LED flicker at Power Down

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MDN
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:18 pm

LED flicker at Power Down

Post by MDN »

I have my LEDs dimming to zero (MeanWell Analog) and then the power shutoff about 5 min later so that the drivers are not powered on 24/7. Everything works great but when the relay turns off the drivers I get a lighting show in my tank for about 1 - 2 seconds. This did not happen when I was using just a cheap plug in timer, however I was not dimmer at that time either. I assume it is a capacitor drain or something ?
Has anyone else seen this, is there fix ?

I.E. -
LED's dim from 8pm to 9pm
Power relay is turned off at 9:05pm
LED's pulse/flicker at 9:05/power off.

Thanks
Mike
----------------------------------
75G with 30G sump | 52 LED - RapidLED Lighting (DIY) |
ReefAngel for Meanwell ELN-D Drivers | Reef Octopus HOB-1000
Way to much time and money invested.....

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DrewPalmer04
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Location: Christopher, IL

Re: LED flicker at Power Down

Post by DrewPalmer04 »

Cap discharge...It's annoying and a design flaw (in my opinion). The only way for this to not happen is supply power to the drivers 24/7 and dim to 0...you might have a small "glow" on your LEDs, but it's butter in my opinion to have this versus the surge of lightening. AND you free up RA relays for future FUN stuff lol
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rimai
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Re: LED flicker at Power Down

Post by rimai »

Biggest design flaw from meanwell ever!!! :(
It is only the ELN-XX-60 series that does that, as far as I know.
Meanwell is practically my neighbor and about 3 years ago, I went there to try to inquire about this issue.
I hate that effect too.
I sat with their engineer/tech in their lab and we went through several tests and several drivers and we found out that only that particular model did that and there was nothing I could do.
Drew's recommendation is actually the only thing it will prevent them from discharging like that... You need to power the drivers 24/7. I'm pretty sure it was doing that before and you didn't notice.
Roberto.
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DrewPalmer04
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Re: LED flicker at Power Down

Post by DrewPalmer04 »

oh wow..amazing story..I wish I lived the part of the country where I could live next door to them :P

But yeah..that's the only fix! He might have not experienced it before due to the LEDs being 100% on...then 110v power cut off...this would allow for discharge while the LEDs faded out...instead of 0% LED power and then 100v cut, then cap discharge ("HOLY! [INSERT CURSE WORD HERE], what was that flash?")...lol we have all been there :)

But seriously..just power them 24/7 and dim...you won't notice the "glow"...it's very minimal.
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MDN
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Re: LED flicker at Power Down

Post by MDN »

Thanks for the feedback guys, I was just thinking the drivers would last longer not being powered 24/7. But not a big deal and I like DrewPalmers point about freeing up a relay :)
----------------------------------
75G with 30G sump | 52 LED - RapidLED Lighting (DIY) |
ReefAngel for Meanwell ELN-D Drivers | Reef Octopus HOB-1000
Way to much time and money invested.....

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DrewPalmer04
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Location: Christopher, IL

Re: LED flicker at Power Down

Post by DrewPalmer04 »

Woop! Woop!
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