Help Controlling my new DIY Fixtures

[btkrausen]

I ordered one fixture for now, but will be doing another duplicate order soon.

24" Heatsink with 24 XP-R LEDS w/ 2 drivers

Will I have the same problem with needing the relay ports on the Apex to control the lower power items? If so, should I buy a new DC8 to run it, since they are all relay ports? Is there an add-on to the Apex Lite that I can use for dimming the LEDs on the tank?

As for the fixture, I figure that half of the LEDs will run per driver, so I could also turn on half, and then the other half for a daytime/night time look.

I also plan to put a bunch of extra royal blues on the heatsink that I will turn on after the main ones go off for an actinic look.

 

[Troylee]

you can hook up to 6 drivers together on a single port just tie all the dimming cables together for the whites on one and blues on a second it leaves you 2 open ports........

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks Troy. I'm fairly new to this DIY for the LEDs. Where are the dimming cables? On the drivers or the LEDs themselves?

 

[snoopie]

Dimming is the blue and white cable n a 68-40d driver the case will even say blue+ white- led. You use those and can make either a rj45 cable like I did or but one.

Sent from my EVO.

 

[Glenn]

I think you asked one question but got answers for a 2nd (unasked) question

Each driver will require a 120v outlet for power - I have an EB8 and use Outlet #1 for Blue and Outlet #2 for White.

You will then need an RJ45 cable to connect from the EB8 (or DC8 ??) variable speed outlets to the Blue and White leads on the driver (this is assuming you have ELN-60-48D drivers)

ps - just re-read your post .. if you have an Apex Lite, you won't have variable speed outlets on the main control .. you will need to purchase an 'add-on' module for the VarSpd's

 

[btkrausen]

I think you asked one question but got answers for a 2nd (unasked) question

Each driver will require a 120v outlet for power - I have an EB8 and use Outlet #1 for Blue and Outlet #2 for White.

You will then need an RJ45 cable to connect from the EB8 (or DC8 ??) variable speed outlets to the Blue and White leads on the driver (this is assuming you have ELN-60-48D drivers)

ps - just re-read your post .. if you have an Apex Lite, you won't have variable speed outlets on the main control .. you will need to purchase an 'add-on' module for the VarSpd's

Thanks, your first line nailed it, haha. Thanks for the answers. I guess I'll be using at least 4 outlets, unless I put two drivers on a single outlet. Do the other outlets, besides 4 & 8, turn them on with no problems since they aren't relay?

I've been looking at the VSM already for the Apex Lite, I should be able to get it cheap.

 

[Troylee]

You can plug the drivers into any outlet that doesn't make a difference mine aren't even plugged in the the dc8 what does matter is the 60-48d drivers will not fire without a signal from 2 to 10v on the dimming wires... That's where the apex comes into play you use a rj45 plugged into the module and send the desired voltage signal to the meanwells to get them to light 10v Is 100 percent 8v is 80percent etc etc...If that makes sense...

 

[btkrausen]

Makes perfect sense Troy. I assume they will fire without the module though, cause I probably won't buy it immediately...although my LEDs won't go into "production" until the new 220 is here and setup.

 

[snoopie]

There will not fire without the module... only way u can do that is to hook up those ends to a wall wart.... which wont dim them.

Sent from my EVO.

 

[btkrausen]

So there is no way to manually dim them without a controller? What do all the people without controllers do..run them full blast all the time?

 

[Glenn]

That's where the apex comes into play you use a rj45 plugged into the module and send the desired voltage signal to the meanwells to get them to light 10v Is 100 percent 8v is 80percent etc etc...If that makes sense...

Do you know to send "8v" or "80pct" from the Apex to the driver ?

For example, on VarSpd1 : If Time 07:00 to 21:00 Then [what] ??????

 

[snoopie]

Sorry u can do it manually I thought u ment automatically. Only way u can do it is go to radioshack get 800ma power supply (wall wart) that has little clip that u can switch from 1v, 3v, 5v, 7.5v, 10v, and 12v you will never ever go to 12v though drivers only good for 10v. If you are running 6 drivers you will need 6 wall warts.

To Glenn. Youise profiles for this.

If time 8:00 - 18:00 then profile1

In profile one u pick pump section. U can set start brightness 0% end brightness 80% with ramp time of 0 or how ever long u want it to take to get from 0 to 80 120 is 2 hours to go from 0 to 80%

Sent from my EVO.

 

[btkrausen]

Do you know to send "8v" or "80pct" from the Apex to the driver ?

For example, on VarSpd1 : If Time 07:00 to 21:00 Then [what] ??????

There is a good explanation on this on reefledlights.com, I read it just a little while ago. Don't have the link handy.

 

[btkrausen]

Sorry u can do it manually I thought u ment automatically. Only way u can do it is go to radioshack get 800ma power supply (wall wart) that has little clip that u can switch from 1v, 3v, 5v, 7.5v, 10v, and 12v you will never ever go to 12v though drivers only good for 10v. If you are running 6 drivers you will need 6 wall warts.

Sent from my EVO.

Thanks man. Appreciate the responses. :)

 

[CJO]

Maybe I missed it, but from where did you order the LEDs? What drivers are they using?

CJ

 

[btkrausen]

I got them from ReefLEDLights.com. The drivers I got are 2 x LPC 35-700

 

[btkrausen]

Another question:

Is anybody using anything to cover the connections/wire to help keep salt creep/evaporation off of them? Or to protect against splashing?