Looking for 10W LED Help.
- Thread starter Poseidon
- Start date
Stlouphil
Member
Really, I mean really? Seriously, I have not seen a capacitor or resistor since my freshman shop class 35 years ago. I certainly don't have one lying around the house! I warned everyone here that this was going to be an adventure. :lolspin:
Stlouphil
Member
See my previous post. LOL I'm going to change phone chargers and see if that fixes if. I have enough laying around.
I'd bring/mail you one but the gas/stamp would cost more than if you just stopped at the nearest radio shack :lolspin:
Don't forget about that old VCR in the closet. I'ts chock full of parts to steal
Got an old cordless phone that you aren't using? Lots of parts there.
LOL!
Way to slow on my refresh rate tonight!
Just ordered a simple 4 channel PWM dimmer from O2Surplus, even though I am happy at 100% this little $17 piece will give me the ability to control the brightness.
If at some point I decide to add more LED's, I'll be able to control them too. Is there a Violet LED that will compliment these Luxeons? I know they may not be visible as "purple" but I am betting that the colors reflected from the corals as a result of the violet LED would be.
If at some point I decide to add more LED's, I'll be able to control them too. Is there a Violet LED that will compliment these Luxeons? I know they may not be visible as "purple" but I am betting that the colors reflected from the corals as a result of the violet LED would be.
Stlouphil
Member
I'd bring/mail you one but the gas/stamp would cost more than if you just stopped at the nearest radio shack :lolspin:
Don't forget about that old VCR in the closet. I'ts chock full of parts to steal
Ok, here is where I stand. Thank GOD my wife is out of down. She probably would have me committed seeing obsessed I am on this build. :spin1:
I replaced both sets wiring from the board to the lights and MIRACLE: I test each individual channel and Flickering is gone!
I hard wired channel two first. Everything works great. No flicker and nice and bright.
I went to hard wire channel two and I hooked up the negative with the wire nut. As soon as I touched the + to channel one CHANNEL TWO WENT OUT! This is insane! I unplugged the power supply for a few minutes. Went through the same process and it happened again.
Possible PWM problem? Bad driver on channel two.
Try having the power supply unplugged from the wall, and the 5V. Make all connections, and then plug into wall and add the 5v last.
Maybe the magic fairies inside the LDD's are wigging out adding another channel when one channel is already on?
Where are the wire nuts being used and why? I don't have any is why I am asking. I look at those things as a weak point.
Maybe the magic fairies inside the LDD's are wigging out adding another channel when one channel is already on?
Where are the wire nuts being used and why? I don't have any is why I am asking. I look at those things as a weak point.
Stlouphil
Member
I now know it's a PWM problem. Here is a picture of how I have the 5v running into the board it is activation the first channel, but not the second. Take a look at the picture and explain were I should be putting the hot and ground wire for the PWM to activate both channels. I'm getting closer this should do it once I hook up the PWM correctly.:dance:
On the top of the board, pins 1,2,3,4, and 5 should be PWM positive inputs. The positive wire from your charger goes into pins 1 and 2. The ground is common from what I understand, and can go into any of pins 6, or 7.
The positive and negative from the power supply should be in pins 8 and 9. (8 as ground, 9 as positive.)
(Reading from left to right in this image of course.)
The positive and negative from the power supply should be in pins 8 and 9. (8 as ground, 9 as positive.)
(Reading from left to right in this image of course.)
Stlouphil
Member
Wire nuts? With all the wiring problems it was just easier switching and moving connections around. Once I get these babies up and running without demons I will replace them with a longer uninterrupted run to the board.
Stlouphil
Member
That's what I thought. I'm sure this will solve all my issues. Thanks for your help. Man, this is proof If I can do this ANYONE can. :lolspin:
Stlouphil
Member
BOOOOOOMMMMM! There it is !!!! :dance: Thanks! Those drives must have to remain unpowered for a period of time to reset. I think that was I was getting so many screwy results. Going to mount them tonight. I do have to get some actual income producing activity done today. :eek1:
Stlouphil
Member
WooHoo!!!! That is VERY cool! I am sure that you will be pleased when you get them on the tank, the 4 I added made a substation contribution to the color of my tank.
Wife is out of town anyways. Work is, well, nothings pressing. :lolspin: Just pushing through. this is my tank after all! I am very pleased doing something that I thought I could not do in a million years. Kinda dramatic, but that's me,:thumbsup:
Here mounting with the end caps. This will be a temp setup until I get the canopy going.
Looks like a good fit. That will allow you to angle them as needed, try it without the reflectors first, if they need to be added, it is just a piece of double sticky tape.
I am glad that you completed it, there is a sense of accomplishment and pride. Now that you have done this, there are MANY more to do. Ca Reactors, Kalk Stirrers... The list goes on.
I am talking with Melev now, to get a small footprint, dual container acrylic box made. Once I have that, I'll mod away to make a Ca reactor on one side, and a Kalk reactor on the other.
I'm also looking at Violet LEDs, I think I can fit a couple on each of my heatsinks, that should add even more pop with very little effort.
I am glad that you completed it, there is a sense of accomplishment and pride. Now that you have done this, there are MANY more to do. Ca Reactors, Kalk Stirrers... The list goes on.
I am talking with Melev now, to get a small footprint, dual container acrylic box made. Once I have that, I'll mod away to make a Ca reactor on one side, and a Kalk reactor on the other.
I'm also looking at Violet LEDs, I think I can fit a couple on each of my heatsinks, that should add even more pop with very little effort.
Stlouphil
Member
Looks like a good fit. That will allow you to angle them as needed, try it without the reflectors first, if they need to be added, it is just a piece of double sticky tape.
I am glad that you completed it, there is a sense of accomplishment and pride. Now that you have done this, there are MANY more to do. Ca Reactors, Kalk Stirrers... The list goes on.
I am talking with Melev now, to get a small footprint, dual container acrylic box made. Once I have that, I'll mod away to make a Ca reactor on one side, and a Kalk reactor on the other.
I'm also looking at Violet LEDs, I think I can fit a couple on each of my heatsinks, that should add even more pop with very little effort.
I am pretty jazzed. The pink milli I just got is UNBELIEVABLE! I have 6 total with very little spread outside the tank. These have I think 93 degree optics built in. I'm wondering if I could add maybe 4 more. The Radiums really do mute the blues, but you can see the florescent "pop".
How many violet LEDs would you have to add to make a difference? Man I don't even know why people mess with 3w Leds. Listen to me. Now I;m an LED snob. :lmao:
Here is the leds mounted:
Leds on without the halides:
LOL! These Luxeon's will have that effect on you! They really are bad a** to look at.
I am unsure on the Violets, I was hoping Ben or Zachts would chime in for me.
Not my best work by any means, but here is a pretty down and dirty pic of my reef with the PAR numbers measured. The readings were bouncing all over as I had all the circulation pumps on while taking these readings, so there is a fudge factor for sure.
You can see the SHADOW zone that I get with the Spider reflector, I wish I could have found those Lumenarcs that you have.
Hopefully you can read my writing, is Silver Sharpie marker. LOL
I am unsure on the Violets, I was hoping Ben or Zachts would chime in for me.
Not my best work by any means, but here is a pretty down and dirty pic of my reef with the PAR numbers measured. The readings were bouncing all over as I had all the circulation pumps on while taking these readings, so there is a fudge factor for sure.
You can see the SHADOW zone that I get with the Spider reflector, I wish I could have found those Lumenarcs that you have.
Hopefully you can read my writing, is Silver Sharpie marker. LOL
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