Meanwell LDD driver: for those who want to dim to 0 using Arduino

[proietti]

O2Surplus been following the thread about these special drivers which have a footprint of a MeanWell. Would you be willing to send some fully assembled and send to the UK? of course with donation.

 

[rott]

if anyone is interested I have some extra screw shields for the mega for $10 each you have to populate them yourself and has a built in real time clock these are just a few extra I have after these run out I probably won't do another run.

 

[kaskiles]

I've read this entire thread, but it's been a while now. I remember reading something about my question, but cannot find it in here now.

I have an Arduino dimming a LDD, I set the analogWrite to 0 to turn them off. I do have the 10kohm resistor so that they fail off when the Arduino disconnects. Anyway, when I analogWrite them to 0, the LEDs still have a slight glow, I have to actually pull the power out of them or their power supply to go completely off...

Is there another resistor I need to place somewhere between ground to get them to bleed off, or do I have faulty connection?

 

[letoan]

Finally done! Thank you everyone, this project wouldn't turn out successful without this thread. :beer:


The top. Cool by 6 fans, heatsink stays steady at 95 degrees on full blast for an hour at room temperature (sensor mount using thermal adhesive at 1/4" away from the M12 royal blue).



Reflectors in.







Temperature sensor.



The controller.



PAR measurement from 36" away.

 

[O2Surplus]

Very nice- Now you've got me re-thinking the design for my 6' Makers Heat sink,LOL.

 

[reefermad619]

Finally done! Thank you everyone, this project wouldn't turn out successful without this thread. :beer:


The top. Cool by 6 fans, heatsink stays steady at 95 degrees on full blast for an hour at room temperature (sensor mount using thermal adhesive at 1/4" away from the M12 royal blue).



Reflectors in.







Temperature sensor.



The controller.



PAR measurement from 36" away.

You can't post pics without details! Let's get the specs on this thing. Looks killer!!!

 

[letoan]

You can't post pics without details! Let's get the specs on this thing. Looks killer!!!

60" Maker's heatsink
2 MW SE-600-48 ps
23 MW LDD drivers
4 6-up boards from joshlawless
Arduino Mega as controller
12v ps to feed the 6 cooling fans
5v usb charger to feed the Arduino
36 Luxeon M royal blue
18 Luxeon M neutral white
34 Cree XP-E blue, I want to add more but no more room on the heatsink :sad2:
34 SemiLEDs dual core violet
8 Luxeon ES cyan
7 Luxeon ES deep red
3 Luxeon royal blue for moonlight

That's it, I think, dead simple project.

 

[jedimasterben]

Finally done! Thank you everyone, this project wouldn't turn out successful without this thread. :beer:


The top. Cool by 6 fans, heatsink stays steady at 95 degrees on full blast for an hour at room temperature (sensor mount using thermal adhesive at 1/4" away from the M12 royal blue).



Reflectors in.







Temperature sensor.



The controller.



PAR measurement from 36" away.

60" Maker's heatsink
2 MW SE-600-48 ps
23 MW LDD drivers
4 6-up boards from joshlawless
Arduino Mega as controller
12v ps to feed the 6 cooling fans
5v usb charger to feed the Arduino
36 Luxeon M royal blue
18 Luxeon M neutral white
34 Cree XP-E blue, I want to add more but no more room on the heatsink :sad2:
34 SemiLEDs dual core violet
8 Luxeon ES cyan
7 Luxeon ES deep red
3 Luxeon royal blue for moonlight

That's it, I think, dead simple project.

 

[zachts]

60" Maker's heatsink
2 MW SE-600-48 ps
23 MW LDD drivers
4 6-up boards from joshlawless
Arduino Mega as controller
12v ps to feed the 6 cooling fans
5v usb charger to feed the Arduino
36 Luxeon M royal blue
18 Luxeon M neutral white
34 Cree XP-E blue, I want to add more but no more room on the heatsink :sad2:
34 SemiLEDs dual core violet
8 Luxeon ES cyan
7 Luxeon ES deep red
3 Luxeon royal blue for moonlight

That's it, I think, dead simple project.

You are my hero! That is one impressive build.

What did you use for reflectors on the single chip LEDs?

And what version of the violets did you get? Version 1.0 was prone to burning lenses under high current (but they've been good about replacing them if it occurs) check them periodically especially after the 3 month mark.

 

[letoan]

You are my hero! That is one impressive build.

What did you use for reflectors on the single chip LEDs?

And what version of the violets did you get? Version 1.0 was prone to burning lenses under high current (but they've been good about replacing them if it occurs) check them periodically especially after the 3 month mark.

I used carclo 10170 for the single chip. The violet is v2 dual core from Steve's, I hope they don't burn.

 

[zachts]

I used carclo 10170 for the single chip. The violet is v2 dual core from Steve's, I hope they don't burn.

Thanks!

I've had some version 2.0 running since 10/19/2013 at 950mA, so far so good, but Version 1.0 didn't start browning the lense until the 3 month mark, But then it went very quickly, so check back in February.........
Steve's assures me these will not have the same issue.

I'll post results in one of the Violet LED threads. I have a few other chips undergoing testing as well....

 

[letoan]

Thanks!

I've had some version 2.0 running since 10/19/2013 at 950mA, so far so good, but Version 1.0 didn't start browning the lense until the 3 month mark, But then it went very quickly, so check back in February.........
Steve's assures me these will not have the same issue.

I'll post results in one of the Violet LED threads. I have a few other chips undergoing testing as well....

I heard horror stories about those violet, I'm running them on 700ma, hope they last a few years without replacement.

 

[jedimasterben]

As long as the primary lenses on them are actually made of silicone it won't burn up.

 

[zachts]

As long as the primary lenses on them are actually made of silicone it won't burn up.

That's been the historical problem with them. Alot of them use PMMA (I think if I remember correctly) plastic, or something cheaper on some, same stuff as the secondary optics we all use. Problem is light in the low 400nm range and below slowly degrades that stuff over time, browning it, causing it to heat up, and expediting the failure rate. Even secondary plastic optics brown over time and have to be replaced on Violet LEDs.

 

[jedimasterben]

That's been the historical problem with them. Alot of them use PMMA (I think if I remember correctly) plastic, or something cheaper on some, same stuff as the secondary optics we all use. Problem is light in the low 400nm range and below slowly degrades that stuff over time, browning it, causing it to heat up, and expediting the failure rate. Even secondary plastic optics brown over time and have to be replaced on Violet LEDs.

Oh, I'm very familiar lol. I recently threw away $150 worth of them. :angryfire:

Let's just hope that the chinese are telling the truth now!

 

[zachts]

Oh, I'm very familiar lol. I recently threw away $150 worth of them. :angryfire:

Let's just hope that the chinese are telling the truth now!

I'm right there with you, I've burnt up more than $200 in violet LEDs just evaluating the different ones out there to try and find some that would be up to snuff to put over my display tank :headwalls:

High hopes for the new Steve's Leds chips (there is a obvious phisical differnece in the dome on the V2.0 they do appear to actually be a silicone material) and some day I hope to find a reliable 430nm that can live up to it's specs and last the same as a Cree or Luxeon Royal Blue. (I'm testing the only one available right now in the "Cree X series" style chip package and it's not looking good. I think they cheaped out and used plastic :angryfire: (Rapid LED so far has been the only vendor who's done the research to stock good chips, but they don't offer higher nanometer violets yet, only those in the sub 410 range according to the spectrum graphs from them)

 

[jedimasterben]

I'm right there with you, I've burnt up more than $200 in violet LEDs just evaluating the different ones out there to try and find some that would be up to snuff to put over my display tank :headwalls:

High hopes for the new Steve's Leds chips (there is a obvious phisical differnece in the dome on the V2.0 they do appear to actually be a silicone material) and some day I hope to find a reliable 430nm that can live up to it's specs and last the same as a Cree or Luxeon Royal Blue. (I'm testing the only one available right now in the "Cree X series" style chip package and it's not looking good. I think they cheaped out and used plastic :angryfire: (Rapid LED so far has been the only vendor who's done the research to stock good chips, but they don't offer higher nanometer violets yet, only those in the sub 410 range according to the spectrum graphs from them)

The lens on the 3535 package hyper violets are silicone, I know that they made sure of that. Steve's should consider that package, as well, for better heat transfer, which is one thing that their current package doesn't do all that well.

Btw, Philips recently released a violet Luxeon. The top-bin 425-430nm chip has 1260mW of output at 1000mA at around 3.05v. Steve's are 1026mW at 1000mA 3.5v, LGB are 960mW at 700mA 3.5v. They're also stupid tiny, around a millimeter wide. They're also stupid expensive, at around $25 apiece lol

 

[zachts]

The lens on the 3535 package hyper violets are silicone, I know that they made sure of that. Steve's should consider that package, as well, for better heat transfer, which is one thing that their current package doesn't do all that well.

I had assumed that they were, but never got a confirmation from them despite asking several times. I'm concerned though becuse it appears several of mine are beginning to burn just like thier old button style did. But I've not had the time or motivation to remove the secondary optics yet to confirm as they are epoxied on and it is a royal PITA on this particular fixture.

Personally I'm fine with saving $2 per chip and using Steve's type as long as the lenses prove to not burn up with the V2.0. It adds up quicky when your using more violets than Royal Blues and Blues combined in your builds.

Btw, Philips recently released a violet Luxeon. The top-bin 425-430nm chip has 1260mW of output at 1000mA at around 3.05v. Steve's are 1026mW at 1000mA 3.5v, LGB are 960mW at 700mA 3.5v. They're also stupid tiny, around a millimeter wide. They're also stupid expensive, at around $25 apiece lol

Sweet! a more efficient violet, finally! Can't wait until they are affordable. I imagine Steve's will be the first to stock them once they get down to the $5 or so range....... in a year or two :lolspin:

Alright enough side tracking back to the main topic

 

[Milfordguy]

Do you have a build thread for this beast?

I'd love to see the color on this over a tank.

Finally done! Thank you everyone, this project wouldn't turn out successful without this thread. :beer:


The top. Cool by 6 fans, heatsink stays steady at 95 degrees on full blast for an hour at room temperature (sensor mount using thermal adhesive at 1/4" away from the M12 royal blue).



Reflectors in.







Temperature sensor.



The controller.



PAR measurement from 36" away.

 

[jbadd99]

The "Elves" have been busy again!

Just built out a new 8up PcB and a new 4up LDD-H that includes an SCW12 DC/DC convertor and an arduino PWM fan control circuit. Check em out. I'll post the build files if there's an interest.

Where's the 8up with PWM fan control? :lol2: