I Built an open-source LED controller and app from scratch

[js-3Design]

What kind of problems you had with this driver !? It's not a driver but a step down...
I use 24v 20a powersupply connected directly with step down driver without anything else

I had the problem where often the leds died (over power or overvoltage)
I had 4 channels with 2 3w 700mah leds connected and used a 12v 6a powersupply (24v blew the leds immediately)
And when 2 channels was at 100% and then i added a third, channel 1 and 2 would dim to 0 and third channel would go to 100.
As in : channel 1 + 2 100% channel 3 0%
Channel 1+2 60% when channel 3 was 40%
and so would channel 1 and 2 dim while channel 3 got brighter.
When i set channel 2 and 3 to 100 and added channel one or 4, channel 2 and 3 would behave the same way.

I was dumbfounded and couldnt see any logical explanation for this

All cables where thick enough. Powersupply was powerfull enough...

I could use a scope to see what happens but i havent had time for that.

Its an LED driver as in it limits current to 700mah ( or its supposed to)

 

[oldrev]

I had the problem where often the leds died (over power or overvoltage)
I had 4 channels with 2 3w 700mah leds connected and used a 12v 6a powersupply (24v blew the leds immediately)
And when 2 channels was at 100% and then i added a third, channel 1 and 2 would dim to 0 and third channel would go to 100.
As in : channel 1 + 2 100% channel 3 0%
Channel 1+2 60% when channel 3 was 40%
and so would channel 1 and 2 dim while channel 3 got brighter.
When i set channel 2 and 3 to 100 and added channel one or 4, channel 2 and 3 would behave the same way.

I was dumbfounded and couldnt see any logical explanation for this

All cables where thick enough. Powersupply was powerfull enough...

I could use a scope to see what happens but i havent had time for that.

Its an LED driver as in it limits current to 700mah ( or its supposed to)

You mentioned using a constant current driver similar to the PT4115.

So why would 24V burn out the LED, while 12V does not? Has your LED series used magic to defeat the physical relationship between the constant current source and the LED voltage drop?

 

[oldrev]

Amazing project. I'm in software engineering and did hw/fw in the past. You did a phenomenal job!! Wow. I'm geeking out over the github lol.

Did you ever evaluate your overall goal? Cheap aquarium lighting? How much does it cost you to build a light to something currently on the market with similar output? It'd be nice to see the outcome "they charge $x for something I made for $y" (and it's better!).

Congrats

My goal is not to provide cheap aquarium LEDs, but to offer commercial-grade open-source firmware and apps for free, and ultimately dominate the entire industry standard. So I suggest that the existing brands start bribing me now to slow down my development, lol.

 

[js-3Design]

You mentioned using a constant current driver similar to the PT4115.

So why would 24V burn out the LED, while 12V does not? Has your LED series used magic to defeat the physical relationship between the constant current source and the LED voltage drop?

You tell me...
I used the exact same modules as mention earlier..

 

[oldrev]

You tell me...
I used the exact same modules as mention earlier..

Has your `DIM` pin been pulled down? Based on the previous image, the `DIM` pin of this driver is floating.

Do you have a multimeter? You can check if its resistor network is 0.285Ω/700mA setting. The resistor package they used is too small, and the SS14 doesn't have enough redundancy either.

To be honest, this Aliexpress driver is kinda piece of crap.

 

[oldrev]

thank you so so so mush for the v0.7.4 app
problem solved
Now I can adjust the sunrise and sunset times as I want

you saved my life, you're genius

for the video: yes of corse you can share it where do you want, and i can send you others for my DIY bar led

A pro tip: you can modify the number of channels, spectrum, and colors in LED Dashboard -> Settings -> Controller Settings.

 

[js-3Design]

Has your `DIM` pin been pulled down? Based on the previous image, the `DIM` pin of this driver is floating.

Do you have a multimeter? You can check if its resistor network is 0.285Ω/700mA setting. The resistor package they used is too small, and the SS14 doesn't have enough redundancy either.

To be honest, this Aliexpress driver is kinda piece of crap.

Yes i did pull it down. With a 10k resistor.
Im also waiting on different drivers based on different chips..

Any idea when your boards are available?

 

[AndroidGeek18]

I wonder if this can be a controller for that cheap “blackbox” called wattshine? It has 165 and 180watts version. 2 channels. Not an electronics engr or something but I am currently using esp32 as a controller for it. What I did is use a pwm to analog 0-10v converter and tap the output to the input signals of the led driver. But the dimming isn’t as good as pure pwm. I wonder if I can replace the driver with yours?

Link: Amazon product

Attached its driver.

 

[jacree2022]

I have currently built a calcium reactor controller this pulls data from the apex trident and auto adjust per those readings. I am currently working on a full tank controller with touch screen controls and an app. 0 coding experience but ChatGPT and Grok are very capable of writing the code so far

 

[oldrev]

Great news, my LED controller is now listed on the PCBWay store and can be shipped worldwide.

If you are interested, here's the link to our product page on PCBWay:

https://www.pcbway.com/project/gift...Fi_PWM_LED_Dimmer_for_Aquariums_adb134c9.html

 

[Marcelo Bertalha]

Great news, my LED controller is now listed on the PCBWay store and can be shipped worldwide.

If you are interested, here's the link to our product page on PCBWay:

https://www.pcbway.com/project/gift...Fi_PWM_LED_Dimmer_for_Aquariums_adb134c9.html

Excellent news.

Regarding the LED control drivers, are you planning to release something that would allow us to install the LEDs in a different way than the original setup?

 

[oldrev]

Just messing around with my old driver board prototype.

This odd PCB dimension is meant to fit a DIN rail clip, allowing you to mount it inside the electrical panel. It's not just your plants and corals that can enjoy high-quality light, you do too.

 

[oldrev]

Excellent news.

Regarding the LED control drivers, are you planning to release something that would allow us to install the LEDs in a different way than the original setup?

I don't quite understand what you mean.

 

[Marcelo Bertalha]

Não entendi muito bem o que você quis dizer.

I'm sorry, I'm using Google Translate and the messages aren't coming out perfectly.

I have two Hydra 26 lamps with burnt-out circuit boards. I was thinking of using your project. The LEDs are perfect; only the control board burned out due to an electrical discharge (lightning strike during a rainstorm).

 

[oreo54]

I'm sorry, I'm using Google Translate and the messages aren't coming out perfectly.

I have two Hydra 26 lamps with burnt-out circuit boards. I was thinking of using your project. The LEDs are perfect; only the control board burned out due to an electrical discharge (lightning strike during a rainstorm).

First thing is the Hydra uses 7 channels. So you need 7 drivers unless you slightly modify the led board by hooking some channels in series.
2 colors would need to be dimmed together but no 2 "6's" in order to make your life easier. Need to know the sum of the v(f)'s and what power supply you are using.


As to pwm dimming .. doesn't matter on the count, you can run one or all 7 off one control signal if you so desire.
But as is you only have 6 individual pwm "signals".

Honestly it's rather simple but sort of complicated to explain.
Believe the Hydra 26 used a 36v power supply. gives you an idea of v(f) string maximums. I assume the ps died as well?

 

[oldrev]

First thing is the Hydra uses 7 channels. So you need 7 drivers unless you slightly modify the led board by hooking some channels in series.
2 colors would need to be dimmed together but no 2 "6's" in order to make your life easier. Need to know the sum of the v(f)'s and what power supply you are using.


As to pwm dimming .. doesn't matter on the count, you can run one or all 7 off one control signal if you so desire.
But as is you only have 6 individual pwm "signals".

Honestly it's rather simple but sort of complicated to explain.
Believe the Hydra 26 used a 36v power supply. gives you an idea of v(f) string maximums. I assume the ps died as well?

Thank you for your information.

If anyone had carefully read the post on the first page, they would see that I have a 10-channel version (actually it can go up to 12 channels). It's also very easy to create a 10-channel version in the code.

The reason I didn't include it is that I wanted to see if anyone would contribute to this project, even if just through AI. Of course, the result was unsurprisingly disappointing.

 

[js-3Design]

Thank you for your information.

If anyone had carefully read the post on the first page, they would see that I have a 10-channel version (actually it can go up to 12 channels). It's also very easy to create a 10-channel version in the code.

The reason I didn't include it is that I wanted to see if anyone would contribute to this project, even if just through AI. Of course, the result was unsurprisingly disappointing.

What do you mean with the contribution was unsurprisingly disappointing?
What contribution where you expecting? I’m waiting for the full driver board and order a few when you release it.

Also there is only a very small amount of hobbyists that care for diy.

 

[oldrev]

I'm sorry, I'm using Google Translate and the messages aren't coming out perfectly.

I have two Hydra 26 lamps with burnt-out circuit boards. I was thinking of using your project. The LEDs are perfect; only the control board burned out due to an electrical discharge (lightning strike during a rainstorm).

What I mean is that the full hardware design and code are on GitHub, and after a whole year, no one has created their own version.

 

[js-3Design]

What I mean is that the full hardware design and code are on GitHub, and after a whole year, no one has created their own version.

The amount of people interested in reefing and diy and are able to code and have electrotechnical skills to makesomething like this is extremely low. Not to mention the amount of people that are interested in making their own connected led lights..
I bet you you can count them on 1 hand on this forum.

I’m sorry you are disappointed but I do believe you have your expectations all wrong.

If I where you I would make products that people with SOME diy skills can make, like a full finished and programmed controller driver that is just add your own leds and coolers.
And I would try to sell it to companies that struggle with their apps.

 

[oldrev]

The amount of people interested in reefing and diy and are able to code and have electrotechnical skills to makesomething like this is extremely low. Not to mention the amount of people that are interested in making their own connected led lights..
I bet you you can count them on 1 hand on this forum.

I’m sorry you are disappointed but I do believe you have your expectations all wrong.

If I where you I would make products that people with SOME diy skills can make, like a full finished and programmed controller driver that is just add your own leds and coolers.
And I would try to sell it to companies that struggle with their apps.

Haha, disappointment is a part of life.