Just ordered my PWM Expansion Module along with other goodies to make an LED setup for my 40.
I'm going to be using BuckBlocks and FlexBlocks for the drivers with separate 24V power supplies for whites and blues. I remember reading that the buckblock/flexblock are reversed when it comes to intensity (100% being off and 0% being full on).
When coding the PWM slope function, do I just tell it to start at 95% and ramp up(down) to 10% or is there other coding that needs to be done?
w00t.
Suuuuper Stoked!
Re: Suuuuper Stoked!
I think the reversed dimming was only on the old buckpucks.
I think Deckoz has those. Try sending him a PM if he doesn't answer in there.
I think Deckoz has those. Try sending him a PM if he doesn't answer in there.
Roberto.
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Deckoz2302
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:05 am
Re: Suuuuper Stoked!
Yes it was me - I use a 2100mA, & 2x 1000mA buckblock, and also 3x 700mA flexblocks
You do not need to do reverse ramping with these drivers - start from 0 ramp to 100. If you like - like I did I wartched my lights to see when power on is for example my white 2100mA w/ 5x xml t6 on them starts luminecence at 67pwm without flocker. So I have it slope from 67 - 255
Another thing to note - if you plan on doing lightning - for your whites. (Say you use XML which are rated for 3300mA) you can run two Flexblocks in paralell on the strand. Flexblocks were designed with strobing in mind...which I've tested but, I had already purchased my 2100mA puck...if I did it again I would have gone with the double or tripple flexblock on a strand as the buckblock sucks horribly for strobe(lightning) effects
And one last thing - with a 24v powersupply, plan to run no more then 6 leds per strand per block or you'll overload the driver since it will be asking for more voltage then its supplied, this is consideriing a max forward voltag per led of 3.6vf. So you will have to have multiple bucks per channel/color. Overload will cause internal circuit shutdown timer in the puck for 1-2 min which will turn your strand on and off. On a 24v supply consider a max strand VF of 21.6 to allow overhead voltage to power the puck itself
You do not need to do reverse ramping with these drivers - start from 0 ramp to 100. If you like - like I did I wartched my lights to see when power on is for example my white 2100mA w/ 5x xml t6 on them starts luminecence at 67pwm without flocker. So I have it slope from 67 - 255
Another thing to note - if you plan on doing lightning - for your whites. (Say you use XML which are rated for 3300mA) you can run two Flexblocks in paralell on the strand. Flexblocks were designed with strobing in mind...which I've tested but, I had already purchased my 2100mA puck...if I did it again I would have gone with the double or tripple flexblock on a strand as the buckblock sucks horribly for strobe(lightning) effects
And one last thing - with a 24v powersupply, plan to run no more then 6 leds per strand per block or you'll overload the driver since it will be asking for more voltage then its supplied, this is consideriing a max forward voltag per led of 3.6vf. So you will have to have multiple bucks per channel/color. Overload will cause internal circuit shutdown timer in the puck for 1-2 min which will turn your strand on and off. On a 24v supply consider a max strand VF of 21.6 to allow overhead voltage to power the puck itself
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Deckoz2302
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:05 am
Re: Suuuuper Stoked!
Post to long to edit on phone
The 6 led/stand changes to 10 if you do two strands of 5 parallell of the driver vs 6 in series. However parallell will cut the constant current in half per strand so a 700mA puck w/ 2 parallells will be receiving 350mA/strand. Just my opinion but 350mA barely powers cree/bridgelux/epson/luxdrive ect leds. And at 350mA your par will drastically fall off at a very shallow depth. Let me know if you have any more ?'s
The 6 led/stand changes to 10 if you do two strands of 5 parallell of the driver vs 6 in series. However parallell will cut the constant current in half per strand so a 700mA puck w/ 2 parallells will be receiving 350mA/strand. Just my opinion but 350mA barely powers cree/bridgelux/epson/luxdrive ect leds. And at 350mA your par will drastically fall off at a very shallow depth. Let me know if you have any more ?'s
Re: Suuuuper Stoked!
I'm actually going to be running each group of 12 of the XP-E's Royal Blues in two parallel strings of 6 off the 1400mA Buckblocks. The XP-E whites will be on 700mA FlexBlocks. and some XP-G's on the 1000mA BuckBlock. I got the first string of 12 RB's wired up last night. Looks like I'll be able to dim down to about 5% or so without flickering with this setup. More to come as the project progresses.
- led-strand.jpg (100.82 KiB) Viewed 4724 times
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Deckoz2302
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:05 am
Re: Suuuuper Stoked!
Yes...5% nice 
. All of mine start in the range of 9pwm -21pwm except my whites...at 65. Mind you these are numbers bases off 255..not 0-100. Wait till you use that flex block for lightning ...haha sooo cool
Also...I'm sure you know but I'll say it anyway. Put the drivers in a vented area that you won't be able to hear...at low pwm they give a nice electrical Hum and heat up due to offing the voltage through heat.
. All of mine start in the range of 9pwm -21pwm except my whites...at 65. Mind you these are numbers bases off 255..not 0-100. Wait till you use that flex block for lightning ...haha sooo cool Also...I'm sure you know but I'll say it anyway. Put the drivers in a vented area that you won't be able to hear...at low pwm they give a nice electrical Hum and heat up due to offing the voltage through heat.
Re: Suuuuper Stoked!
and here's it is, all soldered up and burning bright.
- IMG_0538.jpg (58.6 KiB) Viewed 4693 times