Stuggling with the LDD Drivers

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 10:37 am

I just can't get them to work. Only one driver, will turn on the lights when I unplug them from the PWM connections on the relay box. How can I test to see if the LDD drivers are the issue (I do get 48 volts from it). Or if the signal is really analog out of the relay box.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:18 am

Not sure where you got your information, but LDD drivers are a little different than other drivers.
Check the datasheet:
http://www.meanwell.com/search/LDD-H/LDD-H-spec.pdf
They don't work with analog signals. They work with 0-5V PWM dimming.
The relay boxes output 0-10V signals. According to the datasheet, the max voltage is 6V. So, I'm not sure if the input dimming channel of your drivers got burned out or not.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:01 pm

How new is your dimming module?
The newer models have jumpers in them that you can change each channel from analog to PWM to from 0-10 to 0-5v.

Although Roberto is correct you may have fried the input dimming channel of your drivers.

Try feeding a 0-5v PWM signal into it (if you have that option) and see what happens.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:50 pm

rimai wrote:Not sure where you got your information, but LDD drivers are a little different than other drivers.
Check the datasheet:
*** URL Removed ***
They don't work with analog signals. They work with 0-5V PWM dimming.
The relay boxes output 0-10V signals. According to the datasheet, the max voltage is 6V. So, I'm not sure if the input dimming channel of your drivers got burned out or not.

I thought the relay box either outputted a PWM or Dimmer signal and I thought I bought the one with the pwm signal. (There isn't a sticker saying dimmer on the bottom). Are you saying the PWM signal out of the relay box is a 10 volt signal and not 5?

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:53 pm

Sacohen wrote:How new is your dimming module?
The newer models have jumpers in them that you can change each channel from analog to PWM to from 0-10 to 0-5v.

Although Roberto is correct you may have fried the input dimming channel of your drivers.

Try feeding a 0-5v PWM signal into it (if you have that option) and see what happens.

Feed a 5v PWM signal? How? Where can I buy a 5 volt PWM feeder/ generator? I looked all over the internet for one and couldn't anything except for Ebay, but none of them guaranteed a 5 volt signal

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun May 11, 2014 12:56 pm

I thought you had the dimming module and weren't using the dimming ports on the relay. Yes the signal out if the relay box us 0-10v regardless of if you got the PWM or analog.

I think there is a sticker inside if I remember correctly.

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Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun May 11, 2014 1:07 pm

If your relay is PWM, but 0*10v you can code it to not go about 50%.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 1:31 pm

How do you code it to go 50%? And I assume you mean voltage 50% and not PWM signal 50%. Roberto is this true? If so, cool. If not, I'd rather not buy a PWM dimming module, so is it possible to build and interface/ converter?

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun May 11, 2014 1:49 pm

The PWM control signal going from the RA dimming ports to PWM in on the LDD would be 50% of the full 10v (or 5v).

Here is code for a PWM slope going from 0-50% for the daylight and actinic channels.
Times are 9am to 8pm.

Code: Select all

    ReefAngel.PWM.SetDaylight( PWMSlope(9,0,20,0,0,50,60,0) );
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetActinic( PWMSlope(9,0,20,0,0,50,60,0) );

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 1:57 pm

Sacohen wrote:The PWM control signal going from the RA dimming ports to PWM in on the LDD would be 50% of the full 10v (or 5v).

Here is code for a PWM slope going from 0-50% for the daylight and actinic channels.
Times are 9am to 8pm.
Code: Select all
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetDaylight( PWMSlope(9,0,20,0,0,50,60,0) );
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetActinic( PWMSlope(9,0,20,0,0,50,60,0) );

I respect your thoughts on this Steve, but as I understand what PWM is and as referenced in the following post from Roberto...

http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2980

I don't think this is correct. A PWM determines the value between the width of each pulse, it still pulses at 10 volts right?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun May 11, 2014 2:02 pm

newtoke wrote: I respect your thoughts on this Steve, but as I understand what PWM is and as referenced in the following post from Roberto...

http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2980

I don't think this is correct. A PWM determines the value between the width of each pulse, it still pulses at 10 volts right?

Correct.
PWM will output a 0-10V PWM signal and will change the width of the pulse.
The new dimming expansion modules can outpout 0-5V PWM signals.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 2:12 pm

rimai wrote:
newtoke wrote: I respect your thoughts on this Steve, but as I understand what PWM is and as referenced in the following post from Roberto...

http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2980

I don't think this is correct. A PWM determines the value between the width of each pulse, it still pulses at 10 volts right?
Correct.
PWM will output a 0-10V PWM signal and will change the width of the pulse.
The new dimming expansion modules can outpout 0-5V PWM signals.

Thanks Roberto... So there is no way to get the PWM signal out of the relay box to be 5 vdc?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun May 11, 2014 2:17 pm

Technically there is, but it will require you to open the box and solder some jumper bridges with wires to short out the gain of the op amp that boosts the signal.
Another way is to use your ATO port. They output 0-5V PWM.
Something like this:

Code: Select all

pinMode(lowATOPin,OUTPUT);
analogWrite(lowATOPin,2.55*80); // set Low ATO port to 80%

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun May 11, 2014 2:44 pm

newtoke wrote:
Sacohen wrote:The PWM control signal going from the RA dimming ports to PWM in on the LDD would be 50% of the full 10v (or 5v).

Here is code for a PWM slope going from 0-50% for the daylight and actinic channels.
Times are 9am to 8pm.
Code: Select all
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetDaylight( PWMSlope(9,0,20,0,0,50,60,0) );
    ReefAngel.PWM.SetActinic( PWMSlope(9,0,20,0,0,50,60,0) );
I respect your thoughts on this Steve, but as I understand what PWM is and as referenced in the following post from Roberto...

http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2980

I don't think this is correct. A PWM determines the value between the width of each pulse, it still pulses at 10 volts right?

Sorry you are correct. I was thinking backwards. My brain is a little foggy right now, I've been up all night the past 2 nights working on a freelance video editing job.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 3:39 pm

rimai wrote:Technically there is, but it will require you to open the box and solder some jumper bridges with wires to short out the gain of the op amp that boosts the signal.
Another way is to use your ATO port. They output 0-5V PWM.
Something like this:
Code: Select all
pinMode(lowATOPin,OUTPUT);
analogWrite(lowATOPin,2.55*80); // set Low ATO port to 80%

When I set the pin mode, do I just set it in Setup and the analogWrite in the loop? Also I assume the RA libraries won't freak out over the ATO been used as a output instead of input correct?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun May 11, 2014 5:15 pm

No, you need to have it on loop too.
People have used this for Jebao pumps, but nobody has never tested with LEDs.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Sun May 11, 2014 6:12 pm

Is it true that only one ATO port can send out PWM?

Also what configuration have folks had success with?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon May 12, 2014 8:04 am

On the standard RA, only one, but on the RA+, you can use both.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:54 am

Sigh... it didn't seem to work. I put those two lines you mentioned before the "interface" method. This is what I did:

Code: Select all

//ATO PWM output
  pinMode(lowATOPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(highATOPin, OUTPUT);
  analogWrite(lowATOPin, ReefAngel.PWM.GetActinicValue() * 2.55);
  analogWrite(highATOPin, ReefAngel.PWM.GetDaylightValue() * 2.55);

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

I am ordering new drivers in case I fried them. Any other ideas? I'd really love to find a testing device that can generate a PWM signal and a device that can test a PWM signal, but I have yet to find any.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:03 am

What size LDD do you need.
I think I have 2 1000mA that I'm not using.

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newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:16 am

I already ordered two 1000ma Steve... Thanks for the offer. I ordered the PWM Expansion Module, because it appears that is the only way people are having success... I would though hope that Roberto will add the ability to modify the voltage out of the relay pack PWM outputs in the future.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:23 am

No Problem. Good luck with them.
I have 4 that I need to get motivated to set up.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:49 am

newtoke wrote:Sigh... it didn't seem to work. I put those two lines you mentioned before the "interface" method. This is what I did:
Code: Select all
//ATO PWM output
  pinMode(lowATOPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(highATOPin, OUTPUT);
  analogWrite(lowATOPin, ReefAngel.PWM.GetActinicValue() * 2.55);
  analogWrite(highATOPin, ReefAngel.PWM.GetDaylightValue() * 2.55);

  // This should always be the last line
  ReefAngel.Portal();
  ReefAngel.ShowInterface();
I am ordering new drivers in case I fried them. Any other ideas? I'd really love to find a testing device that can generate a PWM signal and a device that can test a PWM signal, but I have yet to find any.

Roberto any thoughts on this code?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:54 am

Code looks fine.

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newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Mon May 12, 2014 1:16 pm

Doesn't work... Only thing that happens is that the lights go out. Hopefully the dimmer module I just purchased will solve this?

blert · Post by **blert** » Mon May 12, 2014 1:30 pm

newtoke wrote:Sigh... it didn't seem to work. ...

The LDD drivers and the controlling device MUST share a common ground. You can't just send them a signal and have them work, they need to be properly hooked up electrically.

newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Mon May 12, 2014 1:45 pm

I know the ground from the RA ATO port was connected to the -Vout on the power supply. I was trying to use Roberto's suggestion of having using the ATO as a PWM 5vdc signal using the code shown in earlier in this thread, but the lights would just stay dark.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:07 pm

Do you get any voltage when you measure the ago ports?

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newtoke · Post by **newtoke** » Fri May 23, 2014 1:00 pm

I went ahead and purchased the Dimmer module. I opened it up and put in the 5 vdc jumpers. I wired ther LDD white wire to the dimmer and the negative or ground of the DImmer module to the negative VOut on the power supply and the lights don't turn on at all.

If I disconnect the white wire from the dimmer module then I get 100% full on from my lights

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Fri May 23, 2014 1:16 pm

Did you change your code to use the dimming expansion module?
Can we see it?

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