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Help w/ Retrofit LED PLEASE? Light quit working...corals need light! (1 Viewer)

duganderson

duganderson

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Nov 18, 2011
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Location
St. Anthony Village (N.E. Mpls.)
I bought a used Red Sea Max 130D with a DIY Rapid LED like LED. It uses approximately 30 leds on a heatsink- all are CREE XP-E on two Mean Well ELN-60-48D (one for blue and one for white).

I transferred all my coral and fish from my previous tank yesterday. The light worked at first. At night, I turned the dimmers on both channels (blue and white) all the way down with the dimming knobs which shut the light off (I think the previous own did this all of the time). After the lights were off for a while, they flickered very briefly even though the dimmer knobs were all the way down. When I tried to turn them on later using the dimming knobs, they would not turn on and still won't turn on.

Do you have any ideas what might be wrong or what I may check? There are two power cords.....one that seems to run the lights and fans and another on a thin cord with plug that says input 240 v., output 10 V. 500 mA.

Is there anyone that would be willing to take a look at this with me and help me try to fix it. I'm not very good with electronics. I can remove the hood and light easily so I could bring it to you to check it our OR I would be happy to meet your somewhere (my house or somewhere near you).

Thank you VERY much, Doug
 
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So both whites and blue leds are on one power cord? And they both have dimmers? Could your house have experienced a power surge?
 
The big power plus is for the drivers, this gives you the power to run the LEDs.

The small 240/10v is the signal voltage your dimmer knobs use; it provides the 10v (100%) max and the knobs reduce this (to5v for 50%) to dim the drivers.
 
I built a similar setup but my power cord is on a timer. When the timer turns off, a few seconds later the LED's flicker. From research online, I've found that this is common and nothing to worry about.

As for them not turning on I would make sure the outlet has power, if not try to find out what tripped it. I would also check for a short or burnt out LED but a short would only effect one string unless both strings have a short. Also, check to see if the setup used fuses when built they could also have blown.

I'd be willing to help but unfortunately, I don't have any time in the next few days.
 
Can you verify that the 10v supply is working? With a multimeter? If you don't have one grab one from harbor freight for $3.

If the 10v power supply is out and the dimmer circuits are still connected, the drivers are probably dimmed all the way down so you have no output.
 
Ok from the data sheet it is clear that if you do not have a voltage on the Dimmer circuit, you will not have an output. So you need to check what the voltage is on the blue wire. See the attached pictures for reference.
 
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Anyone have any time to check this out with me this weekend? I can bring it to you and the hood is apart and everything is easy access for testing. I would be happy to pay you with cash, a gorgeous hammer, good karma, case of beer, etc., I would really appreciate it
 
I assume you meant 10 volts...

With the white and blue disconnected, connect the 10volt positive terminal to the blue and the 10v negative terminal to the white. This should disable the dimmer and put the output at 100%.

If this doesn't work, you need to verify the power (120v ac) to the maxwell drivers.

And it could be that you blew out both drivers for some reason.
 
I cannot help you with your light. Going on a few days now without resolution, do you have a temporary light over the tank?

If not, I may have something you can use, available for pickup in Plymouth tonight after 5pm give or take.

Otherwise, good luck.
 
LowersMyBP said:
I cannot help you with your light. Going on a few days now without resolution, do you have a temporary light over the tank?

If not, I may have something you can use, available for pickup in Plymouth tonight after 5pm give or take.

Otherwise, good luck.
Click to expand...

Nice offer James! Didn't even think of that

Doug - your welcome to use my JBJ fixture if need be as well....like James - I am no help on the fix : (


Good Lord - is no one available for him to bring the light to for help?
 
Ang, I am trying to help. I just can't do anything in person. Wife and kids are sick and we are hosting Christmas so it is a bit chaotic around here.

Back to wiring...
If you connect the wires like I have below, the dimmers will be out of the picture and the LEDs should be on 100%.

18 guage 2 conductor wire:
Brown: 120 volt AC hot
Blue: 120 volt AC neutral

18 guage 4 conductor wire:
Red: LED +
Black: LED -
Blue: Dimmer + (10 volt supply, + terminal)
White: Dimmer - (10 volt supply, - terminal)

Can you take pictures?
 
I apologize for the delayed response. Everyone...thank you VERY much for the ideas and offer for a light.

I rigged up an alternate light that should work well enough for a while. I did find someone to work on it and I think it should be ready soon.

Again....thank you TCMAS......this club rocks!
 
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