DIY custom led build programmable

[Dctrojan]

Im about to take part in a LED build from rapidleds and adding a driver to my current LED fictures. I have a 55 gallon setup with a 30 gallon sump/fuge. I want to add a controller, most likely reef angel.

Heres what i have so far:
2- 144w led fixtures/manual dimmer

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-LE...eefBlok-Coral-Reef-Grow-Fixture-/300915148718

I want to add:
a 24 led royal blue actinic kit, plus a few red leds to the kit.
http://www.rapidled.com/24-led-dimmable-actinic-supplement-kit/

I want to add a reef angel plus controller to monitor my tank.
Ive been reading and it says, the controller will control dimmers .

Will i need to add a driver to my current fixture?
If so would a driver from rapidleds work?
http://www.rapidled.com/dimmable-drivers/

Im electrically inclined for the most part and a college student on a budget so any DIY recommendations are greatly appreciated.

 

[boxorocks]

Look up AC-RC on ebay and grab some Epistar LEDs

 

[Dctrojan]

Instead of the rapidleds?
The chinese ones I already have are epistar

 

[Dctrojan]

Anyone have any input?

 

[Aqualund]

wait, are you trying to add the leds to the fixture itself?

and keep in mind, you need to keep the different colored lights on different strings. the varying voltage drops between colors makes it so they cant run on the same string...well...they will, but will burn out in a month or two.

 

[Dctrojan]

Im wanting to just add the rapid leds royal blue to the canopy infront of the other fixtures. oh ok, so I wont be able to add a few reds to the strip unless I give them their own power source .

 

[Aqualund]

okay then yes, you can use the current fixture and the existing drivers and hook it up to the controller. Since these leds are analog, you will need a converter to hook these dimmers up to the reef angle which does pwm dimming. just get that converter and take the wires off the dimming knobs and hook it all up. gtg.

Then beyond that, it sounds like you know what to do for the other lights.

 

[Dctrojan]

okay then yes, you can use the current fixture and the existing drivers and hook it up to the controller. Since these leds are analog, you will need a converter to hook these dimmers up to the reef angle which does pwm dimming. just get that converter and take the wires off the dimming knobs and hook it all up. gtg.

Then beyond that, it sounds like you know what to do for the other lights.

Okay I think im starting to understand
So in order to hook up my current fixtures to the reef angel plus controller and have the capability to dim them, is to buy 2 drivers for rapidleds and somehow hook them up to my current fixtures and convert the signal from analog to pcw? (In theory lol)

 

[Aqualund]

Well maybe not exactly...

1. I think you're fixtures are already dimmable. But they are analog dimming...not digital. meaning you use a knob to dim them. You would need to hook up the wires that are on the knobs to a analog to pwm signal converter. Then hook that up to the controller...to dim your existing fixture.

2. separately you would do the other rapidled fixture that has pwm dimmable drivers and hook that up to the controller as well on a different channel.

*or* you could figure out what type of drivers you currently have in the led fixture (voltage and amperage), and replace it with a driver of similar specs but with pwm dimming. and then just hook that up to the controller.

 

[Dctrojan]

Well maybe not exactly...

1. I think you're fixtures are already dimmable. But they are analog dimming...not digital. meaning you use a knob to dim them. You would need to hook up the wires that are on the knobs to a analog to pwm signal converter. Then hook that up to the controller...to dim your existing fixture.

2. separately you would do the other rapidled fixture that has pwm dimmable drivers and hook that up to the controller as well on a different channel.

*or* you could figure out what type of drivers you currently have in the led fixture (voltage and amperage), and replace it with a driver of similar specs but with pwm dimming. and then just hook that up to the controller.

Oh ok. I understand now. Based off of what you said, In your opinion which way would be easiest eay to get the current from analog to pcw. Splicing in a converter or getting new drivers for the fixtures and adding them . Thank you for all the help.

 

[Aqualund]

it depends, sometimes they like to be tricky and use a non standard voltage for their drivers. I would open it up, find out what you need and do a search for it...see if its readily available.

 

[Dctrojan]

Ok sounds good. Im ordering the reef angel and the rapidled kit tomorrow so i'll keep you updated on the progress.