Anyone DIY their LEDs with MeanWell LDD drivers?

[gkugelman]

I want to build 3 LED fixtures for my 6' long tank.

Each fixture will have 36 leds:
2 x red
2 x green
4 x neutral white
6 x cool white
4 x blue
10 x royal blue
4 x violet
4 x hyper violet

I want to have 5 channels - red, green, white, blue, and violet.
I will use an Apex + VDM to control each channel, since the apex has 4 channels, and the VDM gives me 4 more.

Now for the hard part:
I want to use the Meanwell LDD drivers since they are tiny, inexpensive, and I can use a lot of them.

1. Since I am only running 6 red leds, can I run them all off one LDD-700H driver?
1a. If I can, how can this be wired since the 6 leds are not wired directly together (they are on 3 separate fixtures).
1b. If I can't, this would mean that I would need 15 drivers? (5 channels x 3 fixtures)

2. It looks like I am going to need either 9 or 15 drivers. Can I install them on a board like this:

2a. Is this the best way?

3. How do I wire these drivers to a power supply? I bought two of these:

4. I know the drivers now need to be connected to a converter, such as the one from this post:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21566543&postcount=1474

How to I wire the drivers to this connector? And how do I wire this connector to my Apex?

5. Is there anyone who wants to come help me wire this all up? =D You would have my eternal gratitude!

6. Did I take on a project that is way over my head? :sad1: And should I just cancel all my orders now?

This is all Marvin's fault, because he suggested the LDD drivers, instead of the ELN drivers that I was originally going to use. :lmao:

 

[mlivvy]

I'm swamped in homework but i'll try to help.

I would ditch the 4 neutral whites and just use 1 bridgelux bxra per fixture. Google "evil clusters". Your combination of leds might cause too much of a disco effect.

1. 6 reds seems like alot. Reds are very strong. You can run 1-16 3w leds per LDD but pay attention to the leds voltage and mA.

2. Those boards work great but keep in mind you will need one of these if you plan to run the led's off the VDM.

3.

Instead of the storm controller picture the Interface Harness instead. Which BTW look into the storm controller. It's much cheaper than a VDM has tons of options + channels.

4. see 2

5. too busy sorry

6. Not at all. It's fun just needs tons of researching.

 

[JOHN4AVIATION]

Seems like an interesting project. I have done DYI led's with Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable drivers. would like to help but you live far.

 

[Biggar]

I agree, six reds is alot.

Now, may I ask why you dont buy 3 of the Chinese full spectrum Dimmable fixtures?

They are usually cheaper than building DIY and easier to resell.

 

[mlivvy]

I agree, six reds is alot.

Now, may I ask why you dont buy 3 of the Chinese full spectrum Dimmable fixtures?

They are usually cheaper than building DIY and easier to resell.

Chinese fixtures aren't electronically dimmable (like from a vdm) and it looks like thats what he's looking for. I bought one in the hopes of converting the drivers and they have some crazy voltage to them and no labels on the drivers.

Proof..

I feel like the components we use in a diy fixture are of much higher quality. I don't believe i'll buy another chinese fixture in the future. I'll stick to the big brand names with quality components or make my own.

 

[gkugelman]

I did look into some of the Chinese fixtures, but they generally only allow 2 channels for dimming, and I was really looking to be able to control each color separately.

I also agree with mlivvy about the quality of the drivers and leds - everyone I've talked to said there was a huge difference between Crees and the chinese leds.

Its definitely going to cost more to build it myself than to just buy a couple of those fixtures, but this way, I get the exact colors that I want, and get all the dimming that I want, and can control it all through the Apex. We also looked at the Hydras and Radions, which allow that multiple channel dimming - but by going the diy route, I get the same leds, the same amount of light - for less than half the cost.

As long as I can manage to DIY it =D

 

[philnm]

Hi @mlivvy,

I am deeply confused regarding LDDs as well, also working on a 3 channel set up.

Could you explain to me how can I drive 3 different LED channels (all requiring different voltage inputs..) using LDDs, which seem to provide an output of INPUT-3v constantly?

If my input is 36, LDDs will give 33, which might be fine for one channel but what if others require 30? 27? or even 24?

Cheers for any help!

I'm swamped in homework but i'll try to help.

I would ditch the 4 neutral whites and just use 1 bridgelux bxra per fixture. Google "evil clusters". Your combination of leds might cause too much of a disco effect.

1. 6 reds seems like alot. Reds are very strong. You can run 1-16 3w leds per LDD but pay attention to the leds voltage and mA.

2. Those boards work great but keep in mind you will need one of these if you plan to run the led's off the VDM.

3.

Instead of the storm controller picture the Interface Harness instead. Which BTW look into the storm controller. It's much cheaper than a VDM has tons of options + channels.

4. see 2

5. too busy sorry

6. Not at all. It's fun just needs tons of researching.

 

[tommychip]

looks great

 

[tonyyloww]

Hey has anyone used the coral pro L.E.D lights from reef radiance ?