Black box LEDs - How to control with Apex VDM

[Krollo]

Phlizon 165 watt led driver question​

Hi all,

I have 3 of the Phlizon 165w reef leds. They can be daisy chained utilizing only one outlet on EB832. Problem with this is that both blue and white channels come on and turn off at same time as well as no ability to auto ramp up or down. I bought 3 of the Neptune dimming cables with the intent of wiring them as described in a few posts I've read but they all mention that the driver needs to be 0-10v and PWM. The one light that I opened to determine if they were of this rating showed something else. So my question is can I still wire up my lights using the dimming cables and VDM module as others have posted? See pics of driver for volts and such. Thanks all for reading and/or replying!

Also I have purchased 3 of the Steve LED ACI's as I don't see this LED being 0-10v

Attached Images

 

[SPR1968]

I can’t help with the question but I can bump the thread to see if we can get you some help

 

[Krollo]

I can’t help with the question but I can bump the thread to see if we can get you some help

Thanks

 

[oreo54]

Replace the drivers with meanwell lcm-60u set to 500mA.
https://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers/mean-well-lcm-u-series-with-dimming

Make sure the 2 strings have a 100% voltage below 90v.

 

[Krollo]

Replace the drivers with meanwell lcm-60u set to 500mA.
https://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers/mean-well-lcm-u-series-with-dimming

Make sure the 2 strings have a 100% voltage below 90v.

Thanks...that may be last resort. Was hoping to be able to control by using existing drivers along with the StevesLeds ACI and my neptune light dimming cables. May not be doable with existing drivers?

 

[sculpin01]

The existing drivers are non-dimmable (on/off) drivers. To ramp up and down with an Apex, you need dimmable drivers, as posted above.

Or just ditch the black box and build your own. I've built numerous lights around the Mean Well HLG-60H-C700B driver. It has true 0-10V dimming and is easy to use.

 

[oreo54]

Thanks...that may be last resort. Was hoping to be able to control by using existing drivers along with the StevesLeds ACI and my neptune light dimming cables. May not be doable with existing drivers?

I don't know myself.
The dimmer needs to be probed.
Seems obvious that it is fed 12V from one of the drivers and converted..
Just check the voltage going back to the driver for dimming. Need to set the pot at 100% output.

Historically they have used 5v pwm, 10v pwm and 10v analog.

5v pwm (maybe 3.3v?) seemed to have been reserved for the "programmable" ones not usually the manual dim type.

Converting the Apex from 10v analog to some form of pwm isn't the "usual" direction
Going 5 v pwm to 10v analog for the meanwell dimmers is more common.
Steves "thing" may work fine..

http://www.stevesleds.com/assets/images/stevesleds_aquarium_controller_interface_882016.pdf

The existing drivers are non-dimmable (on/off) drivers. To ramp up and down with an Apex, you need dimmable drivers, as posted above.

Or just ditch the black box and build your own. I've built numerous lights around the Mean Well HLG-60H-C700B driver. It has true 0-10V dimming and is easy to use.

No they are dimmable

 

[oreo54]

Note the different driver .

Phlizon 165W PWM Light Control

Full disclosure, I barely know what I'm doing, but after sleuthing the forums I've clobbered something together that works for me. Parts used: 2x Phlizon 165W Dimmable Full Spectrum Aquarium LED Lights (No WiFi, just dumb lights) Raspberry pi 4B Raspberry Pi Prototyping Board HAT by MakerSpot...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[sculpin01]

I don't know myself.
The dimmer needs to be probed.
Seems obvious that it is fed 12V from one of the drivers and converted..
Just check the voltage going back to the driver for dimming. Need to set the pot at 100% output.

Historically they have used 5v pwm, 10v pwm and 10v analog.

5v pwm (maybe 3.3v?) seemed to have been reserved for the "programmable" ones not usually the manual dim type.

Converting the Apex from 10v analog to some form of pwm isn't the "usual" direction
Going 5 v pwm to 10v analog for the meanwell dimmers is more common.
Steves "thing" may work fine..

http://www.stevesleds.com/assets/images/stevesleds_aquarium_controller_interface_882016.pdf

No they are dimmable

Sorry. Too early for brain.

 

[Cabinetman]

I know this is old but these are controllable by just clipping the yellow off and hooking the red up to the positive and black to negative on the leads from vdm. It will only go to 10% so it needs plugged into a timed plug. The fans also stay on full time when the yellow wire is disconnected. The good news is the newer style will dim to 0% but the same issue is the fans will keep running so they need to be put on a controlled outlet.