Rapidled driver (eln-60-48P) with Apex controller?

[rhwimmers]

Anyone have an apex controlling their dimmable driver from rapidled? I have 5 of the ELN-60-48P but when I emailed support they said the following:

The P driver takes a PWM input while the D driver takes a 0-10V input. The Apex controllers output 0-10V, so you'll want the D drivers. I don't think the P's would work with that controller.

(http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?...d=43&Itemid=40) is the controller I was looking at.

Any way around this? Anyone have a ELN-60-48D and wanna trade

 

[Comtek]

i have 10 eln60-48p hooked to the apex using the 0-10v signal
the 48p can use either pwn signal or 0-10v signal

 

[Comtek]

FUNCTION DIMMING CONTROL (OPTIONAL) 1 ~ 10VDC or PWM signal : 100Hz ~ 3KHz

that is right from the eln60-48p spec sheet

 

[rhwimmers]

That is excellent! Thanks for the good information! How did you change yours, Do you just turn yours on and off or do you do anything fancy (thunderstorms etc)?

 

[rhwimmers]

i have 10 eln60-48p hooked to the apex using the 0-10v signal
the 48p can use either pwn signal or 0-10v signal

How did you hook these up and which Apex do you have? Do you plug the power cables into the power bar and then what did you hook into the apex for the controlling part? If I get a apex lite, I need the VDM for this, is that right? I saw it had rj45 connectors (network cables, look like a phone jack), and I definitely dont have that in my led setup.
Thanks for the info.

 

[dnejdl]

well i know i called apex and they said that the MeanWell CLG-150-48B will not work

 

[rhwimmers]

I wonder why? I saw the 150 the other day, definitely would make soldering easier and a lot less space needed for all the ballasts!

 

[dnejdl]

well there are differnt 150 out there im thinking will work but the one on this web site who sell diy leds wont work .

 

[jwoyshnar]

I believe the CLG only works with resistance

 

[dwolson2]

How did you hook these up and which Apex do you have? Do you plug the power cables into the power bar and then what did you hook into the apex for the controlling part? If I get a apex lite, I need the VDM for this, is that right? I saw it had rj45 connectors (network cables, look like a phone jack), and I definitely dont have that in my led setup.
Thanks for the info.

I think your mostly correct, I could tell you in a few months when I get LED's. The full APEX or the APEX lite with VDM can control the drivers.
From what I understand 0v from the apex turns the LEDs off. So you wouldn't need to run the driver into your EB8. Also, if you haven't bought your Apex yet, get the full not the light. You will get a few more options for the same amount of money(thats Why I just bought it)

 

[Comtek]

here is some pics of how to wire them up to the apex and to the drivers

 

[Devaji108]

don't mean to hijack the thread...However I was on the search for a controller for my LEds...started off looking for a ATO really then upgraded the idea to a controller..haha
anyway back to the point was looking at the apex but ended up with the reef angel
http://www.reefangel.com/Products.Reef-Angel-Controller.ashx
it has build in ports for dimming LEDs + wifi module and is made my a fellow reefer. just a thought. something to look in to anyway.
good luck

 

[Mario_Markt]

Hi is there someone how can give more info
about the apex and the 48p,s
what can you do with it
i cant find some info or movies about the apex
and were can you buy it

thanks

 

[Comtek]

whatever you want to do
dimm leds what else would u want to do

 

[rhwimmers]

Mario - you dim them and turn them on and off. You might be able to do a "lightening storm", but not sure on that.
The apex is made by Neptune, so search google for neptune apex and you will find more information.
Comtek - TFTP!

 

[Comtek]

Mario - you dim them and turn them on and off. You might be able to do a "lightening storm", but not sure on that.
The apex is made by Neptune, so search google for neptune apex and you will find more information.
Comtek - TFTP!

No problem they were made by Russ well atleast one was not sure about the other

 

[hllywd]

How did you hook these up and which Apex do you have? Do you plug the power cables into the power bar and then what did you hook into the apex for the controlling part? If I get a apex lite, I need the VDM for this, is that right? I saw it had rj45 connectors (network cables, look like a phone jack), and I definitely dont have that in my led setup.
Thanks for the info.

You can purchase ready made VSP cables from Neptune, or you can make your own from a RJ45 plug and a piece of Cat5 cable. each VSP whether included in the full version Apex, or the add on for the Lite version controls 2 channels of 0 - 10VDC output. The 0 - 10VDC may be used to control Tunzes, brighten/dim compatible lighting, or something else that requires an analog 0 - 10VDC variable signal.

In the Neptune Forum there was a "New User's Guide" that had better detail that the official user guide. It was on a sticky but it's not there now. It had detailed instructions for making your own cables, how to set up profiles, etc... It would be wise to find that file, I hope I still have it on my other computer... ANyway, in addition to the "ramp" profile you use for dimming there is a built in weather profile so you can program random cloud cover, storms, etc... You can kick you Tunzes up, and have lightening at the same time if you really want.

Hope that answers some of your questions.
Tim

 

[hllywd]

BTW, I do switch my ELNs off after they dim all the way, then power them back up a few minute before "sunrise".

 

[rhwimmers]

Great info hllywd, thanks. Which ELNs do you have and how many? Whats your programming look like for them? Do you just have all the whites plugged into an extension bar then that into the apex unit so you dont waste "ports" in the apex? Then do the same with blue?

 

[hllywd]

I'm using 8 - ELN 60-48Ds. I wired the blues to one power cord, and the whites to another. I suppose if you wanted to do some fancy east/west or random lighting scheme you could wire each driver separately, but I didn't see the necessity. There would be more expense, clutter, and work involved as well. I used a couple of nice, grounded, inexpensive extension cords from Lowes with the female ends cut off to wire the individual colors to. Those are both plugged into the same power bar along with my cooling fans so I only use one EB8 slot to power up (or down) all of the drivers, and the fans. Looking back, I probably would have used 1 power cord for all of the drivers, as they are set, all 8 drivers pull less than 4A when they're all on and at peak intensity.

Tim

BTW - The "New Users Guide" sticky is back on the Neptune forum.