DIY CREE LUMIA fixtures and apex

[NanoReefWanabe]

Hey guys, I am hoping someone can shed light on this for me.... as the title suggests I have cree lumia DIY led pucks. 4 of them over my 35g cube, yes it is a crazy amount of light...I have them all hooked up through a storm controller, however just bought an apex and I am wondering can the vdm module be used in conjunction or by itself to control these pucks... from what i can tell the vdm only has 4 controllable ports but each of my pucks has 5 channels, so would I need 2 vdms? Or can the apex control it through the storm?

 

[oreo57]

Sorry don't know much about the Apex BUT do know you need a converter board to "translate" the Apex 0-10V analog signal to a 5V PWM signal.
Storm would not be involved in any way..

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

I thought the meanwell ldd drives sr 0-10v

 

[mcgyvr]

I thought the meanwell ldd drives sr 0-10v

No they are 0-5V..
Other Meanwells are 0-10V (analog or PWM) like the ELN or LPF drivers..but the LDDs are 5V

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

No they are 0-5V..
Other Meanwells are 0-10V (analog or PWM) like the ELN or LPF drivers..but the LDDs are 5V

Thank you... is there stepup driver boards?

 

[oreo57]

https://www.stevesleds.com/Aquarium-Controller-Interface-Harness_p_183.html

There are others out there..

 

[mcgyvr]

Thank you... is there stepup driver boards?

Stepdown you mean?

AFAIK the VDM is 0-10V analog.. I have seen adapter boards to convert 0-10V analog to a PWM signal (5V)

This is the first I came across..
https://www.stevesleds.com/Aquarium-Controller-Interface-Harness_p_183.html

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

Stepdown you mean?

AFAIK the VDM is 0-10V analog.. I have seen adapter boards to convert 0-10V analog to a PWM signal (5V)

This is the first I came across..
https://www.stevesleds.com/Aquarium-Controller-Interface-Harness_p_183.html

Thank youto both of you for this...I assume i would need two of these boards then to controlall five channels

 

[oreo57]

Thank youto both of you for this...I assume i would need two of these boards then to controlall five channels

Up to you..

ch1 and 5 are identical..you could put them on one channel

Layout:

Channel 1 - 3 Hyper Violet and 2 CREE XT-E Royal Blue (Actinic channel) (18v @ 700mA)
Channel 2 - Royal Blue (base blue spectrum) (16.5V @ 1500mA)
Channel 3 - 3 XT-E Netural White and 2 XT-E Warm White (base white color) (16.5V @ 1500mA)
Channel 4 - Turquoise / CREE XPE2 Blue (enhanced color spectrum) (17.2V @ 700mA)
Channel 5 - 3 Hyper Violet and 2 CREE XT-E Royal Blue (Actinic channel) (18v @ 700mA)

You can add multiple LDD dim wires to each output..
8 LDD's on one channel.. 4 on each of the other 3..

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

Up to you..

ch1 and 5 are identical..you could put them on one channel



You can add multiple LDD dim wires to each output..
8 LDD's on one channel.. 4 on each of the other 3..

And this is why I ask dumb questions, cause there are some smart peeps on this forum

Thank you so much

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

Okay I have ordered the step down transformer thing-a-ma-bob from Steve's leds. No clue when it will get here.. but excited for it.. next question...
Do i need to get a vdm module? Or can I use the 4 variable ports on the brain in the time being? I don't currently have any pumps I can control with them. If I need a vdm that isno biggie, I have time on my hands waiting for the interface anyway...I havea stormX controller I could use too, by having everything controller through apex seems so much easier. I am going to get an icecap interface module for my gyre pump too

 

[oreo57]

Okay I have ordered the step down transformer thing-a-ma-bob from Steve's leds. No clue when it will get here.. but excited for it.. next question...
Do i need to get a vdm module? Or can I use the 4 variable ports on the brain in the time being? I don't currently have any pumps I can control with them. If I need a vdm that isno biggie, I have time on my hands waiting for the interface anyway...I havea stormX controller I could use too, by having everything controller through apex seems so much easier. I am going to get an icecap interface module for my gyre pump too

https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sh...tween-VDM-and-built-in-Variable-voltage-ports

The only difference between the VarSpd outlets in the Apex base and those in the VDM is that Fallback is configurable for the ones in the VDM. Fallback does not apply to any outlets embedded in the Apex itself.

???


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2653387

Following is the pinout of the variable speed connector. (pins 1 on left, pin 8 on right - looking at the variable speed connectorsof the Apex).

Pin 1 - Reserved.
Pin 2 - Reserved.
Pin 3 - Gnd (red)
Pin 4 - 0-10 Variable output A (black)
Pin 5 - Reserved.
Pin 6 - Reserved.
Pin 7 - Gnd (red)
Pin 8 - 0-10 Variable output B (black)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1882291

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

I don't know exactly what fallback refers too.. but at this point it sounds as though I don't needed the vdm yet..

 

[oreo57]

I don't know exactly what fallback refers too.. but at this point it sounds as though I don't needed the vdm yet..

https://forum.neptunesystems.com/showthread.php?16687-VDM-Fallback&p=107387&styleid=7

Since I was curious.. Seems the VDM module "saves" settings internally in case the main unit goes offline so to speak.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

Thank you again... buying the controller used I gotno instructions, so just kinda looking things up as i need too... bit don't understand half if what I am reading... looks like I needto join another forum...