Apex VDM + AI modules - programming question.

[Shard]

I have a question about my lighting program for my AI modules and am hoping that someone here can help, maybe Kenargo Here is a quick rundown of my setup.

I have 4 - V1 AI modules over my 90g reef and I have a switch setup to turn on all my lights when flipped. I do this by way of a virtual outlet called "LightRelay". The problem I am having is with the white LEDs in my setup.

If the lights are out, and I flip my switch to turn on the lights and then turn the switch off, my blues go out properly, but the whites stay on, I guess on a down ramp. I am going to post my program/setup so that someone can take a look at it and suggest a modification so that my whites function as I would want them to.

It is also creating problems with my backup power cut off. I have the lights setup to turn off in case of a power outage, so my battery backup will last longer and only run the return pumps. If I pull the 12V adapter to simulate a power outage, the LEDs go off, but when I put the 12V adapter back in, the whites come on, even if it is after the light cycle has ended. I assume this issue will be solved by whatever solves the first issue as well.


Profiles:

AI-Moon
15
0
3

AI-Blue
60
0
100

AI-White
60
0
45

AI-SunSt
60
100
0

AI-Storm
4
2
2
75
50
100

AI-Cloud
10
65
3
15
0
0

AI-Temp
0
0
100

Virtual Outlets:

Daytime
If Sun 180/180 Then ON

Sunrise
If Sun 120/180 Then ON
If Outlet DayTime = ON Then OFF

Sunset
If Sun 180/240 Then ON
If Outlet DayTime = ON Then OFF

Storming
Set OFF
If Time 15:00 to 16:00 Then ON
If DoW SM-W-F- Then OFF

Cloudy
Set OFF
If Time 15:00 to 16:00 Then ON
If DoW -MTWTFS Then OFF

AI-LEDs
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Moon 000/000 Then ON
If Outlet Sunrise = ON Then ON
If Outlet DayTime = ON Then ON
If Outlet Sunset = ON Then ON
If Outlet Storming = ON Then ON
If Outlet Cloudy = ON Then ON

LightRelay
Set OFF
If Switch3 CLOSED Then ON

VDM Serial:

BluLED_7_5
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Moon 000/000 Then AI-Moon
If Outlet Sunrise = ON Then AI-Blue
If Outlet DayTime = ON Then AI-Blue
If Outlet Sunset = ON Then AI-SunSt
If Outlet Storming = ON Then AI-Storm
If Outlet Cloudy = ON Then AI-Cloud
If Outlet LightRelay = ON Then AI-Temp
If Power Apex Off 000 Then OFF

WhtLED_7_6
Set OFF
Fallback OFF
If Sun 180/150 Then AI-White
If Outlet Storming = ON Then AI-Storm
If Outlet Cloudy = ON Then AI-Cloud
If Outlet LightRelay = ON Then AI-Temp
If Power Apex Off 000 Then OFF

 

[Deleted member 143833]

When you switch the outlet off the WhtLED outlet will change to the active profile per pgoramming (you should be able to see what profile is active by looking at the status). This information should tell you the profile that is active and give some hint to the cause of what you are seeing. If the active profile is AI_White then I would agree with your theory that it is the ramp causing the lights to remaing on but I cannot tell without the addition information.

 

[Shard]

Yes, it shows AI-White as the active profile when I turn the switch off.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Then it is likely running that profile. I'd gess if you removed the ramp you would see a more immediate response and that ramp is causing the light to be on longer than you expect.

Note: I have the same issue and it is on the list to add code that will detect where the ramp 'should' would be based on time but in the current firmware the ramp starts when the profile 1st becomes active.

 

[Shard]

Kenargo,

Since the blue LEDs do go out and function properly when using the switch at night, do you think maybe a change in the white programming so it is the same 'style' as the blue would work? One thought would be to make the white programming more complex, using more profiles to control the sunrise, daytime, and sunset like the blue channel.

What about creating a 'Night' profile with 0 intensity and 0 ramp for the whites that runs outside the range of the daytime ramp/profile? I would suspect that it is the blues moon cycle/ramp that resets them properly so quickly, so could the same not be done with the whites? My thought here is that the lack of a profile to control the time outside of "Sun 180/150" is why they stay on?

Could implementing either one of these work?

Thanks for helping again,
Landon

 

[Shard]

Some updates....

I decided to try the Moon function on the white channel to control the lights outside of the Sun setting, but it did not work.

I created another ramp named AI-OFF and then modified the outlet programming to use that ramp during the Moon phase:

AI-OFF
0
0
0

WhtLED_7_6
Set OFF
Fallback OFF
If Moon 000/000 Then AI-OFF
If Sun 180/150 Then AI-White
If Outlet Storming = ON Then AI-Storm
If Outlet Cloudy = ON Then AI-Cloud
If Outlet LightRelay = ON Then AI-Temp
If Power Apex Off 000 Then OFF

Any one else have an idea?

Landon

 

[Deleted member 143833]

I decided to try the Moon function on the white channel to control the lights outside of the Sun setting, but it did not work.

You are correct; only the blue channels will work with MOON; the white channel does not have this ability. I find that changing to use 1 blue channel (vs 2) allows me to have a slighly higher MOON ending intensity and therefor gives me a bit more range during the lunar cycle.

I don't see any value is a white profile just to hold it at 0; you can do the same thing by setting white off but then you have 32 profiles so I guess it doesn't hurt to do it if that is what you prefer.

 

[Shard]

you can do the same thing by setting white off

How would I set white to OFF outside of the Sun time function?

 

[Deleted member 143833]

The easiest:

If Sun 000/000 Then AI-White

In the VDM the above program will run the AI-White profile forward (for sunrise) and in reverse (for sunset). You only need 1 profile to get both.

 

[Shard]

I already use that type of white setup, but it causes a problem.

"If Sun 180/150 Then AI-White" is in my program, but the problem with the switch function still persists. For example, if it is 11pm and I turn on my LEDs with the switch, then when I turn the switch off, the blues turn off and go the moon profile, but the whites stay on AI-White and begin a down ramp.

That was the initial problem I was trying to solve with the Moon function. The problem is my white LED outlet always says it is on AI-White profile, even at 4 am. I need another profile to kick in after sunset, or I need them to just plan stay off after sunset.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

This will be true no matter what if you use a profile. When a profile 1st becomes active it runs from start to end. There will be a fix for SUN/MOON statements in a future release if you want to wait otherwise you would need to remove the ramp down and use separate profiles. The program will be similar to your blue with the different profiles but for sunset you would set the outlet off (so no profile).

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Verify the status on the status page; does it report Moon? Remember moon must have risen and these days it rises quite late.

The small range 2 will give you a very narrow lunar brightness during the cycle; I found that as high as 5-6 (using a single blue) is really nice for full moon. If you are using both blues then 4 is about as bright as you want so I suggest cutting down to a single blue and let the other blue track SUN (similar to the white).