dawn simulator
dawn simulator
(OP)
Ok so I need some help here I am trying to make some lights simulate the rising of the sun, where they would dim at a certain time and also gradually come on at a certain time. Right now I have the lights (LEDS) running with AC I could wire them with DC if I needed to so that I could do this sun simulation thing. Any help would be much appreciated.





RE: dawn simulator
TTFN
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RE: dawn simulator
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: dawn simulator
RE: dawn simulator
and do this: http://www.activehomepro.com/macrodesigner.html
Bear in mind, I haven't tried to do that myself, since it requires a PC running 24/7; I've got simpler timer modules doing things.
TTFN
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RE: dawn simulator
RE: dawn simulator
If I'm wrong, it's surely possible to scrounge an old laptop and set it up in a closet or a corner or under a table to run dimmers and stuff in any combination you can imagine.
However, there are some exceptions. For fluorescent lights, special equipment is required to dim them, and you probably wouldn't like the results anyway. Same for CFL. LEDs may or may not be dimmable, depending on the particulars of their internal drivers. Have you tried dimming your LEDs by any means yet? Could you reveal their make/model?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: dawn simulator
If your lights are commercial off the shelf LED lights that you just happened to use for your tank there is some small chance that you could use the AC chopping method. You have to look at the documentation the lights came with. It has to specifically state that the LEDs are dimmable. I doubt it does, but if it does, then you can use the dimming dimming method described above.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: dawn simulator
If you shop around, you should be able to get the dimmer module and timer for easily under $30:
http:
htt
Both Z-wave and Insteon have similar products, but they're both considerably more expensive, probably pushing $100.
TTFN
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RE: dawn simulator
RE: dawn simulator
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: dawn simulator
RE: dawn simulator
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: dawn simulator
The immediately obvious solution was to leave the lamp on fully dimmed overnight, but for some reason that I can't recall, that approach was also unsatisfactory. Perhaps RF noise from the dimmer, I don't recall.
I have no idea if the newer dimmer modules have the same conceptual design characteristic of only turning on full. And perhaps this application could use the dim starting point. Good luck.
RE: dawn simulator
I went the DIY route myself..
I have done this using 2 of the ELN-60-48D (running 12 x 3W CREE leds each for my 30G reef tank) For dimming I am using an Arduino microprocessor that is coded to produce the gradual dimming up. Then holding for 8 hours then dimming back down again. You can even program "lightning storms" and "passing cloud" functions if you want.
So either you can take the time to learn some coding (I find Arduino to be a great place to start learning micros) or purchase a premade lighting controller like this or similar http
But please learn a little more (start reading the DIY section at www.reefcentral.com or other forum.) LED's are current controlled devices and hooking them directly to AC power and hanging them over a tank of water is NOT a smart idea.
RE: dawn simulator
RE: dawn simulator
RE: dawn simulator