Viparspectra 165w dimmer

[Srosco02]

Has anyone attempted using smart plugs to dim/brighten these for a better range throughout the day? Would this approach damage the lights?

 

[jd371]

Following. I hate that they just shut off and would love to have them dim before shutting off.

 

[Srosco02]

Following. I hate that they just shut off and would love to have them dim before shutting off.

I know! They're fantastic lights except for that.

 

[oreo54]

Has anyone attempted using smart plugs to dim/brighten these for a better range throughout the day? Would this approach damage the lights?

How they are built/designed means that wouldn't work at all.

 

[Gtinnel]

I have two of the 300 watt versions over my aquarium and at one point I was trying to find a way to ramp them up and down. There is apparently a circuit board that you can add to them to allow them to be controlled using 0-10v from an apex. I ended up not getting an apex so I never actually bought the interface board, so I don't know how hard it is to install but I'm sure you would have to be at least somewhat comfortable taking apart electronics.

There is a thread about it on Neptune's forum.

 

[Srosco02]

I have two of the 300 watt versions over my aquarium and at one point I was trying to find a way to ramp them up and down. There is apparently a circuit board that you can add to them to allow them to be controlled using 0-10v from an apex. I ended up not getting an apex so I never actually bought the interface board, so I don't know how hard it is to install but I'm sure you would have to be at least somewhat comfortable taking apart electronics.

There is a thread about it on Neptune's forum.

Thank you for the info, I suspected it wouldn't be so simple, I'll probably just stick with them as they are as I'm not enough of an electronics engineer to tear into them.

 

[waynel]

You can control the viparspectra lights with reef-pi, and these boards: https://www.tindie.com/products/ranthalion/ml-reef-pi-hat-goby/
and

Viparspectra Adapter by ML Reefkeeping on Tindie

Control Viparspectra LED lights with PWM

www.tindie.com

This gives you the ability to ramp the lights up/down and control the blues and whites separately. It's not very difficult to setup, just a few hours, then you can control the lights from your phone or computer, or setup timers/etc.

I have 3 of the 165w viparspectra lights setup on my tank controlled through reef-pi.

 

[drnibz]

Hi @waynel I know this is old but I'm unable to find a solution anywhere. I got the pi hat and the adapters but I am unable to control the viparspectra not sure what I'm doing wrong;
when tested my light with just the pi and the ML adapter I was able to ramp up and down the light but not through the ML hat.
with the hat installed on the pi, I added the PCA9685 driver with address 64 and frequency 1500
I then added a jack L1 to the PCA driver with pins 0,1
I then added light using jack L1
from the hat I wired GRD, pin13, pin14 to the adapter

with no results.

to date have been only able to get a temp sensor to work with the hat, as I'm also having problems with pH board and probe ;Drowning

 

[outhouse]

with no results.

follow this thread, only issues is not being able to go below 10% and they still use the stock light timers. for on and off times, but can ramp up and down but 10% as minimum. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/l...revive-t247-bluefish-light-controller.359541/

 

[outhouse]

ocean revive uses same exact timers and circuts

 

[diver22]

You can control the viparspectra lights with reef-pi, and these boards: https://www.tindie.com/products/ranthalion/ml-reef-pi-hat-goby/
and

Viparspectra Adapter by ML Reefkeeping on Tindie

Control Viparspectra LED lights with PWM

www.tindie.com

This gives you the ability to ramp the lights up/down and control the blues and whites separately. It's not very difficult to setup, just a few hours, then you can control the lights from your phone or computer, or setup timers/etc.

I have 3 of the 165w viparspectra lights setup on my tank controlled through reef-pi.

Did you have to buy 3 controllers boards ? or with one were you ale to connect all 3 lights ?