Evil recommended the following circuit for dimming the Meanwell D models, using a 12v power supply.


Here is the schematic. If anyone can take a pic of their setup so I can see what this critter looks like in real life, esp. how you have them connected, I would greatly appreciate it!


http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...st&id=67222


Thanks!

i am in the same boat. I was considering abandoning the whole idea of doing this because i don't understand it completely ( not sure i'd buy the right components ) and just getting a reefkeeper lite and a ALC module.

RKL is 100 bucks and the ALC is 80 bucks ( and ALC is currently sold out). Seems like way to much to pay to simply adjust voltage.

I think Evil and the guys were coming up with a DIY pwm that wouldn't require the Reefkeeper or the ALC module.


But.... like you... eagerly awaiting an answer, I'm sure someone here has one

That circuit isn't hard to build at all. If you can put the full LED array together, you can handle this. It's only a few parts. I'll try and get one of those perf board drawings done so it makes a little more sense.

You're a cool dude, Evil, I don't care how hot it is where you live


I think what's confusing me the most is the connection types/methods since they all seem to have different connection types. The pot has soldering joints, the LM317 has prongs, and the resistors and capacitors are just wires.



I actually picked up the parts today from Radioshack since I was having breakfast at the Chic-Fil-A next to it.

I dont' have the Meanwell or LED's yet, but they will be ordered soon (I hope).

Alright, I have LED's on the way. Finally, after what seems like an eon.

This is just to supplement my Nova Extreme for the shimmer, and a punch in PAR.

I ordered the Meanwell ELN 60-48D and 8 royal blues from Nanotuners (and thermal pads).

Eventually I'll add 5 whites, maybe XP-Gs, to balance it out, since I know this will "blue" the heck out of my tank. And beyond that I'll add another Meanwell with 13 more LED"s and just get rid of the Nova.



The only thing I need to know now is how to assemble (ie, proper joinery) for this LM317 circuit. Once the LED's show up, then I'll have other "hand puppet" questions I'm sure.

I'll have that up for you soon.

i have some pics up in my thread. i don't have a working circuit as of yet but you can take a look at my crappy pics. everything will fit into a pre-printed circuit board except for the potentiometer, which you can solder wires to and then attach to the board

You're the man, Evil! Thanks for so much help. For now I'll be practicing some soldering on an old PC motherboard.




Art, can't find your thread----

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=215754

Do the thermal pads allow you to attach LED's without drilling? or are they just for heat transer?

I'm hoping BOTH!


I see you used a circuit board....... which would be for me like trying to play Scrabble as an illiterate.

They are adhesive. Peel and stick. They need some pressure after applying the LEDs to the heatsink for the pads to set up correctly.

so is it possible to use them and not drill holes for the all the LEDs? that would save alot of time

That's what I'm doing. They aren't heavy, and even if one pulls loose, you'll see it way before it pulls the others loose.

That's the whole point behind them.


These aren't peeling off easily. Only reason would be if the mounting surface is oily. Once these have had a little heat applied to them, they are hard to remove. Acrylic adhesives are awsome.

awesome, i am going to buy 24 of em.

redfish, the circuit board is just a board with connections on it. don't know if you can see from the pics i posted, but if you look at the top side of the board when the actual components are, the areas that are colored together in white are connected underneath the board. Wherever you solder the ends of two components in one white area you will have a connection between 2 things.

If the perf board is the easiest way to do this, would this one work? My local Shack doesn't have the same one Artnsx used.

They do have this one:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...oductId=2102845

It can be used, yes. You just have to plan things out a little different on the board.

Ok, then I may see if a radioshack over in Raleigh has the "right" perf board. I go that way every now and then anyhow. Thanks!

the board on the link you posted looks like the same one i have. If you can't find it locally i wouldn't mind picking one up for you and shipping it to you at cost

Thanks Art. I think you are right, it looks the same. ---- on yours, are you wiring up for two?

Could you post a pic of the back of yours, soldered up? Specifically, what did you do with the extra length of the LM317 prongs? Clip them?


Evil, the Meanwell and Cree's will show up today (probably already have), and I'll be slamming this puppy together soon.

I'm sure I'll have some questions once I get started on it .


Thanks for all the help!!!!!!!!

yea im doing both on the same board since theres plenty of room on it. Yea i clipped off the extra portion of the LM317 once its soldered into place, or it can be done beforehand. Lol my soldering is horrible, the contacts are so close together that its easy to use just a little too much solder and it ends up connecting points that shouldn't be connected. I'll take a pic

Very cool, thanks!

I'm hoping for a diagram soon. My LED's showed up today along with the Meanwell. The only thing I lack is a 12v power supply.


I can see in yours somewhat how it's put together, but hand puppets are what I need at this point, lol!

My thermal pads came today, but i am stuck with these damn P type drivers, and nanotuners is out of stock of the D drivers until end of december...lol.

Looks like i will be out of the running for quite a while.

You're only doing 1 circuit right? Ebay is your best bet for a power supply $6 shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

And don't hack up the end of the power supply like i did. I bought these also so you can connect/disconnect the power supply easily. I'll be getting 10 so i can send you 1 or 2
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Thanks!

Let me know when you get the connectors. I'm not worried about splicing, but that is certainly handy!

Any pics of the actual wiring?
I'm okay with the two sets of LEDS in series but want to see how everything before that is set up.

Milamber, we're hoping that someone with one of these done will post it.

It seems to be best done on a generic circuit board, which I picked up yesterday at Radio shack.


I have all the components to make this except the 12v power supply, which is on the way from MPJA.com. $10 shipped was still cheaper than $20 at Radio shack and I didn't even have to put on shoes.

Hi guys,

I'm gonna build a voltage regular using a LM317 for dimming. I have 2 Meanwell drivers (one driver per LED string). How many "LM317 circuits" do I need ? Would 1 be fine to supply 10V to both drivers (connecting them in parallel) or I need two of them ?

Thanks !

Evil, I think I have it. I wired in a timer to the circuit.

How does this look?

Evil,

Any luck on the perf board drawings for this? I've studied the circuit drawing from the one post, and the pics Artnsx posted of his, but I'm not really sure what to do with it.

I have everything in hand but the power supply, which will ship out tomorrow from MPJA.

Many many thanks for all you have already done!!!!!!

Looks awesome


Give me a day or two. I've been swamped this last week or so.

I understand . In the meanwhile I also try to figure it out and post a pic when I get it arranged the way I think it should be (no soldering yet )

Hey, check this out and let me know if this helps.

LINK TO FULL SIZE PIC http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/639/cimg2602i.jpg

Ah, now that's the hand-puppet I needed!

Thanks!

My 12v shipped today from MPJA. When it arrives I may have the LED's all soldered up and ready to go.





I see that the ground is essentially acting as the negative in this case. Therefore I assume there's not an actual "ground" involved (particularly since there's no ground wire coming from the Meanwell anyhow). I suppose this isn't an issue for something running at 10v, 3mA. Not enough juice to even make it past your skin.


Also, when you say "connect the first two pins of pot together" am I assuming it really doesn't matter which pins (ie, right to left or left to right)? Mine aren't labeled + or -.

And what purpose is there in the 3 pins? Ie, I'm sure someone needs 3 pins for a reason, but why don't we?


Sorry, noob questions I know

no i don't think it matters which 2 pins you connect, but i think if you connect the 2nd and 3rd pins together turning the pot clockwise will have the opposite effect turning the pot clockwise when the first 2 pins are connected.