Adding Actinic Blue ReefBars to Fluval Evo 13.5

namfuak

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I was thinking about experimenting with adding a couple Actinic Blue ReefBars to the stock Evo 13.5 lights. I wanted both lights connected to a Current USA Dual Ramp Timer, but the timer utilizes a shared 12-24v input. The Evo lights utilize a 1500mA 13.5VDC power supply and it's not large enough to add two 9w strips. I have read that others have tried a 12v power supply, but had a noticeable difference in light intensity.

Power supplies with a 13.5VDC output are not very common, but MeanWell makes all kinds and I have used a few of their power supplies in the past for projects and I was looking at this one here. If I can run these LED strips at 13.5v, then this MeanWell power supply would give me plenty of headroom and allow me to wire up all the lights on a single power supply. Am I overthinking this? I know that I could use two Single Ramp Timers, but going with the larger power supply and dual ramp would simplify programming and end up costing the same.
 
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Did you end up putting those ReefBars under the EVO 13.5 stock hood and are they truly "waterproof"?
Reason why I ask is because I utilized IP67 Tru Lumens (which are similar) and they corroded out after a few months.
 
I would get a 24v power supply then use a voltage step down regulator to set the desired voltage
 

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