Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Do It Yourself
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 12/03/2013, 12:01 AM   #1
tanktard
Registered Member
 
tanktard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 10
Talking Success!!!! kessil 350w Auto dimming through web /wifi

First my brain hurts .. second how cool is this for you kessil 350 owners
FIRST TEST OF AUTO DIMMING each dial seperatly =PASS

.* #5
tanktard
Registered Member
*

*
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 3
Have fiqured out that digital tap method into the potentiometer is not possible. Custom pulses and maps that's can't be adjusted.

I was last night successfully able to dim my kessil 350w using a micro servo and andruino with WiFi chip. The servo is rotating like a stepper motor, sensing a specific pulse rate to the servo to operate it forward and backward with rotation limits. Assigned my WiFi a custom ip and mapped the port in router to be able to acces through the web. I have an apex but could not program the logic into the apex to specific pulse rate in microseconds. A dial on the web interface allows you to move the dial left and right for each dial

Tada!!! Two nights of work and one night of code and frequency adjustment so it doesn't rip your dial right off.

Will be doing a diy but my girlfriend thinks i should sell it myself since it's all cool.

One ip port goes to apex and another to the auto dimmer. Next step is to add a timed function to operate for sunrise and sunset with my effort.

After working on my own custom controller makes me feel like the apex is overpriced garbage taking advantage of a very tight market. Apex is two days old and already showing signs of glitches and blinking screen randomly. Not worth anywhere near 500 bucks. Plus going your own method is half the cost and you can up to 32devices on some boards. Only thing apex did was put it in fancy branded package with LCD screen and did their own cystom codes. If I would have known about the limitations of thenapex I would have built my own controller but that would takes about 3-4 months to package that.

Parts needed to dim your kessil 350
Total cost per light 10 dollars
+ 1 andruino board (30-70$)to control up to 4 lights.
+ 1 servo controller (lots of options )$15-300 dollars
($4) 2servos per light or very smooth step motor doing 200 points per rotation. Add servo controller to reduce this to 700 clicks per rotation and you got your own sunrise sunset throughout the day. Add timer functions to your heater and voila you got a artifixal morning to night result with light and temp. Pretty cool.

40-70 bucks for the controller and board
7-10 per light
100 bucks I can controll all three of my kessils without hindering appearance.

3 kessil 350s on auto dimming with each dial independantly controlled through web or WiFi or mobile app. Freaken priceless

Apex and kessil please don't sue me. Ur products could be better. For the price


__________________
Tanktard :)

220 Gallon 3/4 Glass - New Build (November 15th, 2013)

Current Tank Info: 220g Glass reef tank - New Build
tanktard is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/03/2013, 09:26 PM   #2
limpert
Registered Member
 
limpert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: DFW
Posts: 99
sweet


limpert is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/03/2013, 09:49 PM   #3
dh350twin
Registered Member
 
dh350twin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: kent island md
Posts: 599
sounds complicated....but congrats.


__________________
Epic Reefers~~~~Carry Epic Corals!!!
Current tank:240 peninsula mixed reef- Atb 1050-white v2 skimmer, Mp 60wes (2) ecotech's Mp40w's, ATI Sunpower 8x80. with reef brites, custom sump. JBJ ATO, bubble magnus tripple doser.
Rip custom 150 gallon mixed reef

Current Tank Info: 240 gallon peninsula mixed reef tank
dh350twin is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/08/2013, 09:03 PM   #4
ClownBubbaJoe
Registered Member
 
ClownBubbaJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 363
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanktard View Post
First my brain hurts .. second how cool is this for you kessil 350 owners
FIRST TEST OF AUTO DIMMING each dial seperatly =PASS

.* #5
tanktard
Registered Member
*

*
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 3
Have fiqured out that digital tap method into the potentiometer is not possible. Custom pulses and maps that's can't be adjusted.

I was last night successfully able to dim my kessil 350w using a micro servo and andruino with WiFi chip. The servo is rotating like a stepper motor, sensing a specific pulse rate to the servo to operate it forward and backward with rotation limits. Assigned my WiFi a custom ip and mapped the port in router to be able to acces through the web. I have an apex but could not program the logic into the apex to specific pulse rate in microseconds. A dial on the web interface allows you to move the dial left and right for each dial

Tada!!! Two nights of work and one night of code and frequency adjustment so it doesn't rip your dial right off.

Will be doing a diy but my girlfriend thinks i should sell it myself since it's all cool.

One ip port goes to apex and another to the auto dimmer. Next step is to add a timed function to operate for sunrise and sunset with my effort.

After working on my own custom controller makes me feel like the apex is overpriced garbage taking advantage of a very tight market. Apex is two days old and already showing signs of glitches and blinking screen randomly. Not worth anywhere near 500 bucks. Plus going your own method is half the cost and you can up to 32devices on some boards. Only thing apex did was put it in fancy branded package with LCD screen and did their own cystom codes. If I would have known about the limitations of thenapex I would have built my own controller but that would takes about 3-4 months to package that.

Parts needed to dim your kessil 350
Total cost per light 10 dollars
+ 1 andruino board (30-70$)to control up to 4 lights.
+ 1 servo controller (lots of options )$15-300 dollars
($4) 2servos per light or very smooth step motor doing 200 points per rotation. Add servo controller to reduce this to 700 clicks per rotation and you got your own sunrise sunset throughout the day. Add timer functions to your heater and voila you got a artifixal morning to night result with light and temp. Pretty cool.

40-70 bucks for the controller and board
7-10 per light
100 bucks I can controll all three of my kessils without hindering appearance.

3 kessil 350s on auto dimming with each dial independantly controlled through web or WiFi or mobile app. Freaken priceless

Apex and kessil please don't sue me. Ur products could be better. For the price
"First my brain hurts"

lol !!!

Mine too. I've been doing a lot of researching LED's, and MY BRAIN HURTS !

I'm now looking at the Kessil 360 (I think)

I'm confused. The two knobs on top are for hand dimming only, and they don't have a automatic dimmer like so many others ? Why ???

"Parts needed to dim your kessil 350
Total cost per light 10 dollars
+ 1 andruino board (30-70$)to control up to 4 lights.
+ 1 servo controller (lots of options )$15-300 dollars
($4) 2servos per light or very smooth step motor doing 200 points per rotation. Add servo controller to reduce this to 700 clicks per rotation and you got your own sunrise sunset throughout the day. Add timer functions to your heater and voila you got a artifixal morning to night result with light and temp. Pretty cool."

I have NO idea what you're talking about ! lol
Not into electronics.

So, with all you've done, is the Kessil worth it since there's lights out there that have a better package with a controller ?

If so, why ?
Kevin


ClownBubbaJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/13/2013, 11:58 AM   #5
tanktard
Registered Member
 
tanktard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClownBubbaJoe View Post
"First my brain hurts"

lol !!!

Mine too. I've been doing a lot of researching LED's, and MY BRAIN HURTS !

I'm now looking at the Kessil 360 (I think)

I'm confused. The two knobs on top are for hand dimming only, and they don't have a automatic dimmer like so many others ? Why ???

"Parts needed to dim your kessil 350
Total cost per light 10 dollars
+ 1 andruino board (30-70$)to control up to 4 lights.
+ 1 servo controller (lots of options )$15-300 dollars
($4) 2servos per light or very smooth step motor doing 200 points per rotation. Add servo controller to reduce this to 700 clicks per rotation and you got your own sunrise sunset throughout the day. Add timer functions to your heater and voila you got a artifixal morning to night result with light and temp. Pretty cool."

I have NO idea what you're talking about ! lol
Not into electronics.

So, with all you've done, is the Kessil worth it since there's lights out there that have a better package with a controller ?

If so, why ?
Kevin


Hi kevin,

Thanks and it took a while to get everything adjusted to specs but it works.

Servo is a small small motor that travels 360 degress within certain time or pusle. The andruino board is a small computer board that programs those little motors to the right specs.

The 350 is not programmatically ajdustable since it has no connectivity for this. The kessil 360 is the newer model and it provides the rca inputs for dimming and control.

I would definetly buy the 360w new if i was looking for lights but if I already had the 350's or wanted to buy them used. 360 can be turned manually or automatically through a controller.

Each light takes about 20 bucks to manually dim and control through the motor method.

Will post pics and diy soon.


__________________
Tanktard :)

220 Gallon 3/4 Glass - New Build (November 15th, 2013)

Current Tank Info: 220g Glass reef tank - New Build
tanktard is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/13/2013, 01:09 PM   #6
ClownBubbaJoe
Registered Member
 
ClownBubbaJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 363
Wish they had their own wifi controller rather than a DIY like what you've done or buying a expensive Apex or similar.


ClownBubbaJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/17/2013, 07:03 PM   #7
vbsaltydog
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL.
Posts: 603
Congrats. I have done something similar in the past where the stepper motor turned the dial on a dimmable MH ballast.

Interested to see how you mated the motor to the knobs.


vbsaltydog is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/26/2013, 05:22 PM   #8
Steveb
Registered Member
 
Steveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: TX
Posts: 1,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanktard View Post
($4) 2 servos per light or very smooth step motor doing 200 points per rotation.
I would be interested in knowing how you interfaced the servo to the dimmer on kessil. If you have a picture would be interested in that as well.


__________________
Steve

My Tanks
50x30 ABS Tub & a 48x24 frag tank at the moment
Steve's Reef 265 Build In Progress
Steveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2013, 02:18 PM   #9
ED O
Registered Member
 
ED O's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 11
Could this be applied to any LED that had dimming control knobs such as the Ebay 120w dimmible full spectrum LEDs?


ED O is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2013, 03:30 PM   #10
vbsaltydog
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL.
Posts: 603
Quote:
Originally Posted by ED O View Post
Could this be applied to any LED that had dimming control knobs such as the Ebay 120w dimmible full spectrum LEDs?
It can if you can mate the servo output to the dimming knobs.

Still waiting to see how the servos were fixed to the kessils.


vbsaltydog is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2013, 03:35 PM   #11
ED O
Registered Member
 
ED O's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by vbsaltydog View Post
It can if you can mate the servo output to the dimming knobs.

Still waiting to see how the servos were fixed to the kessils.
I just ordered one of these in black:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Channel-2-...21344182580%26

and if I could get full sunrise and sunset via Wifi that would be awesome.


ED O is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/07/2014, 02:06 PM   #12
jameslopez
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1
Photos of this setup, specifically the mounting of the servos would be great. I have an arduino and the A350 and have thought about and want to setup the same. Thanks in advance. Also could you share your code?


jameslopez is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/30/2014, 08:40 AM   #13
Ontheway
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 412
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanktard View Post
Hi kevin,

Thanks and it took a while to get everything adjusted to specs but it works.

Servo is a small small motor that travels 360 degress within certain time or pusle. The andruino board is a small computer board that programs those little motors to the right specs.

The 350 is not programmatically ajdustable since it has no connectivity for this. The kessil 360 is the newer model and it provides the rca inputs for dimming and control.

I would definetly buy the 360w new if i was looking for lights but if I already had the 350's or wanted to buy them used. 360 can be turned manually or automatically through a controller.

Each light takes about 20 bucks to manually dim and control through the motor method.

Will post pics and diy soon.
Any progress ? Just bought two 350s and looking for some automation..


__________________
Low ph, high kH... what can I do now?
Ontheway is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 08:28 AM   #14
aaronpentz
Registered Member
 
aaronpentz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Pingree Grove, IL
Posts: 952
Instead of using WiFi could you just program the arduino to read an analog voltage in to determine servo position. Then those people that have an apex could interface to that.
I know for a fact that the arduino had a sample library to control a hobby servo with a potentiometer


__________________
"Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings"

Current Tank Info: 67 Long
aaronpentz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 08:30 AM   #15
aaronpentz
Registered Member
 
aaronpentz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Pingree Grove, IL
Posts: 952
However the apex outputs 0-10vdc and the arduino is 0-5vdc.
So you'd have to take that into consideration either by not going over 50% on the apex or make a voltage divider


__________________
"Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings"

Current Tank Info: 67 Long
aaronpentz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 11:16 AM   #16
ClownBubbaJoe
Registered Member
 
ClownBubbaJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 363
I did not understand a frickin word you guys just wrote !


ClownBubbaJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 03:15 PM   #17
Ontheway
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 412
I guess OP is not following the topic anymore.


__________________
Low ph, high kH... what can I do now?
Ontheway is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 03:20 PM   #18
aaronpentz
Registered Member
 
aaronpentz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Pingree Grove, IL
Posts: 952
I don't have these lights but if I could get my hands on one I could make custom brackets for a clean look. And could also help with the arduino code


__________________
"Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings"

Current Tank Info: 67 Long
aaronpentz is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 09:40 PM   #19
Reefvet
Registered Member
 
Reefvet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,941
Quote:
Originally Posted by tanktard View Post

After working on my own custom controller makes me feel like the apex is overpriced garbage taking advantage of a very tight market. Apex is two days old and already showing signs of glitches and blinking screen randomly. Not worth anywhere near 500 bucks. Plus going your own method is half the cost and you can up to 32devices on some boards. Only thing apex did was put it in fancy branded package with LCD screen and did their own cystom codes. If I would have known about the limitations of thenapex I would have built my own controller but that would takes about 3-4 months to package that.
Clearly you're young. What you don't recognize is that support is the biggest cost of a product like the Apex. That cost is built into the retail price.

If you have a glitchy display than have it replaced under warranty. I've never heard of anyone having a problem with the display so it's rare.

While you geek out with your girlfriend realize that while there may be a lot of A350s out there the product has been replaced and there's a $100 controller coming for the current light that will do so much more than dim the light.


Reefvet is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/03/2014, 11:37 PM   #20
Ontheway
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 412
Now I have A350s in my hand and what I observing is, the knobs adjusting blue & White intensities are a bit unsensitive, which means at some point, intensity suddenly makes a jump from dull to bright, altough its still possible to adjust in-between values with a very slow touch, but not easy. How about yours? If all the same, servo control may not be a solution for sunset-sunrise style adjustments.


__________________
Low ph, high kH... what can I do now?
Ontheway is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/04/2014, 06:06 PM   #21
km1das
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 54
From the way I understand what the OP wrote, it kind of sounds like he never actually did it, part of it sounds like he did, but at the same time he talks about it in an almost conceptual way. Regardless, I see people talking about how much cheaper DIY is and a lot of the time, it's really not that much cheaper, especially for a controller. Also, I think Kessils provide a great value for the money, even though they are not my light of choice. Also, based on the lack of pictures, I would guess it never happened and that the OP has checked out of this one. Just my .02


km1das is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/04/2014, 10:53 PM   #22
Ontheway
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 412
Its quite interesting why no one interested in simulated control of kessils. I guess a timer is enough for most of the people..


__________________
Low ph, high kH... what can I do now?
Ontheway is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07/05/2014, 08:41 AM   #23
ClownBubbaJoe
Registered Member
 
ClownBubbaJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 363
I have a Kessil 150w on my wife's 29 Cube that I would love, to be able to control it !


ClownBubbaJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/03/2016, 01:31 AM   #24
laverda
Registered Member
 
laverda's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 6,902
This is an old thread, but I would love to be able to control my A350s with my Aquacontroler. To bad they did not offer an upgrade where the 360s came out. I can not justify replacing 6 Kessils.


__________________
240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef

Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube
laverda is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
andruino, dimming, kessil 350, servo, wifi

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.