Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Expansion modules and attachments
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Civics14
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 8:27 am

Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

Current equipment: Reef Angle plus w/ WiFi, Dimming Expansion - using to dim RapidLED Onyx

Did a few more testing and realized that anything over 40% nothing changes in the brightness, like if 40% is the max. I have the module set up with the jumpers to analog 0-10v as I should.

Any ideas why this is going on?
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Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

No help on this?
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lnevo
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by lnevo »

I recommend checking with a PAR meter. Is it visibly at 40%
Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

lnevo wrote:I recommend checking with a PAR meter. Is it visibly at 40%
That is correct, there is no visible difference above 40%. I wish I had a PAR meter readily available.

The strange part is if I hook up to the manual dimmer, I can see a difference from as I turn the knob all the way up.
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lnevo
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by lnevo »

I would do the following. Put dimmer knobs to 100% then connect dimming signal set to 100%. Does the LED drop in brightness? I would also try with a different dimming signal. You may also have a PWM/Analog mismatch. Have you tried changing the jumpers. Worst case you would have flashing.
Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

lnevo wrote:I would do the following. Put dimmer knobs to 100% then connect dimming signal set to 100%. Does the LED drop in brightness? I would also try with a different dimming signal. You may also have a PWM/Analog mismatch. Have you tried changing the jumpers. Worst case you would have flashing.
OMG! Thank you lnevo! Switched the Jumpers to PWM and they worked, must be the jumper mismatch! Unless RapidLED changed their drivers without updating their website. Which I highly doubt.

Thanks!
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Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

Ok! Now I'm having a different issue, it seems like when it dims, I can see the % drop on the screen, it resets the RA, and I can hear the relay making clicking noises. Any ideas now? The light doesn't flicker though.

The strange part is if I manually dim it through the RA iOS App this doesn't happen. Any ideas?
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lnevo
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by lnevo »

Sounds like your testing some dimming code and maybe triggering the watchdog timer. Can you post the code your using?
Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

Code: Select all

#include <ReefAngel_Features.h>
#include <Globals.h>
#include <RA_Wifi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS1307RTC.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_NokiaLCD.h>
#include <RA_ATO.h>
#include <RA_Joystick.h>
#include <LED.h>
#include <RA_TempSensor.h>
#include <Relay.h>
#include <RA_PWM.h>
#include <Timer.h>
#include <Memory.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_Colors.h>
#include <RA_CustomColors.h>
#include <Salinity.h>
#include <RF.h>
#include <IO.h>
#include <ORP.h>
#include <AI.h>
#include <PH.h>
#include <WaterLevel.h>
#include <Humidity.h>
#include <DCPump.h>
#include <PAR.h>
#include <ReefAngel.h>

////// Place global variable code below here


////// Place global variable code above here


void setup()
{
    // This must be the first line
    ReefAngel.Init();  //Initialize controller
    ReefAngel.PHMin=511;
    ReefAngel.PHMax=760;
    ReefAngel.Use2014Screen();  // Let's use 2014 Screen 
    // Ports toggled in Feeding Mode
    ReefAngel.FeedingModePorts = Port4Bit | Port5Bit | Port6Bit;
    // Ports toggled in Water Change Mode
    ReefAngel.WaterChangePorts = Port2Bit | Port3Bit | Port4Bit | Port5Bit | Port6Bit | Port8Bit;
    // Ports toggled when Lights On / Off menu entry selected
    ReefAngel.LightsOnPorts = Port2Bit | Port3Bit;
    // Ports turned off when Overheat temperature exceeded
    ReefAngel.OverheatShutoffPorts = Port1Bit | Port2Bit | Port3Bit | Port4Bit | Port7Bit | Port8Bit;
    // Use T1 probe as temperature and overheat functions
    ReefAngel.TempProbe = T3_PROBE;
    ReefAngel.OverheatProbe = T3_PROBE;
    // Set the Overheat temperature setting
    InternalMemory.OverheatTemp_write( 835 );

    // Feeeding and Water Change mode speed
    ReefAngel.DCPump.FeedingSpeed=32;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.WaterChangeSpeed=0;


    // Ports that are always on
    ReefAngel.Relay.On( Port5 );
    ReefAngel.Relay.On( Port6 );
    ReefAngel.Relay.On( Port8 );

    ////// Place additional initialization code below here
    

    ////// Place additional initialization code above here
}

void loop()
{
    ReefAngel.StandardHeater( Port1,780,790 );
    ReefAngel.StandardLights( Port7,0,30,8,30 ); // Fuge Lamp
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel( 0, PWMParabola(16,30,23,30,0,20,0) );
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel( 1, PWMParabola(16,30,23,30,0,30,0) );
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel( 2, PWMParabola(16,0,23,59,0,60,0) );
    ReefAngel.DCPump.UseMemory = false;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.DaylightChannel = Sync;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ActinicChannel = AntiSync;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ExpansionChannel[0] = None;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ExpansionChannel[1] = None;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ExpansionChannel[2] = None;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ExpansionChannel[3] = None;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ExpansionChannel[4] = None;
    ReefAngel.DCPump.ExpansionChannel[5] = None;
    ////// Place your custom code below here
     if (hour()>=14 && hour()<16) // Morning mode between 2pm and 4pm
  {
    ReefAngel.DCPump.SetMode( Sine,70,60 );
  }
     else if (hour()>=16 && hour()<20) // Day mode between 4pm and 8pm
  {
    ReefAngel.DCPump.SetMode( Sine,100,60 );
  }
     else if (hour()>=20 && hour()<22) // Evening mode between 8pm and 10pm
  {
    ReefAngel.DCPump.SetMode( Sine,80,60 );
  }
     else if (hour()>=22 && hour()<23) //Calm mode beween 10pm and 11pm
  {
    ReefAngel.DCPump.SetMode( Sine,60,60 );
  }
     else
  {
    ReefAngel.DCPump.SetMode( Sine,40,90 );  // Night Mode between 11pm and 2pm
  }

    ////// Place your custom code above here

    // This should always be the last line
    ReefAngel.Portal( "civics14" );
    ReefAngel.ShowInterface();
}

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rimai
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by rimai »

How often does it do that?
Roberto.
Civics14
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 8:27 am

Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

I noticed it yesterday evening when I was sitting there watching it during the LED ramping down. The strange part about it was it wasn't consistently doing it with each % ramping down. It would do it every so often and I noticed after it did it the LED % dim would be less after the RA rebooted.

Then I thought it had something to do with me swapping the jumpers from Analog to PWM, so I switched it back and it did the same thing.

Then I thought it had something to do with the RA unit itself and unplugged the dimming module, but then it didn't have any problems. So I know it has something to do with the dimming module.
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lnevo
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by lnevo »

Somethings definitely wierd. What about with dimming module connect but lights unhooked?
Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

lnevo wrote:Somethings definitely wierd. What about with dimming module connect but lights unhooked?
Are you suggesting to unplug the lights and see if it still does that?
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Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

Ok, so I been monitoring it as it ramps up for about an hour and it doesn't happen during the ramp up so far. Is there something wrong with it ramping down?
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lnevo
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by lnevo »

Yes that was my suggestion. Should be no reason to crash when ramping down.
Civics14
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 8:27 am

Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

Ok. It didn't do it when I unplugged the units. So, I'm going to try a different jumper setting since the 0-10v analog was clearly not correct, tried the 0-10v PWM, and had the issue as well, so I guess tonight I will try 0-5v PWM.


Also, is there anyway to do the parabola to start and end at 7% but go to 0% immediately after to avoid the flickering of the lights?
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Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

I take that back. Tried again tonight with lights unplugged since even under the 0-5v it was doing it. I don't know why it's tripping it like that, but I think I got a defective unit.

Also, I tested with the current code and unplugged the dimming module and it didn't happen. So it's something to do with the dimming expansion module, considering the jumpers clearly aren't correct.

Roberto?? Any suggestions or send back for a replacement?
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rimai
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by rimai »

That's what it is looking like.
PM me for RMA.
Roberto.
Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

rimai wrote:That's what it is looking like.
PM me for RMA.

Hi Roberto,

Sent you a PM. Also, I did some more testing last night. I notice it happens when there are multiple channels being dimmed at once. I dimmed each channel separately and this reset of the relay doesn't happen.
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Civics14
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Re: Dimming Expansion Troubleshoot

Post by Civics14 »

Ok after over a month from my initial purchase (7/22) - i get a replacement unit that seems to be working ok (on 9/3). I say ok because again the jumpers are reversed... (I'm assuming there is very little QC when it comes to RA at this point), whatever - quick work around. Second - last two nights was the first time since I got it hooked up on 9/4 to sit around and see if any problems. Again - this time it doesn't trigger my entire relay box to reset but only outlet #3 during the down ramp of the lights. So I unplug my light from #3 and move it to an always on outlet (not on the relay). Also, it doesn't trigger outlet #3 to reset frequently - it happened only once at around 9pm both nights.

Overall a huge disappointment in spending over $100 on this dimming module and taking over a month, costing me shipping twice (initial and 2nd time), to only have a semi-good working unit. Very worried about the longevity of the dimming module since its already having this issue w/ relay #3.
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