DIY LED ~ easy build thread

[Cheetos]

The LEDS are tapped and screwed and have a therma paste underneath each pad to help conduct the heat away. I dont have any means to test at the pads right now. I ran the setup at 7 volts input as I will for about a week to match the par output of previous light, then I will slowly increase the output of the LEDs each week until I can max them out at full output.

AND NOW...

The wiring diagram for the pot controller for the meanwell dimmers.!

What if pot 1 gets turned up accidentally?

 

[Muddskipper35]

You spend more money to buy new Meanwels.

 

[Muddskipper35]

Highly recommend using the dimmable drivers with a RKL-ALC module or an APEX system.
I dont recommend the pots for that reason and I am only using them to test the array and figure out the ALC module which hopefully in the next hour Ill have it figured out. Not much help out there on this module but I'll figure it out.

 

[Cheetos]

I remember reading something about having the latest firmware on the ALC to get it to work with the meanwells!

 

[Muddskipper35]

Updated the firmware before I even tried it. Called DA today and after explaining everything to them and going through there steps to try an get it to work they said its probably a bad unit? Then they said to take it apart and see if there was any metal shavings shorting it out as they had another customer with the same problem and I might want to take a look as well.. Well i tool a look inside and found nothing loose or any metal "shavings" so now I have to email them all the info, my info and a copy of the reciept to get an RA to send it back under warranty work..
Should have went with an APEX. It appears that there are a number of people with the same problems..
So now I have to put my POTs back together and use them until this is resolved.
Guess I'll work on a few of the many other projects I have going.

 

[Cheetos]

Seriously, that sucks! I've heard a lot of people are having trouble with the ALC module. Why not just build a LM317 circuit for now so you don't risk burning out your drivers?

 

[Muddskipper35]

Could you post out the diagram? I know its out there but dont have the time to go digging right now.

 

[Cheetos]

Here ya go! You can use any volt power supply with this and your output will never be more than 10 volts!

 

[Muddskipper35]

Thanks. Guess its off to radio shack in the AM. Not difficult at all to make. Safer than what I'm using.

 

[DoctaQ]

i know you said that the pots were only temp but heres a novel idea

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Produc...B10Kvirtualkey14860000virtualkey312-9301F-10K

im ordering a few to play with

 

[Muddskipper35]

Nice find and cheaper than a pot until you add shipping!!
That and I really hate ordering things and waiting..

 

[Muddskipper35]

Cheetos~ How much do you understand the circuit? I just built one but Its putting out the same voltage as whats being inputted.. Am I missing something here? I grounded the Input , the meanwell together to the circuit .. Is the third arm on the pot supposed to be grounded as well?

Also I used 1/2 watt resistors.. Don't think that matters as long as its in the value. And the caps are- .1uf is a polyester film and the 1.0uf is a tantalum.. Wouldn't think that makes a diff either..?..

 

[Cheetos]

The third arm of the pot does not get grounded. I would think the caps are fine but not sure on the .5 watt resistors. What happens when you turn the pot? Possibly wrong terminals being used on the pot? You should also be checking the output voltage without the meanwell not hooked up so you don't cook the meanwell. HTH!

 

[Muddskipper35]

meanwell isn't hooked up.. Not that crazy ... If I measure the voltage out at the 3rd arm of the lm317 ( where the pot hooks up) I get 10.22 but measured where the diagram says to hook the Vout then I get 11.55..?? Wiring up the 2nd one now.. maybe something I did? dunno...

 

[DoctaQ]

pics?

 

[Muddskipper35]

Hmmm.. Dunno what happened or why but wired up the second one and got the same thing.. Left it plugged in and turned the whole thing off and on a couple times and now it shows 9.8 as wired per the diagram.. After playing with it for a few minutes I blew the 1uf cap on the 2nd circuit but it still works fine?? Gonna have to replace the cap tomorrow.. Maybe it just needed a breakin?? Dunno.. Should probably just find a proper electrician to wire the thing.
Any takers?

 

[Muddskipper35]

Pics?? HAHAHA would never show the solder job I did on these!! ( really its not bad but nothing I would ever wanna show off..)

Ohh forgot to add that these wont turn down below 1.84Vs?? Any idea on this as Im under the impression that this will turn all the way down?

 

[DoctaQ]

hook up your other pot in place of the two resistors in series just to play with, see what resistance you end up needing to drop the voltage to 10v

 

[DoctaQ]

check the minimum resistance first of course

 

[Muddskipper35]

UPDATE..

ALC was shipped out gonna have to see how long before I get it back..

Current LED setup is running fine and the Corals are coloring up like nothing I've ever had before. Unbeilevable colors.. I am really impressed with what I am seeing thus far.

On a totally different note~ the 2 spots of bryopsis I have in the tank have taken on a totally different grwth form and look more like minature trees now- making it much easier to remove and eradicate. Will take pics soon but I really think this might be a key in the removal and eradication of this algea.. The question is though why is this happening and if this is happening to the bryopsis then whats going on with the corals??

And last note- Ordered another kit today~ 48 LED kit with the new cree Q5 LEDs .. Should have this tues.. New kit will replace the current one .. The one I currently have will be put over the frag tank.