Dimming problems

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:53 pm

Hi All

I have just finished building an LED light using 14 CREE Actinic on a Meanwell ELN 60 48P.

Using the Reef Angel Wizard I have set up a slope dim from 0 to 100% over 2 mins. The LEDS do nothing until the end point and then they turn on. No dimming happening.

I have checked all connections.

Anyone have any ideas?

Sebyte · Post by **Sebyte** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:25 pm

Your slope duration may be to short, with 1% increment every 1.2 seconds. Also did you adjust SRV1 to match your load?

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:39 pm

I have tried a shorter duration of 5 mins with the same result. Also if I set the end point to 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% at the top of the slope, it also has no effect. The LEDs stay on at around 90%. They do dim at various stages when uploading code to the reef angel controller.

The load is close to the max. I wasn't aware that you needed to adjust the the voltage via srv1. I thought the range would adjust automatically between 24 and 48 volts depepending on the number of LEDS with a constant 1.3 amps. Have I got this wrong?

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:00 pm

I think it's SVR2 you need to adjust to match the max current allowed by the LED's.

Can you post your code?

--Colin

Sebyte · Post by **Sebyte** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:04 pm

Sorry, SVR2

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:26 pm

The current is set at the factory 1.3amps. The only thing I can do with svr2 is turn it down which won't effect dimming. The LEDS will take 1.3 amps no problem

I will post the code later but it is standard wizard code.

Any other ideas?

805reefer · Post by **805reefer** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:24 am

What led kit did you use?

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:14 am

The meanwell drivers dont even turn on until 15%. I would setup a real time length slope with a longer duration and shift your start/end time for testing.

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:26 am

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I am not using an LED kit, just CREE XTE actinic and white with the Meanwell ELN 60 48P. Reef Angel is PWM not Analogue.

I tried shifting the slope duration and set the end point for both 100% and some lower values with no joy. The strange thing is that the LEDs do no react to the final end point either. They are just 'ON'. So if you have an end point of 50% it is no different in intensity to 100%.

If you bring the end point value down to under 20% they switch 'OFF'.

I will return to some head scratching!

fatman · Post by **fatman** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 6:14 am

If you're sure that it's not the code try putting a pot in series, set the controller on to 80% so you have the LEDs on a high output then adjust the pot up and down. This will let you know if it's in the fixture or not. Have you load tested the current and what VDC and I (amps) are you getting out of it at the various stages?

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 6:17 am

Go to your Reef Angel head unit and do the following.

Navigate to the Lights -> LED PWM menu
Change both values to 30%
Go to Lights -> Lights On, note brightness of your LED's
Go to Lights -> Lights Off
Repeat, but change values to 100%

Post results here, please. Pics of your wiring would help, too.

--Colin

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 6:21 am

Are you using the dimming port lead wires sold in the store? The ones I got a couple of weeks ago had polarities reversed. Looking at the front (outlets) of the relay box with the dimming ports at the bottom, the pinout is actinic neg, actinic pos, daylight neg, daylight pos. Don't go by the markings on the dimming port lead wire markings alone.

--Colin

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 6:38 am

Just a heads up but I use both the D and P drivers. The P drivers are very fussy with their % to turn "on" or "off." I would have just went with D drivers if I would have known better. Just keep messing with the timing and "on"/"off" % and you'll get it. At least you only have one type. Matching the timing of two different types can become very frustrating.

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 7:00 am

@fatman - Thanks I will try the pot, just to test the output is OK. Haven't got a volt meter. I may have to invest in one!

@cosmith71 - Thanks Colin. I don't think I have this option on my head unit menu anymore as I have used the wizard which has given different menu options. I will revert back to factory settings and try what you suggest.

Yes, I am using the dimming wires sold in the store. I will double check the polarities, but I think they are OK, I just used the right hand lead as the positive one.

@drewpalmer04 - Patience is a virtue I guess!

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:27 pm

Well no joy. Reset the reef angel to base code, set Pwm to 100 and got nothing! Seems I now have no lights at all.

Changed to a new mean well 60 48p and nothing. When the mean well discharges when you unplug it, all LEDs flash so no broken LEDs.

I think I need a multimeter!

Darn

805reefer · Post by **805reefer** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:43 pm

Is this a solderless led kit

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:43 pm

POST PICS!

Please.

--C

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:24 pm

Here are the pics. Only the outer 14 LEDS are being used. The inner 7 are daylights and not finished. The last 3 are violets.

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:50 pm

Dimmer looks correct, can't tell the markings on the LED's, but since they flash on power down I think the polarity is OK on them.

Lets see your code.

--Colin

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:19 pm

@colin

I restored RA with base code and was adjusting PWM through the menu as you suggested. I will try and post the code later but I'm not sure it will help.

I have another identical unfinished light which I might complete and see if I get the same result

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:14 am

There has to be a simple solution. It has to be in the dimming portion of the setup.

Try hooking a 9V battery up to the blue and white dimmer leads and see if the LED's light up (be sure to disconnect from the RA first).

And post the code, just so we have a more complete picture.

We WILL figure this out.

--Colin

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:20 am

And a double AA battery also as a comparison..

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:24 pm

Thanks colin, appreciate your support! I will get a battery tomorrow and give it a try.

@inevo- will do.

Daisyjam · Post by **Daisyjam** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:06 pm

Couldn't resist it. Went and bought a battery.

Connected it and the lights worked. Good news.

Reconnected RA and........................everything worked! I have no idea what was wrong before. My guess was the PWM lead not connected properly.

Thanks to everyone for helping - a special mention to Colin.

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:42 pm

You're welcome!

I was eyeing those splicers you were using. I bet something was going on there.

So glad it's working!

--Colin

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