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

[Tacostrk]

Originally Posted by O2Surplus

Yes.... I'm still building them. Gonna send you a PM.

Could I get a pm too? I tried to pm you but my post count isn't high enough.
Thanks

[Tacostrk]

Originally Posted by O2Surplus

No need to "go ghetto" Lol. I make a 0 - 10v/5v PWM adapter that shares the same pinout and footprint of the BFini. The adapter snaps in to my board just like the BF Mini.

I'm really interested in one of these boards as well but with the bluefish mini control or even the storm controller.

[Emmy Yin]

Originally Posted by rrasco

For six LDD-H, you're going to need at least a 10x10 board. I can make the layout for you if that's what you need.



I didn't even know they offered those sizes or color options. I'm so used to going to the istore before the imall was there. Even though my last order I placed through the istore. I'm distracted easily.

Can you share the Gerber file with us?

[jjoos99]

I am having issues with my arduino that is running the jarduino program and it has been freezing up. Alot of times the screen will be scrambled at the same time. It will lock up on the lighting schedule that it is on when it freezes. I have to unplug the power to get the program to advance. do you all think it might be faulty program or the arduino board actually messing up?
thanks
jeff

[Tooboot]

Ok, so I need someone to point me in the right direction. I want to do my own led diy, I have interest but no knowledge in electronics to the extent of what is discussed in most threads. I get the whole heatsink and fan concepts (not electronic heavy) and DC vs. AC power. I do want dimmable leds and a controller to program day night lights, understanding I will need a dimmable driver(s). Just looking for additional resources to read and learn more from. Also, I ordered 2 hear sinks (150mm x 56mm) how many 3w leds with 20mm pcbs do you think I could place on there with a small fan on each?
I was considering getting some ldd drivers with the storm controler, but am interested in knowing more about the arduino options considering I could probably find code online or on RC that I could use and like the additional options that it allows.
Any help is a precise given there are so many threads and posts to go through.
I ordered the leds the other day from ebay, nice mix of wavelengths most around the 700ma current

Want to add that I am planning on running about 28-30 led total, ideally split between 2 heatsinks in a custom hood that I will hang over the tank.

[oreo57]

Originally Posted by Tooboot

Ok, so I need someone to point me in the right direction. I want to do my own led diy, I have interest but no knowledge in electronics to the extent of what is discussed in most threads. I get the whole heatsink and fan concepts (not electronic heavy) and DC vs. AC power. I do want dimmable leds and a controller to program day night lights, understanding I will need a dimmable driver(s). Just looking for additional resources to read and learn more from. Also, I ordered 2 hear sinks (150mm x 56mm) how many 3w leds with 20mm pcbs do you think I could place on there with a small fan on each?
I was considering getting some ldd drivers with the storm controler, but am interested in knowing more about the arduino options considering I could probably find code online or on RC that I could use and like the additional options that it allows.
Any help is a precise given there are so many threads and posts to go through.
I ordered the leds the other day from ebay, nice mix of wavelengths most around the 700ma current

Want to add that I am planning on running about 28-30 led total, ideally split between 2 heatsinks in a custom hood that I will hang over the tank.

Start at 4994
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...78127&page=200
post #1
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ight=led+build

currently "the go to" dc to DC driver is the Ldd-h series..

[jjoos99]

How many ldd drivers will the ardunio controller support? I am wondering if I have too many drivers which is causing my controller to freeze up. I am running greens, blues, royal blues, whites, reds and violets with multiple strings of the whites, and royals.
tks
Jeff

[Tooboot]

Originally Posted by bhazard451

A huge thank you in showing this driver and controller. I ordered all the parts for the build. Its going to look incredible with the touch screen, on screen channel sliders, full dimming, and lunar cycle. Total cost was less than $700, and will have a similar setup as two Radion pros for over $1,200 less.

Originally Posted by oreo57

Start at 4994
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...78127&page=200
post #1
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ight=led+build

currently "the go to" dc to DC driver is the Ldd-h series..

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for

[perkint]

Originally Posted by jjoos99

I am having issues with my arduino that is running the jarduino program and it has been freezing up. Alot of times the screen will be scrambled at the same time. It will lock up on the lighting schedule that it is on when it freezes. I have to unplug the power to get the program to advance. do you all think it might be faulty program or the arduino board actually messing up?
thanks
jeff

Could be either programming or hardware. You mention in another post too many LDDs - unlikely to be that, but how many do you run? Any mains switching (eg relays) in close proximity to the arduino? You could enable the watchdog timer in the arduino (is only a few lines of code) as a temporary way of making it automatically restart.

Tim

[jjoos99]

Originally Posted by perkint

Could be either programming or hardware. You mention in another post too many LDDs - unlikely to be that, but how many do you run? Any mains switching (eg relays) in close proximity to the arduino? You could enable the watchdog timer in the arduino (is only a few lines of code) as a temporary way of making it automatically restart.

Tim

I currently have 19 Ldd drivers running off this one controller. I had to unplug it twice last evening. My controller is on the side of my hood and the only thing close to it is my Neptune jr controller. When I first got this used controller it had a 9 v power supply and the regulator was getting so hot I couldn't hardly touch it. I have since switched it out for a cell phone charger it it is warm but not burning hot like it was. The heat might have caused some damage. I wouldn't know even where to begin installing the watchdog code you mentioned.
Tks for the help
Jeff

[oreo57]

Originally Posted by jjoos99

I wouldn't know even where to begin installing the watchdog code you mentioned.
Tks for the help
Jeff

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=63651.0
That you can read about here:
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?ac....0;attach=3585

Make sure you also read the thread..

[perkint]

What's the most LDDs you run on one PWM signal from the arduino?

Tim

[jjoos99]

Originally Posted by perkint

What's the most LDDs you run on one PWM signal from the arduino?

Tim

That's my concern also. I have maybe 9 on the same royal blue signal.
Jeff

[perkint]

Try taking a few off for a few days, see if it still freezes!

Tim

[jjoos99]

The freezing up seems to be random. Today it worked fine. Yesterday it froze up once. the day before that fine and the day before that it froze twice.
Go figure
Jeff

[O2Surplus]

Here's my latest design. This one uses the WEMOS D1 Mini for WiFi control instead of the BlueFish Mini. It features 8 PWM channels, Dual SCW's, 3 cooling fan connections, ect.. The PcB measures 100mm X 150mm. I've got a batch of 10 coming in the next week or so. I'll post the design files if this design proves sound and defect free.

[theatrus]

What firmware are you planning on using for the ESP8266? Since a PWM control firmware is fairly universal maybe there should be a common RC-DIY-LED for lighting project on GitHub or similar

[007Bond]

Hi O2,...does D1 work through Android like the BFmini,...are they one and the same? looks like a major $ savings ---Rick

[O2Surplus]

Originally Posted by theatrus

What firmware are you planning on using for the ESP8266? Since a PWM control firmware is fairly universal maybe there should be a common RC-DIY-LED for lighting project on GitHub or similar

The GitHub idea is a good one! For now I'm using the Arduino IDE for programming purposes, and the "BLYNK" app for testing http://www.blynk.cc/, since I suck at coding and needed an easy solution. LOL - as soon as I can learn Android, Python, HTML, and C/C++, I might be able to create my own Android App, but I'll probably die of old age first.

Originally Posted by 007Bond

Hi O2,...does D1 work through Android like the BFmini,...are they one and the same? looks like a major $ savings ---Rick

Hey Rick!

The BlueFish Mini uses an "Electric Imp" programmed using the "Squirrel" programming language. The Wemos D1 Mini uses the ESP8266 chip set and can be programmed using the Arduino IDE. It's open source, so plenty of code examples are already available. The Wemos D1 Mini is cheap... like under $5 each cheap. LOL- I just bought 20 of 'em for less than the cost of one BlueFish Mini!

[theatrus]

Originally Posted by O2Surplus

The GitHub idea is a good one! For now I'm using the Arduino IDE for programming purposes, and the "BLYNK" app for testing http://www.blynk.cc/, since I suck at coding and needed an easy solution. LOL - as soon as I can learn Android, Python, HTML, and C/C++, I might be able to create my own Android App, but I'll probably die of old age first.

Blynk looks pretty good actually, need to play with that some since it looks like a nice remote access setup. Also there is a private server option.

I suck at Android development but can make passable iOS applications. I've mainly focused on Bluetooth LE connectivity in my stuff so far, usually falling back to local controller (no need for internet connectivity, router setup, etc).

[007Bond]

Yeah I see the cost diff. plus 8 channels ! Everytime you put something new up I have to check it out,...I seen the cost,...wow ! although I'm really happy with my Bluefish that I got from you.

[Dr.Karl]

Originally Posted by O2Surplus

Here's my latest design. This one uses the WEMOS D1 Mini for WiFi control instead of the BlueFish Mini. It features 8 PWM channels, Dual SCW's, 3 cooling fan connections, ect.. The PcB measures 100mm X 150mm. I've got a batch of 10 coming in the next week or so. I'll post the design files if this design proves sound and defect free.

It would be cool if the controller were seperate from the driver boards and they were linked together by a 2 wire serial interface with the fan outputs on the driver boards.

[jjoos99]

I need to ask a probably stupid question. If I have 1000 drivers and have them dimmed to say 50% will they essentially be putting out the equivalent of 500 mah? I have coral in my frag tank that has very good p/e and the same coral in my display will have very little extension. The only difference would be the flow in the tank and the drivers for the leds. The frag tank has nondimmable lpc 35-700 drivers and the display is ardurino controlled with mainly 1000 drivers. Just wondering if maybe I am overkill on the lights in the display running them at the 1000 level?
thanks
jeff

[jedimasterben]

Originally Posted by jjoos99

I need to ask a probably stupid question. If I have 1000 drivers and have them dimmed to say 50% will they essentially be putting out the equivalent of 500 mah? I have coral in my frag tank that has very good p/e and the same coral in my display will have very little extension. The only difference would be the flow in the tank and the drivers for the leds. The frag tank has nondimmable lpc 35-700 drivers and the display is ardurino controlled with mainly 1000 drivers. Just wondering if maybe I am overkill on the lights in the display running them at the 1000 level?
thanks
jeff

Do the systems share water? If not, that's probably the culprit.

If they do, then it could be the amount of light or could be a change in flow if the display is drastically different. Have you measured PAR between the two?

[jjoos99]

they share the same amount of water just alot less flow in the frag tank. I havent checked with the par meter. The heat sinks were built with the same configure of leds but just have different drivers. Ardurino driven on display and plain jane meanwells on the frag tank. Thats why I was wondering about the 1000mah drivers being dimmed would be somewhat equivalent to the standard 700's?
jeff