Overview

CoolLED’s pE-300lite is a simple white light LED illumination system that offers intense, broad-spectrum LED illumination for fluorescence microscopy. The system is perfect for hospital and regular research laboratory environments and is affordable within consumables budgets.
This mercury-free alternative is safer, more controllable and precise than conventional bulb illumination options. Spectral coverage is from the UV (DAPI excitation) to the Red region (Cy5 excitation).

LED technology is quickly evolving, and since 2017 our new generation has double the irradiance at the sample plane, and for even higher irradiance is available as a direct fit model (which also reduces the cost to buy and run thanks to fewer consumables). With ACT Label certification, it’s even an environmentally friendly option for illumination.

pE-300 Series Normalised Spectrum Graph Aug 2023

The pE-300lite is a simple white light LED illuminator for microscopes. It provides a broad spectrum of illumination, covering the excitation bands of common fluorophores such as DAPI, CFP, Aqua, FITC, TRITC, TxRed, Cy5 and many more. Operation is by a remote manual control pod with instant on/off and control of irradiance from 0-100%.

Direct fit or liquid light guide

There are two pE-300lite configuration options: direct fit or liquid light guide. The direct fit variant delivers higher irradiance and reduces the cost to buy and run thanks to fewer consumables.

Comparing Irradiance Between Direct Fit and Liquid Light Guide Illumination Systems

For confocal microscopes, the liquid light guide variant offers the ideal replacement to a metal halide light source, minimising photobleaching and phototoxicity when viewing samples before scanning. More information on the available variants can be found under specifications.

Energy efficiency for cost-saving sustainability

When it comes to making labs safer and more sustainable, LED microscope lighting is an attractive option when compared to old toxic mercury or metal halide lamps. All three channels of the pE-300lite at full power use just 60 Watts, which is even lower than other LED technology which uses 120 to 350 Watts. “Green Grants” are even sometimes available from establishments, providing financial support owing to the reduction in institutional energy usage.

With a long lifetime and a comprehensive range of microscope adaptors, the pE-300lite can be fitted to most current and older microscopes and operate for many years without aligning or replacing bulbs. The result is a safe, convenient illumination system without any additional operating costs.

Award winning technology

CoolLED’s pE-300 Series was the 2017 winner of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) “Go Beyond Award” for “Excellence in sustainability in laboratory and other high technology facilities”.

Simple to Buy
  • Works with everyday fluorophores
  • Affordable through lab consumables budget
  • Broad spectrum – covers UV (DAPI) to Red region (Cy5)
  • Specify for existing single and multi-band filter sets – no need to buy new filters
Simple to Fit
  • Direct fit to the microscope in seconds
  • Wide range of microscope adaptors – fits most microscopes
  • No alignment, a once only adjustment
Simple to Use
  • Instant on/off – no shutters required, no warm up or cool down
  • Stable and repeatable – reliable and precise results
  • Fine irradiance control in 1% steps (0-100%) – no ND filters required
  • Excellent uniformity over field of view – fixed and stable, no alignment necessary
Plus all the benefits of LED technology

The system comprises a pE-300lite Light Source, power supply and control pod for operation and access to settings and usage history.

Control

Manual:
Manual control for instant on/off and irradiance control in 1% steps from 0 – 100%

There are several variants available, as explained below:

Choosing configurations

There are two pE-300lite configuration options:

Direct Fit: Higher irradiance is possible when directly connecting to a microscope. Select from a range of microscope adaptors which covers all current and most older models.  A simple once-only adjustment will allow optimisation to the optical path of the microscope. Specify from CoolLED’s range of epi-fluorescent or transmitted port microscope adaptors

Liquid Light Guide: If there is a need to keep the source of illumination remote from the microscope. This requires a fixed 3 mm diameter liquid light guide.  An optional pE-Universal Collimator can be specified in conjunction with a microscope adaptor if required.  We now include a light source stand for the pE-300lite Illumination Systems ordered for light guide delivery.

Choose single-band or multi-band

DAPI can be excited at either 365 nm or 400 nm and microscopes typically have a filter set which allows one or other of these wavelengths to be transmitted.  To accommodate this, the pE-300lite can be specified in one of two waveband configurations to match existing filter sets within the microscope.

A microscope which is populated with a number of single band (“SB”) filter sets will typically have DAPI excitation at 365 nm and a microscope with multi-band (“MB”) filter(s) has excitation at 400 nm.  The user can specify the configuration which is appropriate for their microscope.

Specification

Power requirements
100-240 V a.c. 50/60 Hz

Power consumption

pE-300 Series At the wall (includes power supply unit consumption)
Standby 3.3 W
Full white irradiance 56.4 W

Dimensions

pE-300lite Light Source: 77 mm(w) x 186 mm(d) x 162(h) – Weight 1.4 kg
pE-300lite Control Pod: 88 mm(w) x 125 mm(d) x 37 mm(h) – Weight 0.32 kg
pE-300lite Power Supply: 167 mm(w) x 67 m(d) x 35 mm(h) – Weight 0.62 kg

pE-Universal Collimator: 44 mm(w) x 86 mm(d) x 44mm(h) – Weight 0.17 kg

Environment and Safety
  • Mercury-free and laser-free
  • Energy Efficient
  • Long lifetime
  • No bulb replacements
  • Reduced risk of eye damage
  • Quiet operation
  • No special disposal regulations or issues
Warranty

Industry-leading 36 months. Read more here. 

All data correct at time of publication

pE-300 Series Normalised Spectrum Graph Aug 2023
pE 300 Series MB Spectrum
pE 300 Series SB Spectrum

We are often asked about the power, intensity or irradiance of CoolLED Illumination Systems. The answer is not as simple as you might believe from many websites and data sheets, and it can be difficult to compare data from these sources as measuring set ups differ.

Photons are also lost as light travels from the light source to sample plane. The only way to objectively compare light sources is by measuring irradiance at the sample plane.  To understand why we use the term irradiance and how to measure and compare light sources with accuracy and precision, download our white paper. Or please contact us if you have further questions.

 

For performance data, please contact us

CoolLED designs and manufactures LED illumination for microscopy and is ideally placed to deliver OEM illumination requirements.
  • Streamlined development using proven off-the-shelf technology
  • Professional expert support
  • Market-leading warranty
  • ‘Try before you buy’ option
  • Trusted experts in LED illumination technology since 2006

The pE-300lite is available in the Amora Series: our proven off-the-shelf product range adapted to offer unparalleled customisation opportunities.

Click the button to find out more.

The scientific community is driving change across academia, industry and government to make laboratories more sustainable. When it comes to fluorescence microscopy illumination, switching to the pE-300 Series can help laboratories meet their sustainability targets, by consuming less energy and avoiding the use of toxic mercury.

Our CoolLED pE-300 Series is also ACT label certified, which stands for accountability, consistency and transparency. Introduced by My Green Lab, this provides an easy way for scientists to measure and compare the environmental impact of a product by reviewing the product itself, its manufacturing process, packaging and disposal. Visit our environment page to find out more.

 

“It’s great to see how My Green Labs and CoolLED are helping to move things ahead in the area of laboratory sustainability”. – Todd Lynch, UCLA Capital Programs

  • The CoolLED pE-300lite has been a wonderful addition to our laboratory. It has replaced older mercury lamp technology that required additional start up and shut down time and was environmentally problematic. It’s so nice to just push the on button and we are up and running!

    Hilary Snook – Environmental Scientist, USEPA New England Regional laboratory (pE-300lite)

  • We received a pE-300lite as a temporary measure when an existing light source failed. The Illumination System became so popular with our users due to its ease of use, on/off switching and 0-100% intensity control, as well as the convenience of not needing to change the bulb. We therefore purchased the system for our widefield fluorescence inverted microscope.

    Dr Debbie Wilkinson, Senior Microscopy and Application Specialist, University of Aberdeen (pE-300lite)

  • I’d like to recognize the supportive and cooperative service from CoolLED, and especially the customer service team. We appreciate the partnership and customer orientation from your side and it has a huge impact on our customer satisfaction.

    Avner Vazana, Microscopy, NDT & service manager, Eisenberg Bros. Ltd (CoolLED Support)

  • After testing the CoolLED LED Illumination Systems, we decided to buy two CoolLED pE-300lite light sources to replace our old mercury excitation lamps. We use one of the light sources for a dissecting microscope, and the other for a 2-photon microscope. We are extremely satisfied with the products in that they are very bright and easy to use. The remote intensity adjustment is extremely convenient and the compact sizes are truly an advantage for environments with restricted space, like most laboratories. For these reasons, I strongly recommend the use of the CooLED pE-300lite LED Illumination System.

    Rodrigo Javier Gonzalez, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School (pE-300lite)

The CoolLED Control Pod

The CoolLED Control Pod

CoolLED Multi-Wavelength LED Microscopy Illumination

CoolLED Multi-Wavelength LED Microscopy Illumination

ACT Label

ACT Label

Making use of CoolLED adaptors

Making use of CoolLED adaptors

Installing a pE-300 Series Illumination System

Installing a pE-300 Series Illumination System

Choosing an SB or MB model

Choosing an SB or MB model

pE-300 Series fit and optimise

pE-300 Series fit and optimise

Shining a light on the pE-300 Series

Shining a light on the pE-300 Series

CoolLED Optimised filters

CoolLED Optimised filters

Using Optogenetics to Analyse Neuronal Circuits

Using Optogenetics to Analyse Neuronal Circuits

Light SourceApplicationTypeCoolLED LEDChromaSemrock
pE-300lite SB, pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingle365 or 40049053 CoolLED DAPI
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingle36539000 AT Dapi49000 ET DapiLED-DAPI-B
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingle46049001 ET eCFP49013 ET TealLED-CFP-ALED-mTFP-A
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingle46049002 ET eGFP39002 AT eGFPGFP-4050BGFP-A-Basic
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingle46049054 CoolLED GFP
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49004 ET Cy349005 ET dsRedTxRed-4040CLED-TRITC-A
pE-300lite SB, pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49055 CoolLED mCherry #149056 CoolLED mCherry #2
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49008 ET mCherry39010 AT Tex. RedYFP-2427BLED-mCherry-A
pE-300lite SBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49006 ET CY539007 AT Cy5Cy5-4040C
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingle40049021 eBFP249028 ET Dapi 395LED-DAPI-B
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingle46049001 ET eCFP49013 ET TealLED-CFP-ALED-mTFP-A
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingle46049054 CoolLED GFP
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingle46049002 ET eGFP39002 AT eGFPGFP-4050BGFP-A-Basic
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49004 ET Cy349005 ET dsRedTxRed-4040CLED-TRITC-A
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49008 ET mCherry39010 AT Tex. RedYFP-2427BLED-mCherry-A
pE-300lite MBFluorescenceSingleGYR (525-660)49006 ET CY539007 AT Cy5Cy5-4040C
pE-300-LT-D-SB-YYY-ZZ: pE-300lite direct fit Light Source, exchangeable microscope adaptor to customer-specified microscope, remote manual control pod, and power supply. Single band filter set configuration
pE-300-LT-D-MB-YYY-ZZ: pE-300lite direct fit Light Source, exchangeable microscope adaptor to customer-specified microscope, remote manual control pod, and power supply. Multi band filter set configuration
pE-300-LT-L-SB-ZZ: pE-300lite Light Source for use with 3mm Liquid Light Guide.  Single Band filter configuration.  Includes light source, stand, control pod & power supply
pE-300-LT-L-MB-ZZ: pE-300lite Light Source – Multi-Band.  For use with 3mm Liquid Light Guide.  Multi band filter configuration.  Includes light source, stand, control pod & power supply
pE-1906 1.5 m long, 3 mm diameter liquid light guide
pE-10400-YYY pE-Universal collimator for use with a single liquid light guide. Includes customer-specified adaptor

To specify microscope code (YYY) see Adaptors
To specify power cable (ZZ):  10 = Australia, 20 = Europe, 30 = UK, 40 = USA

More information is available on the Accessories tab.

pE-Universal Collimator

pE-Universal Collimator

Liquid Light Guide

Liquid Light Guide

Adaptors

Adaptors

No imaging software available for this product

The award winning pE-300 Series is a range of LED Illumination Systems for Fluorescence, Optogenetics, Electrophysiology and high speed microscopy applications. It comprises 3 systems providing a solution that covers a range of everyday fluorescence microscopy; from the simple pE-300lite through the classic pE-300white to the highly controllable pE-300ultra.

The table below is a quick reference guide to the features offered by the pE-300 Series systems.

Features pE-300lite pE-300white pE-300ultra
Broad spectrum
Simple to fit and use
Instant on/off
No bulb replacement
Direct or Light Guide delivery options
Long lifetime
Stable & Repeatable - 10-100% intensity control
Filter set compatibility
Mercury free
Individual channel intensity control
Individual channel selection
Integration with imaging software
Global remote triggering (TTL, microsecond)
Individual channel triggering (TTL, microsecond)
Removable inline filter holders
Sequence Runner