Ok so I got better pots and the dimming is a lot better now.
My only problem is still when I unplug the driver, the leds stay barely lit then after a few seconds of being unplugged they flash bright and go out. What could that be? Is that normal? Somehow energy is being stored in the circuit and it takes several seconds to bleed out thru the LEDs somehow, very weird.
Glad the dimmer is working now. Wish I could be of help to you, but maybe you can email your problem to Rapidled and someone there can give you the correct answer. Or try doing a search on google. Good luck.
it is normal to flash when 120v is cut. Most will leave the main power on and adjust with a controller so it dims slow. I think anything less than 2v to the control will shut the lights off they will be very dim at say 2.2v then when it hits 2v it shuts down very slow with no flash. when you kill the 120v it releases the power stored in the driver and thats the cause of the flash. I already spoke with rapid led because i thought you had to kill 120v power but they told me that you don’t and if you do it will flash full power for a split second.
Thanks for the help. Does it hurt anything by flashing like that? I only have a RKL, I’d need the ALC module to control the lights, I’m nut quite sure that will even do it being its a base controller. I’ll have to look I to it. I have noticed when I turn the pots all the way down, the LEDs are barely on, some aren’t even on! Glad to know this is all normal, thanks again.
My impression is is wont hurt them. I set mine to go from 20% ramp to 80% then back at night and it won’t do less than 25% so they shut off 15 minutes before they’re supposed to. But it’s fine. All they use for dimming is 0-10v dc. But I think you need different drivers.
Different drivers? Different then the meanwell ELN-60-48D? I have a 1-10VDC running my pots now. I will have to look into the ALC for the RKL and see if I can dim the lights down at night. Thanks.
I am using the same (6) drivers as you and my LEDs do the same when the dimmer is turned all the way down. But, not all the leds go out. I plug my LED fixture, which has 72 - 3w LEDs, into my old RK2 and I can only turn it on and off automatically, no dimming, and it is working just fine.
No that’s the same driver I have. There is another that dims a different way.
Phew
I never want to look at a soldering iron again, 96 LEDs is a lot more then I thought it’d be. I still have to build my hood and mount everything then I can permanently solder the power and pot lines all together. I have 4 120mm fans, should I mount them blowing down the C channel or can I just place them on top of it blowing into the channel? It’d be easier to just lay them on top but don’t know if it will be cool enough, I know mounting them on the side would be best, but then I will have to mount them and have vents in the canopy. The canopy will be floating over the tank and be open from the bottom and top so should get plenty of air. I can’t wait to get these over my tank, so much work done, so much work left to be done.
nice job i had fun doing mine. i would blow the fans along the fins
looking good. very nice project, should look great on your tank. :
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You will not be dissapointed. You will probably get diff. Colors. Over time. If you don’t mind letting us know how much the total project is.
I’ve been buying piece by piece when I find deals over the last year, right now everything for the light fixture I’m around $700 for 96 dimmable LEDs. Just picked up material for my canopy, hoping to get it all together next weekend.