Ace's ATS v2.0 - LEDs

[Ace25]

Nope, a Meanwell driver can handle up to 14 LEDs per driver at its max output, so a 700mA driver will handle 14 LEDs @ 700mA, an ELN-60-48 will handle 14 LEDs @ 1300mA, or 28 LEDs at 650mA if you put 2 strings of 14 in series. Most people run 12 LEDs just so they are not maxing out the driver, but meanwells are solid and can handle it without problems, cheap China drivers on the other hand can not handle it at all (seen lots of them blow in less than a month trying to run them at max).

[kerry]

I have a cheap china one I have been testing on my 10G QT tank, its been running 9 12,000K 3W LED's powered by a 25V@660mv. That's two extra over the max. Its been going for about at least 3+ months. I turn it on at 5:10am when I get up and turn it off at 9:30-ish pm when I go to bed. So far I have been pretty impressed. I figured the LED's and driver would have had a failure buy now but all it good, so just last week I ordered $110.00 more of this china stuff from the toplightled place on eBay. He's in California but by his emails I am sure he and his products come from the china area. I do a lot of 5 volt digital (gate stuff) and 12/24 Volt (counting and calibration devices of inputs for re-mapping of OEM automotive computers to allow the use of High Performance Upgrades) stuff for my job and have an electro/mech schooling back ground as well. I had the cover off of the driver before I hooked it up, its not substandard in the building technology. I cannot speak for the brand name of the parts but, they are built right. I think they could use a bit more heat sink but other then that its been smooth sailing with these. They even have a pretty good filter in them. I am not trying to take anything away from Meanwell at all. I just wanted to share my experience I have had with them. Who knows, these other ones I have ordered might be junk?

[Ace25]

I was thinking more of the large FEDY LED drivers from China, ones that are made to run 80+ LEDs per driver. They don't run that many, well, at least not for longer than a month. From my experience it seems if a FEDY driver says it can handle 80 LEDs @ 700ma, the reality is it will handle 60 tops, any more and it seems to overdrive the driver and they get super hot and blow.

Smaller drivers like your describe are different, not sure on quality of those, never tried small ones, but I suspect they are not overstated in their specs like the larger ones. Here is a huge thread on RC where everyone started jumping on the FEDY driver bandwagon due to the price, but about 1/2 way into the thread you can see them failing and people dropping them like flies and going with Meanwells instead.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...950575&page=30

[kerry]

That's good info to know. I have not bought any huge driver yet. I will say that from past experience I have not been pleased with meanwell. I am a radio operator and do a lot of CB and HAM radio operation. In the past I have bought many meanwell power supplies and had to add extra parts ( filters ) to them so they would not cause reception interference as they where noisy in my receive part of the radio. However as of today I put inline a china driver and guess what, it bleeds the receive of my radio. It is a small one, rated up to 10 LED's @ 700ma and I am driving 11 because I have 7 of them which are 12,000K and the other 4 are 660nm which require less power. I figure this makes it to the max. Well so much for them having good filters LOL!!!! I have a meanwell coming from rapidled and will put it in place of the noisy china unit and see if it makes a difference.

[salty joe]

Could this problem be solved by enclosing the driver with a Faraday cage?

[kerry]

That might capture the EMI but I have not tried or thought of that. I figured I would just a diode and a capacitor to the circuit so it filters better or improve the filter they all ready have. Its loud EMI, My radio antenna is about 60-70 feet away out in my shop and I get 7 S-Uinits on my meter, thats 42 decibels!!!!

[Ace25]

Wow... I am not that into the electronics side of the drivers, but I know what your saying is actually very bad. Meanwells even have a metal shield covering most of the parts inside once you take the plastic cover off. I know Meanwells are certainly not the most efficient driver (one of my pet peeves, there is too much overhead in wasted electricity by the driver) but they are built very solid/reliable, but I can see how to people like you that much interference is a major issue and a big reason to look at other options.

[SantaMonica]

RF shielding is probably not a concern at all with driver makers.

[kerry]

RF shielding is probably not a concern at all with driver makers.

LOL, As I would say on the CB radio thats a BIG 10-4! I can deal with the noise by making high and low pass filters.
Never did I think my fish hobby would interfere with my Radio hobby. I noticed this first when I got my Odyssea halide about a year ago. The transformer for the halide side made wicked noise in my radio. The florescent transformer is fine for the t-5's. I guess I will be making some more filters.

[wgood33]

Ace,
Hope all is well with you, it has been awhile. Your thread has inspired me, just like you did a couple years ago to try the ATS. My scrubber is working great, time to improve it with LED. I am going to build an enclosure to go on top of my existing sump and was hoping you could spec the parts for my lighting;

2ea panels that will be 14" x 5"
Panels will be close, 4" from the turf screen.

Please tell me what YOU would use, and thanks again. You have really helped me in this hobby.
Regards, Bill