
Optionsc
LED Arrays
Multi-Color, Broadband, and White LEDs
455 nm (12.5%h) and 640 nm - - - MPRP1D2
(275 mW Min)
MPRP1L4
(275 mW Min)
- - - - -
572 nm
and 625 nm
LEDGR
(0.09 mW
and 0.19 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
588 nm and 617 nm LEDRY
(0.09 mW
and 0.19 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
467.5 nm,
525 nm,
and 627.5 nm
LEDRGBE
(5.8 mW,
6.2 mW,
and 3.1 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
430 - 660 nm
(White)
LEDWE-15
(13 mW)
- - - - - - - - -
LEDW7E
(15.0 mW)
LEDW25E
(15.0 mW)
470 - 850 nm
(Broadband)
- - - MBB1D1
(70 mW Min)
MBB1L3
(70 mW Min)
- MBB1F1
(1.2 mW)
- - -
6500 K
(Cold White)
- - - MCWHD5
(930 mW Min)
MCWHL7
(930 mW Min)
- - SOLIS-1C
(3.3 W)e
- -
MCWHD4
(990 mW Min)
MCWHL6
(990 mW Min)
MCWHL5
(440 mW)f
MCWHD3
(2350 mW Min)
MCWHLP1
(2350 mW Min)
MCWHL6
(354 mW)d
6200 K
(Cold White)
- - - - - - MCWHF2
(21.5 mW)
- - -
5000 K
(Cold White)
- - LEDSW50
(110 mW)
- - - - - - -
4600 - 9000 K
(Cold White)
- - - - - - - - - LIUCWHA
(250 mW)
4000 K
(Warm White)
- - LEDSW40
(115 mW)
- - - MWWHF2
(16.3 mW)
- - -
3000 K
(Warm White)
- - LEDSW30
(100 mW)
MWWHD3
(2000 mW Min)
MWWHL4
(570 mW Min)
- - SOLIS-2C
(3.2 W)e
- -
MWWHLP1
(2000 mW Min)
5700 K
(Day Light White)
- - - - - - - SOLIS-3C
(3.5 W)
- -
  • These Collimated LEDs are compatible with the standard and epi-illumination ports on the following microscopes: Olympus BX/IX (Item # Suffix: -C1), Leica DMI (Item # Suffix: -C2), Zeiss Axioskop (Item # Suffix: -C4), and Nikon Eclipse (Bayonet Mount, Item # Suffix: -C5).
  • Typical power when used with MM Fiber with Ø400 µm core, 0.39 NA.
  • Our Multi-Wavelength LED Sources are available with select combinations of the LEDs at these wavelengths.
  • Typical power for LEDs with the Leica DMI collimation package (Item # Suffix: -C2).
  • Minimum power for the collimated output of these LEDs. The collimation lens is installed with each LED.
  • Typical power for LEDs with the Olympus BX and IX collimation package (Item # Suffix: -C1).
  • Typical power for LEDs with the Nikon Eclipse collimation package (Item # Suffix: -C5).
  • Percentage of LED intensity that emits in the blue portion of the spectrum, from 400 nm to 525 nm.

Solis® High-Power LEDs for Microscopy

Scaled SOLIS Spectra
Click to Enlarge

Excel File with Normalized and Scaled Spectra
The above plots compare the spectral flux of the Solis® LEDs. In order to provide a point of comparison for the relative powers of LEDs with different nominal wavelengths, the spectra have been scaled to the typical output power for each LED. This data is representative, not absolute. An Excel file with normalized and calculated scaled spectra for all of the Solis high-power LEDs can be downloaded by clicking on the link above.
  • Typical Collimated LED Output Powers from 570 mW to 7.1 W
  • 20 Wavelengths Available
  • Automatic Shut Off to Prevent Damage from Overheating
  • Large Ø48.3 mm (1.90") Clear Aperture
  • LED Lifetime >10 000 Hours
  • Compatible with DC20 and DC2200 LED Drivers (Available Below)
High-Power LED for Microscopy
Click to Enlarge

A SOLIS-1C LED mounted on an Olympus microscope via the SM2A13 adapter (available below), driven by the DC2200 Driver (available below).

The Solis® LEDs are high-power LEDs designed for microscopy applications. The lightweight package features a vibration-free, fanless design that can be mounted directly to a microscope port using one of Thorlabs' microscope lamphouse port adapters (available below). Each LED includes a collimating optic in a lens tube with a large Ø48.3 mm aperture. An integrated EEPROM chip stores important LED operating information, such as wavelength and max current, and controls the LED automatic shutoff features; at internal temperatures above 95 °C, the LED will automatically shut down to prevent damage.

Most Solis LEDs have a specified dominant wavelength that corresponds to the wavelength that appears brightest to the human eye. Our cold white, warm white, and day light white LEDs feature a broader spectrum that can be described using a correlated color temperature (i.e., color appearance similar to a black body radiator at that temperature). In general, warm white LEDs offer a spectrum similar to a tungsten source, while cold white LEDs have a stronger blue component to the spectrum. These cold white LEDs are more suited for fluorescence microscopy applications or cameras with white balancing because of a higher intensity at most wavelengths compared to the warm white LEDs. The SOLIS-3C day light LED has improved output power in the 470 - 520 nm wavelength range (see the Performance tab for more information).

The included diffuser should be installed in front of the collimating lenses using the two included SM2RR Retaining Rings as well as an SPW604 Spanner Wrench (sold separately). The SM2 thread depth is different for each Solis LED. Be sure that the LED is turned off with enough time for the housing to cool before installation, and that the diffuser does not touch the second collimating lens so as to prevent scratching.

While typical applications involve mounting the LED directly to a microscope port via a microscope adapter, an 8-32 and M4 cross-tapped hole is provided at each corner on the back of the housing for custom mounting applications (see the DIY Mounting tab for details). These Solis high-power LEDs for microscopy are not intended for use in household illumination applications.

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SOLIS-365C Support Documentation
SOLIS-365CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 365 nm (UV), 3.0 W (Min)
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SOLIS-385C Support Documentation
SOLIS-385CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 385 nm (UV), 4.0 W (Min)
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SOLIS-405C Support Documentation
SOLIS-405CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 405 nm (UV), 3.9 W (Min)
$1,310.21
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SOLIS-415C Support Documentation
SOLIS-415CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 415 nm (Violet), 5.8 W (Min)
$1,546.41
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SOLIS-445C Support Documentation
SOLIS-445CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 445 nm (Royal Blue), 5.4 W (Min)
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SOLIS-470C Support Documentation
SOLIS-470CCustomer Inspired! High-Power LED for Microscopy, 470 nm (Blue), 3.0 W (Min)
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SOLIS-505C Support Documentation
SOLIS-505CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 505 nm (Cyan), 1.0 W (Min)
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SOLIS-525C Support Documentation
SOLIS-525CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 525 nm (Green), 2.4 W (Min)
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SOLIS-565DHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 565 nm (Lime), 5.7 W (Min)
$1,278.63
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SOLIS-590CCustomer Inspired! High-Power LED for Microscopy, 590 nm (Amber),
350 mW (Min)
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SOLIS-595CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 595 nm (Amber), 700 mW (Min)
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SOLIS-617CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 617 nm (Orange), 1.5 W (Min)
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SOLIS-620DHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 620 nm (Red), 3.47 W (Min)
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SOLIS-660CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 660 nm (Deep Red), 2.0 W (Min)
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SOLIS-740C Support Documentation
SOLIS-740CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 740 nm (Far Red), 2.0 W (Min)
$1,435.56
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SOLIS-850C Support Documentation
SOLIS-850CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 850 nm (IR), 2.7 W (Min)
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SOLIS-940CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 940 nm (IR), 2.5 W (Min)
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SOLIS-1DHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 6500 K (Cold White), 5.81 W (Min)
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SOLIS-2CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 3000 K (Warm White), 3.2 W (Min)
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SOLIS-3CHigh-Power LED for Microscopy, 5700 K (Day Light White), 3.5 W (Min)
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Plug-and-Play Solis® LED Driver

DC20 Key Specificationsa
LED Current (Max) 1 to 10 A
LED Forward Voltage (Max) 5.0 to 14.0 V
LED Current Limit Accuracy ±(1% + 25 mA)
TTL Modulation Frequency DC to 1 kHz
Modulation Waveform Square Wave / PWM
Solis LED Driver
Click to Enlarge

The DC20 a simple way to power the Solis® LEDs.
  • Designed for Thorlabs' Solis® LEDs for Microscopy
  • Easily Control LED Intensity Using the Dial
  • Automatically Sets the Current Limit to Protect the LED
  • Provides Drive Current up to 10 A
  • Supports LED Forward Voltage up to 14 V
  • Accepts External TTL Modulation Signal via BNC Connector

Thorlabs' DC20 Driver is designed to provide a simple way to control any of Thorlabs' Solis LEDs. Easy to set up and use, this driver is an ideal solution for users of our Solis LEDs who don't require the more advanced functions provided by the DC2200 Touchscreen LED Driver available below. See the Solis LED Drivers tab for a comparison between the DC20 and the DC2200 drivers.

The current provided to the LED is controlled by turning the knob on the top of the driver. The position on the top panel marked LIMIT will correspond to the maximum LED current for the connected Solis LED, as the driver automatically detects and sets the current limit to the value stored in each Solis LED's internal memory to protect it from being overdriven. Pushing on the knob will either switch the LED on at the percentage of the maximum current indicated by the control knob position or turn it off. Alternatively, the LED can be modulated using an external TTL signal connected to a BNC input on the back of the driver's housing. See the Specs tab for the TTL signal requirements.

A tri-color LED on the side of the unit indicates the current LED status, including whether the LED is on or off (useful with IR LEDs), whether the LED is operating normally, or if an error has occurred.

Please note that the DC20 driver is designed specifically to work with the internal electronics in Thorlabs' Solis LEDs and should not be used to drive any other type of LED.

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DC20High-Power Driver for Solis® LEDs, 10 A Max, 14.0 V Max
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Advanced Solis® LED Driver

DC2200 Key Specificationsa
LED Current /
Forward Voltage (Max)b,c
1.0 A / 50.0 V
2.0 A / 35.0 V
4.0 A / 15.0 V
5.0 A / 10.0 V
10.0 A / 5.0 V
LED Current Accuracyc ±(0.1% + 2 mA) for 0 to 4.0 A
±(0.1% + 4 mA) for 4.0 to 10.0 A
LED Current Resolution 0.1 mA
Internal Modulation Waveforms: Sine, Square, Triangle
Frequency Range: 20 Hz to 100 kHz
External Modulation
Small Signal Bandwidthd
DC - 250 kHz
External TTL
Modulation Frequencye
DC to ≥18 kHz
  • See the main DC2200 web presentation for complete specifications.
  • For drive currents up to 1 A, the DC2200 is guaranteed to support a maximum voltage of 50 V; for drive currents up to 2 A, the DC2200 is guaranteed to support a maximum voltage of 35 V; etc
  • These values apply to the LED1 terminal, which accepts Solis® LEDs. The DC2200 also has a second terminal for Thorlabs' Mounted, Fiber-Coupled, and Collimated LEDs with different limitations.
  • Small Signal Bandwidth: Modulation not exceeding 20% of full scale current. The driver accepts other waveforms, but the maximum frequency will be reduced.
  • Given for an output current at "High" TTL level not exceeding 10% of the selected current range limit.
  • Driver for Thorlabs' Solis® LEDs
  • Operating Modes for Setting LED Current or Brightness
  • Internal Modulation and Pulsed Modes
    • Adjustable Frequency, Duty Cycle, and Pulse Count
    • Sine, Square, or Triangle Waveforms
  • External Trigger and Modulation
  • Remote Control via USB Interface

The DC2200 LED Driver also provides a touchscreen interface for Thorlabs' Solis High-Power LEDs that incorporates more advanced functions than the DC20 driver available above. It can provide up to 10.0 A of current and a maximum forward voltage of 50 V. The driver can either be controlled locally via the device front panel, visible in the photo to the left, or from a PC using the USB 2.0 port on the back of the device.

The main menu of the graphical user interface allows the user to select between operating the LED in constant current mode, brightness mode, internally or externally pulsed modes, and TTL modulation. The internal modulation and pulsed operation modes that allow the LED intensity to be modulated without the use of an external function generator. An SMA input on the back of the driver accepts either for external modulation signals with an arbitrary waveform or a TTL High/Low input that allows the LED on/off state to be synchronized with other lab equipment. 

LED Driver Interface
Click to Enlarge

The touchscreen interface allows the LED brightness to be adjusted. In Brightness Mode, the LED is at 100% brightness when it is driven at the current limit.

In addition to the USB 2.0 port and Solis LED connection terminal, this driver has a second LED connectin terminal to support Thorlabs' Mounted, Collimated, and Fiber-Coupled LEDs*. The back of the housing also includes an interlock circuit that can be connected to a user-supplied emergency off switch and a grounded jack that can be used with ESD protection equipment.

For a side-by-side comarison of Thorlabs' DC20 Plug-and-Play Driver for Solis LEDs and the DC2200 touchscreen LED driver, see the Solis LED Drivers tab above. Complete specifications can be found on the main page for the DC2200 LED Driver.

*Please note that the driver can only control one LED at a time, regardless of which LED connection terminal is used.

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Microscope Port Adapters

Microscopy LED
Click to Enlarge

A Solis LED Installed on an Olympus Microscope
Microscopy LED
Click to Enlarge

A Solis® LED with the
SM2A13 Adapter

The Solis® LEDs are compatible with Thorlabs' externally SM2-threaded port adapters for Olympus, Nikon, Leica, and Zeiss microscopes. Microscope compatibility information is provided in the table below.

Recommended Microscope Adapters for Solis® LEDs
Compatible Microscopes Olympus BX & IX Nikon Eclipse Ti and
Cerna Microscopes
with 6-Cube Epi-Illuminator
Leica DMI Zeiss Axioskop &
Examiner
Adapter Item #
SM2A13 SM2A17 SM2A14 SM2A16
(Click Image to Enlarge)
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SM2A13Olympus BX41, IX71, or IX73 Microscope Trans-Illumination Port Adapter, External SM2 Threads, Black Anodized
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SM2A17Nikon Eclipse Ti or Upright Microscope Epi-Illumination Module Bayonet Mount Adapter, External SM2 Threads, Black Anodized
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SM2A14Leica DMI Microscope Lamphouse Port Adapter, External SM2 Threads, Black Anodized
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SM2A16Zeiss Axioskop and Examiner Microscope Lamphouse Port Adapter, External SM2 Threads, Black Anodized
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