|
06/13/2017, 12:03 PM | #1 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
Apex VDM to custom led interface
Hey all,
Just thought I would share what I've been working on in the past couple of weeks. I currently own an apex unit, and got 4 tanks with custom built radion g3 packs on them. At the moment, I can't easily control the color of the lights, since each tank has 6 channels of color. So i came up with the following solution: each VDM port, has two channels, one would be used for defining the color, and one would be used to define the channel intensity. I am planning on storing preset color combination based on 0-10v value. for example 91%-100% would be 15k 81%-90% would be 20k and so on. Planning to open source the project once completed. I am not an electrical engineer, and this is kind the first attempt at something like that, if anyone who has experience wants to help out, you're welcome |
06/13/2017, 03:23 PM | #2 |
100-mile-commuter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: almost nevada
Posts: 4,721
|
Schematic isn't legible (thanks ancient RC forum limits).
But nothing wrong with this approach
__________________
Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics |
06/13/2017, 10:28 PM | #3 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
|
06/13/2017, 10:49 PM | #4 |
100-mile-commuter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: almost nevada
Posts: 4,721
|
Add more pixels and toss it on imgur
__________________
Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics |
06/14/2017, 08:34 AM | #5 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
Don't think I can still modify the original post, but i've uploaded it with higher res to IMGUR
High Res http://i.imgur.com/LDDRBV2.png PS. yea it was RC resizing it, had to reduce the image size the second time |
06/22/2017, 02:21 PM | #6 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
Received the PCBs today, going to solder up all of the components tomorrow and start working on the software
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
06/22/2017, 05:11 PM | #7 |
100-mile-commuter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: almost nevada
Posts: 4,721
|
Surprised you went for HASL - I like my SMT pads flat
__________________
Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics |
06/22/2017, 07:24 PM | #8 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
|
06/22/2017, 10:31 PM | #9 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
Turns out that the rj45 connectors are got are complete garbage. They won't make solid connection. Now I need to wait few more days for other connectors :-/ bit it turns out all do the components are working properly
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
06/22/2017, 11:53 PM | #10 |
100-mile-commuter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: almost nevada
Posts: 4,721
|
Which, per chance, did you get? Did you order some with magnetics internally?
__________________
Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics |
06/23/2017, 09:52 AM | #11 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
I got a few from ebay. Supposed to be pulse jack but even tho it was a us seller I think they are knockoffs.
I tested it against couple of different plugs, ones I crimped my self and also pre crimped ones Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
06/23/2017, 10:57 AM | #12 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
|
06/23/2017, 11:49 AM | #13 |
100-mile-commuter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: almost nevada
Posts: 4,721
|
Pulse brand jacks are quite likely "magjacks" (based on the size and shielding) - they have the needed Ethernet transformer internally.
I.e., these are the internals: You want one without magnetics, an 8P8C RJ-45 modular jack. https://www.digikey.com/short/30z2pr
__________________
Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics |
06/23/2017, 01:14 PM | #14 | |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
Quote:
Thanks for the explanation I had no idea they were isolated. Desoldering those will suck Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
|
11/05/2017, 10:22 PM | #15 |
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
|
Been a while since I last updated this thread, we've had a new addition to the family and bunch of other things that kept me from working on this project.
So I've ended up ordering non-magnetic RJ45 plugs, and started working on the software, I ended up routing the input wires wrong, the diagram I found online were upside down, so on the apex pins 1 and 5 are the positive voltage, and I've routed pins 8 and 4. I should have double checked before ordering the PCBs, But it's not a big deal, a little more work when cramping the wires together. For those who are interested following up on github, the repo is here: https://github.com/mottihoresh/ApexLDDController (Open Source) |
Thread Tools | |
|
|