Moonlighting question

[briphi]

So I just ordered an Apex from Neptune, haven't gotten it yet, but had a question about the moon light feature. I was wondering if I could program the Apex to run a mean well 48D with royal blues to be the moonlight, and just run then very dim.

Can I get all the features of the lunar simulation module programmatically with dimmable LED's? I saw there is a seasonal moon light table with intensity values, can't I just program my dimmable LEDs to turn on/off at the right time, and ramp up to the correct moon intensity?

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Not exactly. The MOON facility is built around a fixed number of devices; LunarSim and VXD to be exact so while you can control the brightness of the Meanwell driver you would not be able to make the brightness track the lunar cycle.

 

[briphi]

I'm not sure I understand. What is vxd?

I haven't done any programming for this yet, but doesn't the apex have a moon cycle/intensity table that I can access progamatically?

If not, then that's really stupid. Why do I have to buy extra moon light LEDs when I've already got LEDs sitting over my tank?!

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Typo; I ment VDM which is the controller for AquaIllumination LED lighting system.

Directly; the MOON statement can only be used on the Neptune hardware that support if (as aformentioned) and cannot be used generically to control other types of hardware but as I mentioned you can control the brightness down very low, you just won't get the variable lunar cycle.

 

[RussM]

VXD - a typo; I think he meant VDM, a peripheral module for the Apex.

The season table sunrise/sunset feature can be used with just about compatible dimmable lighting.

But for the seasonal moonlight table it's a bit different; few dimmable LED drivers actually work at anything less than about 10% output, which is too much for use as moonlight. The moonlight feature in the Apex is specifically tailored to work with Neptune's Lunar Simulator Module and its attached LEDs, which are specifically made to work at the lower light levels needed for moonlighting. Kenargo mentioned the VDM - one of the capaibilities of the VDM is control of AI SOL LED fixtures. SOLs, unlike most LED fixtures/systems, do work at very low output levels, and therefor can be dimmed down to typical moonlight LED output levels.

Also, the sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset are fully independent, as they are in real life.... in other words, the moon can be up at midday, or there might be no moon at 2am. The use of a small dedicated moonlight set (i,e. the Lunar Sim Module) allows you to use both sunrise/sunset with your primary lighting, and still be able to use the moonlight cycle.

 

[briphi]

I've been trying to do more reading on this, and this thread has me even more confused, as it mentions moonInt working with VDM?

I'll probably have a better understanding once I have the controller and can play with it.

Btw, nice website kenargo! I think I stumbled on that randomly when researching buying the apex.

 

[briphi]

Ok wait, so the AL sol is controlled with a variable speed dimming port right? If that can work with moonlighting, then regular LEDs with the appropriate driver would also work hooked up to that vdm port. So the real problem is, that mean well 48d drivers can't turn on LEDs dimly enough to be a moonlight?

 

[RussM]

Ok wait, so the AL sol is controlled with a variable speed dimming port right?

Nope. The VDM has a total of 5 ports... 4 VarSpd ports (for connecting Tunze pumps or 0-10V dimmable lighting) and another port specifically and solely for connecting AI SOLs.

 

[briphi]

So it really is just Neptune artificially limiting the product so they can sell an extra module? I see no reason a vdm port couldn't do this.

 

[RussM]

So it really is just Neptune artificially limiting the product so they can sell an extra module? I see no reason a vdm port couldn't do this.

The VS ports on the VDM CAN go down low; the problem is that most LED drivers can't work at appropriately low output levels. Call it a marketing ploy if you will - I view it as making an optional expansion module optimized for a specific intended use.

BTW, Neptune isn't alone in doing this... another controller company's controllers requires an extra module and their moonlight LEDs as well in order to get a true moonlight cycle.

You can use the MOON feature with standard third-party moonlights, but it will be on/off only (no variable intensity control)

 

[briphi]

I do like the idea of an optimized expansion module that someone can buy to get up and running easily, that's a good thing. Making an arbitrary software restriction that prevents me from using my own led driver for moonlighting via vdm is a bad thing.

Don't get me wrong, I currently have another brands reef controller (you now the one) and I'm fed up with it. The Apex is definitely the way to go, and I'll probably even end up getting the lunar module (their evil plan all along!). I'm just annoyed at this instance.

Currently I have a crappy Marineland Reef led fixture whose blue LEDs I leave on at night for moonlight (I'm upgrading to 36 Crees). They're 6 1watt blue LEDs. I wonder if that's too much moonlighting for a 40b...

 

[pyton]

Ok wait, so the AL sol is controlled with a variable speed dimming port right? If that can work with moonlighting, then regular LEDs with the appropriate driver would also work hooked up to that vdm port. So the real problem is, that mean well 48d drivers can't turn on LEDs dimly enough to be a moonlight?

In short Yes

Most drivers do not go below 30%. If you read the specs most will say 1-10V not 0-10v like is needed. I wish I could find a 200W 285 Volt that was true 0-10v so when the Apex went to 0 the lights would turn off without turning off the outlets.

 

[RussM]

Currently I have a crappy Marineland Reef led fixture whose blue LEDs I leave on at night for moonlight (I'm upgrading to 36 Crees). They're 6 1watt blue LEDs. I wonder if that's too much moonlighting for a 40b...

Give that a try once you get the Apex; if you find that you really want the variable intensity, then go for the LSM.

We've heard that "I'm fed up with (Brand X)" line here once or twice before

 

[briphi]

Give that a try once you get the Apex; if you find that you really want the variable intensity, then go for the LSM.

We've heard that "I'm fed up with (Brand X)" line here once or twice before

On no, I meant I'm ditching the marine land to get a 36 cree DIY from rapid led. I was just kinda wondering aloud if I have been zapping everything with too much moon lighting for the past year.

I am kinda worried about my apex purchase after reading about web pages loading slowly and the unit losing internet connection frequently on these boards.

 

[RussM]

I am kinda worried about my apex purchase after reading about web pages loading slowly and the unit losing internet connection frequently on these boards.

The slow web page load issue appears to be resolved in the latest firmware.

The web server hang/losing connection issue is only experienced by a relatively small group of users; consequently, it took a while to chase down the cause. A test firmware build recently build sent out to some of those people appears to have resolved that - I haven't seen any reports here of it happening from those users. The latest beta firmware released last week also included that fix. Time will tell, but from my perspective as a frequenter of this forum, it seems to be resolved.