LED Controller now Reef Pi in the future

[Dan the Reefer]

Hey everyone,
I have my first set of LEDs on order with 2 meanwell CC drivers that have analogue dimmers built in and PWM capabilities for the future. I have to research the Raspberry Pi thing more before I pull the trigger. I'm just curious what everyone is using to control their LEDs if they aren't using Reef Pi. I was looking at MakersController but I don't know if I can use it with my drivers or not. Any advice?

 

[attiland]

Hey everyone,
I have my first set of LEDs on order with 2 meanwell CC drivers that have analogue dimmers built in and PWM capabilities for the future. I have to research the Raspberry Pi thing more before I pull the trigger. I'm just curious what everyone is using to control their LEDs if they aren't using Reef Pi. I was looking at MakersController but I don't know if I can use it with my drivers or not. Any advice?

I will be honest I didn’t trust this task to be on the pi so went for a light with built in WiFi controller.

 

[NickSc]

I'm attempting with an arduino.

 

[MaddyP]

I’m running a DIY LED over my tank which is controlled via a 0-10V signal in Node Red. Built with MakersLED slim housing and MakersLED 5Up drivers. LED’s are Nanobox V3.1’s.

Control is fairly simple using a RPi 4 running Node Red. Signal is connected to a Widgetlords 4 channel Analog Output board. Hardest part is the setup but once done it’s been solid.

 

[DanTheReefer]

Hey everyone,
I have my first set of LEDs on order with 2 meanwell CC drivers that have analogue dimmers built in and PWM capabilities for the future. I have to research the Raspberry Pi thing more before I pull the trigger. I'm just curious what everyone is using to control their LEDs if they aren't using Reef Pi. I was looking at MakersController but I don't know if I can use it with my drivers or not. Any advice?

Woah I was trying to remember when I made this post - it didn’t sound like me, but I like your username. Welcome to R2R.

 

[Ranjib]

obviously biased here. I use reef-pi to control kessil a80 in two of my pico tanks. I used to control a360 in my nano as well, but recently upgraded that one to red sea reefer 300xl, with ap9x, which has its own controller.
hope that helps
ranjib

 

[Dan the Reefer]

I’m running a DIY LED over my tank which is controlled via a 0-10V signal in Node Red. Built with MakersLED slim housing and MakersLED 5Up drivers. LED’s are Nanobox V3.1’s.

Control is fairly simple using a RPi 4 running Node Red. Signal is connected to a Widgetlords 4 channel Analog Output board. Hardest part is the setup but once done it’s been solid.

Wow! I might have some questions for you...

 

[Dan the Reefer]

Wow! I might have some questions for you...

Oh no! I was surprised that the name wasn't already taken, lol.

 

[Dan the Reefer]

I’m running a DIY LED over my tank which is controlled via a 0-10V signal in Node Red. Built with MakersLED slim housing and MakersLED 5Up drivers. LED’s are Nanobox V3.1’s.

Control is fairly simple using a RPi 4 running Node Red. Signal is connected to a Widgetlords 4 channel Analog Output board. Hardest part is the setup but once done it’s been solid.

Here's where I'm at now. I'm just using a white and a blue circuit driver (white is 3 kinds of white, green, and red and the blues are 2 different kinds of Royal Blue and "ultra" violet. The UV led was not mislabeled as ultraviolet) I'm hoping I will be happy with the way it holds it's spectrum when it dims, I may add more drivers later to separate the LEDs more. I haven't even started to think further into the controls at this point, this is a lot of work! I made the frame from aluminum L and Flat stock. Lots of drilling and riveting but I think the frame costed me $27 and is 5" wide x 56" long. I'm having it on 4" standoff brackets hung from the hood with hinges so I can lock it into position when the hood is down, then release it so it will pivot 90 degrees when the hood is up so I can do maintenance with light when the hood is up. I'll send pictures when it's hung after I'm done, the picture below is just to show the size. It's a 125 gallon.

 

[MaddyP]

Here's where I'm at now. I'm just using a white and a blue circuit driver (white is 3 kinds of white, green, and red and the blues are 2 different kinds of Royal Blue and "ultra" violet. The UV led was not mislabeled as ultraviolet) I'm hoping I will be happy with the way it holds it's spectrum when it dims, I may add more drivers later to separate the LEDs more. I haven't even started to think further into the controls at this point, this is a lot of work! I made the frame from aluminum L and Flat stock. Lots of drilling and riveting but I think the frame costed me $27 and is 5" wide x 56" long. I'm having it on 4" standoff brackets hung from the hood with hinges so I can lock it into position when the hood is down, then release it so it will pivot 90 degrees when the hood is up so I can do maintenance with light when the hood is up. I'll send pictures when it's hung after I'm done, the picture below is just to show the size. It's a 125 gallon.

Looking good! I like the way you spread out the LED’s. Should make coverage much more even across the length.