LED to APEX help...

G

gREEF stricken

New member
A buddy and I have been workin on a 3 color LED build to for some actual fluorescent augmentation to my Halides. Pencils out as follows:

5'L X 2'W X 10"H. 3ea 250W DE MH fixtures at ends and in middle. 2ea canopy length 1-1/4" aluminum square stock for heatsinks with squirrel cage style blowers at one end of each for cooling front and back of canopy.

4ea ELN 60-48Ps

1 Running 15ea Cool blues(8 on front bar and 7 on back)
1 running 14ea UV's(7 front 7 back)
1 running 15 Royal Blues on front bar
1 running 15 Royal Blues on back bar.

Problem is this...have a VDM on this tank(2 systems, full apex on 90gal and expansion apex on 155g)which SHOULD give me 4 VSP's right? Well I have CB's and UV's on 2 of them, controlled, programmed and dialed...but despite the fact that the RB's Cat5 is plugged into second VDM port I have NO control over them. turn ALL four VSPs on in phone app and CB's & UV's come on as asked but the RB's stay on no matter what. Only way to get them to go off is to unplug their respective drivers. if I simply switch VDM ports with cat5's exact same situation except the CB and UV VSP's are then reversed but still no control of RB's...We spent a good 2 hrs lat night making sure what we believe should connected to what IS...heeeeellllp

GS
 
Recheck the driver label, if they are indeed "P" models that is your issue, those want a 10v pwm signal not 0-10volt for dimming.

The "D" model is the one that is compatible with apex. The ELN's are know for often working with the wrong dimming signal but it's a crap shoot, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
 
Okay, while I get what you're saying, I still contend that if I turned the power off to the actual port the light should go off regardless of dimming. No?? If I physically turn the VS P off in my app, which should kill power to that outlet, nothing changes.

GS
 
gREEF stricken said:
Okay, while I get what you're saying, I still contend that if I turned the power off to the actual port the light should go off regardless of dimming. No?? If I physically turn the VS P off in my app, which should kill power to that outlet, nothing changes.

GS
Click to expand...
Check to see if it is phosphor "glow" from nearby on led's
 
gREEF stricken said:
Okay, while I get what you're saying, I still contend that if I turned the power off to the actual port the light should go off regardless of dimming. No?? If I physically turn the VS P off in my app, which should kill power to that outlet, nothing changes.

GS
Click to expand...

I may be mistake but the VDM ports may not actually be going to 0v when they are off. I which case the driver may still be getting enough voltage for it to think it has an on signal. If you leave the drivers powered and unplug the cable for dimming to those drivers do they stay on or go out? they should go out with no dimming signal even if powered up. If not you may just have bad drivers that need to be replaced.
 
zachts said:
I may be mistake but the VDM ports may not actually be going to 0v when they are off. I which case the driver may still be getting enough voltage for it to think it has an on signal. If you leave the drivers powered and unplug the cable for dimming to those drivers do they stay on or go out? they should go out with no dimming signal even if powered up. If not you may just have bad drivers that need to be replaced.
Click to expand...


Yes, when the dimming circuit is broken they go out. Found this when we were retracing everything.

GS
 
gREEF stricken said:
It just makes no sense to me that out of four identical drivers two work fine, and two are incompatible. That just defeats logic in my mind.

GS
Click to expand...

Yeah, the ELN line of drivers is know for inconstancy from one to the next, especially when being asked to run out of spec. In either case it's just luck that two of them work at all with the dimming signal, and a bit odd that the other two simply light up yet don't dim. I am curious if the RB drivers are on at full power though, just for kicks and giggles have you measured the current they are delivering when on? I'm also curious about the two that seem to be working right, are they giving the right max current that you set and the full range of dimming down to I thing it was like 10% or so where they should cut out and turn off?

Many report not being able to dial the current in an ELN down below 700mA with the internal pots and yet others, myself included can set the ones we have clear down to around 350mA if we wish. Many will also output well over their rated current limits, I've seen posts where they have been able to be turned up above 1600mA.

Bottom line, it sounds like you'll need different drivers or figure a way to convert the apex signal into 10v pwm (which can be done, there are a few boards out there to do this or you can hack something together)
 
ELN 60-48D emphasis on the "D" Should be the simplest and probably least expensive drop in and work as intended with apex control. I'd look at Power Gate's website as they often have the lowest prices when you need a few (after factoring in shipping)

Otherwise the various DIY LED suppliers often stock them but usually at a bit of a markup.

Other Meanwell models like the CLG, HLG, and LPF also would work but are more expensive and you'd need to consult the data sheets to pick the right models as just like the ELN they have different versions for different types of Dimming.
 
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