Can someone tell my why my lights aren't working?

[Sacohen]

I'm having the same issue with my lights that I'm setting up now.
From what I've been able to determine is if the lights are on, but not full power there is either a reversed or bad ground.

I hope this helps.

[MDB1029]

Can you help me out with what a reversed ground is? What i need to look at for that?

[Sacohen]

Basically the + of the RA dimming module is going to the - of the lights and the - of the RA is going to the + of the lights rather than + to + and - to - as it should.

A bad ground would be they are connected correctly, but there is a bad solder or connection and the circuit is not complete.

[MDB1029]

Thank you, i will check those things.

[Sacohen]

Is it dim at a constant level?
Like 50% and won't go higher or lower.
I'm guessing a reversed + -.

[MDB1029]

It doesn't look like it is reversed unless i can't read the manual for the dimming expansion. Left side is the + terminals and the right 3 are the -?

[Sacohen]

That's correct.

[cosmith71]

It's hard to tell without knowing your memory values. Let's re-write the code with hard coded values. What are the times you want each to run, and what are the percentages (low and high) you want to use?

--Colin

[MDB1029]

It's hard to tell without knowing your memory values. Let's re-write the code with hard coded values. What are the times you want each to run, and what are the percentages (low and high) you want to use?

--Colin

I would like the whites to run from 10am to 8pm they are on channel 0, i am acclimating to the new power of the lights so i am wanting the low for them 0% and high 30%.

Blues can start and end 30 minutes longer on each end and I wanted to try them at 5% low and 30% high.

I also can't seem to add my fuge lights in here which are on port 7 and i want them running from 6 pm to 10am if you could help me out with that as well.

I appreciate your help

[cosmith71]

Try this. Note that the PWMParabola is going to ramp up much slower than PWMSlope, so your blues will ramp up slower.

Code: Select all

  ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel(0,PWMSlope(10,0,20,0,0,30,60,0));  // Whites from 1000 to 2200 with a 60 minute ramp
  ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel(1,PWMParabola(9,30,20,30,5,30,0));  // Blues from 0930 to 2230 on a parabola
  ReefAngel.StandardLights(Port7,18,0,10,0);  // Fuge light from 1800 to 1000

Once we get the lights working at the most basic level we can work on the extras.

[MDB1029]

I am going to add and upload this now. With the code this way, will I be able to change the %s from the internal memory or the app?

[MDB1029]

Code: Select all

      ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel(0,PWMSlope(10,0,20,0,0,30,60,0));  // Whites from 1000 to 2200 with a 60 minute ramp
      ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel(1,PWMParabola(9,30,20,30,5,30,0));  // Blues from 0930 to 2230 on a parabola
      ReefAngel.StandardLights(Port7,18,0,10,0);  // Fuge light from 1800 to 1000

Is this missing a 0 at the end of the blue channel?

[cosmith71]

I don't believe so. PWMParabola takes one less argument than PWMSlope.

--Colin

[MDB1029]

I have this uploaded with the change. I know it doesn't change with the app but not sure if it will or not. I won't know if it is working correctly until i drive on my street after work and see the lights on or not.

[cosmith71]

You should be able to override the percentage with the app. Go to the "Dimming" page and long press the value to bring up a slider. Make sure it's the dimming page that show all 6 channels and not the main "controller" page that has temps, pH, etc on it.

If you want to use the memory locations to change max brightness, times, etc. then it won't work. Lets get the basics first and then we can do that.

--Colin

[MDB1029]

So the lights were shining down the street when i turned the corner at 15 past midnight. So still not working properly.

With the wiring, I have channel 0 going to 2 drivers which go to my white lights and channel 1 also goes to 2 drivers which go to my blue lights. Would this have some effect on why this is not working? I have checked over all the wiring and can't find anything wrong with it, not saying i am not missing something though.

[cosmith71]

2 drivers shouldn't be a problem. Up until recently I was running 4 per channel.

I think there is a hardware problem.

Do you have a voltmeter? Can you check the voltage across your PWM outputs on the dimming expansion? Need to know the voltage between channel 0 and ground, and channel 1 and ground, and the percentage they're supposed to be running at.

--Colin

[MDB1029]

Channel 0 - 11.9 v dc at 16%
Channel 1 - 11.12 v dc at 30%

This is on the 20V DC setting

[cosmith71]

Did you check on the dimming expansion? Should be less than 5v.

[Sacohen]

That doesn't seem correct.
First of all are you sure you have the jumpers on the dimming module set to 0-5v becuase you shouldn't be getting 11v out of it if you do.

Second of all 30% of 12v is 3.6v not 11.12v and 16% of 12v is 1.92v. 30% of 5v would be 1.5v and 16% of 5v would be 0.8v.

I hope you didn't fry your drivers by sending them 0-12v instead of 0-5v

[MDB1029]

The jumpers are set to 0-5v and i did check it at the dimming expansion.

[cosmith71]

Disconnect the dimming wires and check the dimming expansion again.

[MDB1029]

Copy of 20150812_121625.jpg (975.06 KiB) Viewed 6184 times

[cosmith71]

Looks correct. Disconnect the lead from channel 0 and check the DC voltage from there to the ground terminal. You shouldn't be getting any more than 5 volts and I want to isolate the dimming module from your dimmers to see where the extra voltage is coming from.

[cosmith71]

What lighting setup are you using, BTW?

--Colin

[MDB1029]

I am using a DIY build from RapidLED. LDD-1000H drivers: 2 ,LDD-650H drivers: 2, Power Supply: SE-350-48 , 4 x SemiLEDs True UV LEDs (400-410nm), 16 x CREE XP-G2 Cool White LEDs, 16 x CREE XT-E Royal Blue LEDs.

LDD-1000 for 8 CWs x 2
LDD-650 for 8 RB & 2 UV x 2

[MDB1029]

11.25 from channel 0 to grd with no line going into channel 0.

Should I disconnect the drivers from the dimmer signal if it is sending this amount of voltage?

I really don't want/ can't replace them right now?

[cosmith71]

Yep, and PM Roberto to see if he has any ideas. I don't think the dimming module should be putting out 11.25v under any circumstances.

[MDB1029]

I appreciate all your help.

[cosmith71]

FWIW, I accidentally had one of mine set to 10V for a period of time with no ill effects.

Let us know if you get it working.

--Colin