http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:09:31 +0000 Fri, 06 Dec 2013 07:40:38 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=68172 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546200&title=driver-for-led-lights#546200 Author: Krazie4Acans
Subject: 68172
Posted: December 06 2013 at 7:40am

Mac, From those specs the units look like the majority of the Tao Tronics units around. Those drivers use a PWM dimmer to control them. If you look inside the unit you will see a small circuit board connected to each driver. The dimmer knob is generally attached to this board. There are two wires running from that board to each of the drivers. Those are your dimming control wires. I have clipped those wires and connected them to an external connector that I then run to a controller that uses PWM dimming (Reef Angel and most of the LED controllers on RapidLED and StevesLED sites). You can also get Analog to PWM adapter boards that will allow you to use an analog controller to dim them.

I found it very hard to get a compatible replacement driver for those units because of the high voltage and low constant current output. Most drivers output 700mA or 1000mA not 500mA. Some are adjustable and can be turned down to that but then don't supply enough voltage (Max of 48 to 52 Volts not 100v). I found it was easier to just use the stock driver and replace the dimming control.

Hope that helps. Krazie
]]> Fri, 06 Dec 2013 07:40:38 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546200&title=driver-for-led-lights#546200 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546199&title=driver-for-led-lights#546199 Author: Fatman
Subject: 68172
Posted: December 06 2013 at 7:25am

Mac, there are two methods of controlling drivers, analog and pulse width modulation (PWM). You need to determine how you are going to control them before ordering them. The analog work with Apex controllers and the PWM work with some of the other designs such as Reef Angel. Most drivers have the dimming channel controlled by 10 VDC and draw about 10-20 mA. There are some however that use 5 VDC for the dimming channel, so be sure to check that.

The analog drivers will also work with PWM controllers but the dimming channel will not go up or down linear.

]]> Fri, 06 Dec 2013 07:25:22 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546199&title=driver-for-led-lights#546199 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546155&title=driver-for-led-lights#546155 Author: phys
Subject: 68172
Posted: December 05 2013 at 11:55pm

stevesleds.com has some that should work for you. Any on that site should be sufficient. Just find the ones that closely match the original power specs. You also want to be sure you get a variable voltage/non-variable amperage driver. That just means the driver will change its voltage to supply the needed wattage instead of the amperage.]]> Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:55:25 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546155&title=driver-for-led-lights#546155 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546142&title=driver-for-led-lights#546142 Author: bmac2
Subject: 68172
Posted: December 05 2013 at 10:20pm

I have 4 sets of led lights on my 300 gallon, and one that is for my frag tank.  I got them from a company in Virginia, and they are pretty damn awesome.  now the one on my frag tank I am thinking of upgrading the drivers to ones that are computer controllable and dimmable with the computer/controller.

The ones that are in it are simple ones with a knob dimmer/adjustment.  The specs on the driver are:

100v-240V   50/60HZ
55 - 100 /V
500-550 mA


standard connectors.  There are literally thousands of drivers on ebay, but I need some guidance on what ones are decent and people have used.  Links to websites with the parts is most welcome!!

Mac]]> Thu, 05 Dec 2013 22:20:07 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=68172&PID=546142&title=driver-for-led-lights#546142