Dimming LEDs with an Apex

[jimsflies]

As an update to this thread, here is a link to the DIY connector cable I made:
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/di...l-cable-17899/

My initial settings on the Apex look like this:

Profile Setup:

Profile Name: RampUP
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 120
Initial Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 20

Profile Name: RampDWN
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 120
Initial Intensity: 20
End Intensity: 0

Profile Name: RampUP-2
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 60
Initial Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 10

Profile Name: RampUP-3
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 120
Initial Intensity: 10
End Intensity: 20

Virtual Outlet Setup-

Outlet Name: Whites_Dim
Control Type: Advanced
Icon: Light A
Advanced Setup:
Set OFF
If Time 09:00 to 11:00 Then RampUP-2
If Time 11:00 to 19:00 Then RampUP-3
If Time 19:00 to 22:00 Then RampDWN


Outlet Name: Blues_Dim
Control Type: Advanced
Icon: Light B
Advanced Setup:
Set OFF
If Time 06:00 to 22:00 Then RampUP
If Time 22:00 to 23:59 Then RampDWN

So this program turns on the blues at 6 am, ramps them to 20% by 8 am. Then the whites come on at 9 am and ramp to 10% by 10 am. Then at 11 am, the whites ramp from 10 to 20% by 1 pm. From 1pm to 7pm, blues and whites are both at 20%. At 7pm whites dim from 20% to 0% by 9 pm. Then at 10 pm, blues dim from 20% to 0% at midnight.

I will increase the intensity slowly over the next few weeks to acclimate my corals. They are used to an old halide so I think they will require a bit longer acclimation period. Corals are already responding well to the increased light. Polyp extension yesterday was the best it has been in awhile.

[binford4000]

Program looks pretty slick Jim,are you going to use the lunar calendar that apex has?? It works pretty slick.Did you have to write virtual outles under the profiles also? I had to advance my ramp and ramp down times signifintly to use the lunar calendar like 300 min. Glad you got it and sorry about the stumbling walls

[binford4000]

Now that's a BEAUTIFUL thing Jim.I know I loved my Apex chart when I no longer saw the 16 amps I elminated.Enjoy the new look of your electric bill

[Rabidgoose]

As an update to this thread, here is a link to the DIY connector cable I made:
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/di...l-cable-17899/

My initial settings on the Apex look like this:

Profile Setup:

Profile Name: RampUP
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 120
Initial Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 20

Profile Name: RampDWN
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 120
Initial Intensity: 20
End Intensity: 0

Profile Name: RampUP-2
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 60
Initial Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 10

Profile Name: RampUP-3
Control Type: Ramp
Ramp Profile Setup:
Ramp Time (minutes): 120
Initial Intensity: 10
End Intensity: 20

Virtual Outlet Setup-

Outlet Name: Whites_Dim
Control Type: Advanced
Icon: Light A
Advanced Setup:
Set OFF
If Time 09:00 to 11:00 Then RampUP-2
If Time 11:00 to 19:00 Then RampUP-3
If Time 19:00 to 22:00 Then RampDWN


Outlet Name: Blues_Dim
Control Type: Advanced
Icon: Light B
Advanced Setup:
Set OFF
If Time 06:00 to 22:00 Then RampUP
If Time 22:00 to 23:59 Then RampDWN

So this program turns on the blues at 6 am, ramps them to 20% by 8 am. Then the whites come on at 9 am and ramp to 10% by 10 am. Then at 11 am, the whites ramp from 10 to 20% by 1 pm. From 1pm to 7pm, blues and whites are both at 20%. At 7pm whites dim from 20% to 0% by 9 pm. Then at 10 pm, blues dim from 20% to 0% at midnight.

I will increase the intensity slowly over the next few weeks to acclimate my corals. They are used to an old halide so I think they will require a bit longer acclimation period. Corals are already responding well to the increased light. Polyp extension yesterday was the best it has been in awhile.

HELP (greek)

I have 5 drivers on 4 varispd (blues and royal blues together) Do I need a rampUP and rampDWN for each varispd? I have all drivers plugged into a ext. strip using 1 outlet on my EB8. So how do I get the outlet (power) to recognize the profiles? Do I just start the statement with the PF# ? Or better yet.....lights on 1500 and ramp up for 60 to 60% and ramp down at 2200 for 60 and off at 2300.

thanks.......chuck

[jimsflies]

I haven't set it up with the built in sunrise/sunset and lunar times yet. I might though. Maybe you can post some of your program like I did above since we had issues with me accessing it.

[binford4000]

I haven't set it up with the built in sunrise/sunset and lunar times yet. I might though. Maybe you can post some of your program like I did above since we had issues with me accessing it.

I will do that when I get enough time to hunt and pek it together,lol I have it wrote for the the AI's which control all three bulbs.Just might be helpful to others.Good idea I'll get to as soon as I get a day off,when there's not a swap sorry got get the tank restocked.Is it possable to copy it to a thread from a thumb drive??? How about I save all the programs to a thumb drive and give to you in flint and you can do a apex program's example fourm from several reefers so people can get idea's right here on CR?? Food for thought

[jimsflies]

Thought you might appreciate the difference in power consumption from my tank since connecting the LEDs...can you see when the last day I ran the single 150-watt halide was?

[jimsflies]

Do you have the dimming control connect to the Apex's variable ports?
Here is a link to my DIY.

Or here is the ready-made from ReefLEDLights:

http://reefledlights.com/shop/6-rj45-cable/

http://reefledlights.com/shop/dimbox/

[Rabidgoose]

Do you have the dimming control connect to the Apex's variable ports?
Here is a link to my DIY.

Or here is the ready-made from ReefLEDLights:

6" RJ45 Cable | Reef LED LightsReef LED Lights

DimBox | Reef LED LightsReef LED Lights

Yes....it's all hooked up I just don't know how to code it. The lights are on at 100% (I think)

[jimsflies]

Yes....it's all hooked up I just don't know how to code it. The lights are on at 100% (I think)

I thought I had this somewhere...but here is my program (as I think an example is easier for me to usually follow...although I will say that my program uses the seasonal table so it looks more complicated). After posting this I realize it isn't for the faint of heart...

Here are the outlets I have setup...one for white and one for blues (these are plugged into the variable ports on the apex using the RJ45 cable):

[ Whites-Dim ]  ( base_Var1 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Light A
  Program:
     Set OFF 
     If Outlet Sunrise = ON Then White++ 
     If Outlet Midday = ON Then WhiteOn 
     If Outlet Sunset = ON Then White-- 

[ Blues-Dim ]  ( base_Var2 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Light B
  Program:
     Set OFF 
     If Outlet Nite = ON Then MoonInt 
     If Outlet Sunrise = ON Then Blue++ 
     If Outlet Midday = ON Then BlueOn 
     If Outlet Sunset = ON Then Blue--

These outlets are actually not needed for dimming control...they just turn the white/blues on/off. They correspond to the Energy Bar location you have the drivers plugged into:

[ WhiteLEDs ]  ( 3_1 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Light A
  Program:
     Set OFF 
     Fallback OFF 
     If Outlet Sunrise = ON Then ON 
     If Outlet Midday = ON Then ON 
     If Outlet Sunset = ON Then ON 
     If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF 
     Min Time 030:00 Then OFF 

[ BlueLEDs ]  ( 3_2 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Light B
  Program:
     Fallback OFF 
     Set OFF 
     If Outlet Sunrise = ON Then ON 
     If Outlet Midday = ON Then ON 
     If Outlet Sunset = ON Then ON 
     If Outlet Nite = ON Then ON 
     If Temp > 85.0 Then OFF 
     Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

Then these are virtual outlets

[ Sunrise ]  ( Cntl_F3 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Sun
  Program:
     Set OFF 
     If Sun -030/-090 Then ON 
     If Outlet Midday = ON Then OFF 

[ Midday ]  ( Cntl_F4 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Sun
  Program:
     Set OFF 
     If Sun 180/-090 Then ON 

[ Sunset ]  ( Cntl_F5 )
  Program Type: Advanced
  Display Icon:    Sun
  Program:
     Set OFF 
     If Sun 180/210 Then ON 
     If Outlet Midday = ON Then OFF

Here are the dimming profiles:

[ White++ ] ( PF1 )
  Type: Ramp
  Ramp Time: 210
  Start Intensity: 0
  End Intensity: 12

[ White-- ] ( PF2 )
  Type: Ramp
  Ramp Time: 45
  Start Intensity: 12
  End Intensity: 0

[ Blue++ ] ( PF3 )
  Type: Ramp
  Ramp Time: 180
  Start Intensity: 8
  End Intensity: 85

[ Blue-- ] ( PF4 )
  Type: Ramp
  Ramp Time: 255
  Start Intensity: 85
  End Intensity: 8

[ BlueOn ] ( PF5 )
  Type: Ramp
  Ramp Time: 0
  Start Intensity: 85
  End Intensity: 85

[ WhiteOn ] ( PF6 )
  Type: Weather
  Light Maximum Intensity: 12
  Cloudy Light Intensity: 12
  Cloud Duration: 15
  Cloudy Time: 20
  Probability of Lightning: 0
  Lightning Intensity: 0

So basically, my independently LEDs ramp up in the morning (++), are constant mid-day (On), and ramp down in the evening (--). I have an extended blue period of ramping up and down because I like glowing corals.

The Comprehensive Reference Manual is your friend.

If this doesn't help and you don't use the seasonal table (those IF SUN statements can be very confusing...I have to review them each time I want to change something), let me know what you want and I will post a program with what you will want...or even better, if you get totally stumped shoot me a pm and will login and program it for you.