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#1
09-21-2012, 02:17 AM
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The moonlight driver lights up two boards at a time. All of the boards were tested with that. And, the meanwell drivers will light up a few of the boards at a time when dimming power isn't supplied, but not everything in the string. One of the drivers will light five boards and the other one will light four (these are very dim, however). There are seven boards (14LEDs) on the RB series. There are six boards (12 LEDs) on the CW/NW string. According to the specs, the drivers will run 8-14 LEDs. The two blue boards are on a the little moonlight driver, and they work (at least something works!).
I'm thinking it has to be an issue with the apex dimming cable splice. The Meanwell drivers supply power (one supplies 24V and the other at 16V). I reviewed the "Unofficial User Manual", and followed the instructions in that. I also consulted threads in the Neptune forum on RC. I'm 99% sure that the Apex and/or VDM aren't the issue. But, if the 9V test works, the issue will have to be with the original splice, the Apex and/or VDM. If it works, I'll just try hooking up the Apex/VDM again to see what happens. If it doesn't work with the second splice to the Apex . . . then it is the Apex. I used the 3M Scotchlok connectors on the splice: which was dumb. I should have verified that everything worked before I used those. Now I have to cut those out, which I have to admit that I'm trying to avoid doing. The connectors are cheap, but I hate to lose any wire length. I don't think there is a potentiometer in the house. I should pick one up. I just didn't realize it would be a good thing to have for troubleshooting purposes. It has taken three Modular LED orders to get to this point. I'm hoping there won't be a fourth. Of course, I've totally modified the original kit . . . so the number of orders reflects my level of preparedness and understanding: not Martin's kit.  
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#2
09-21-2012, 02:21 PM
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There's a surprise on my desk this morning.
 It must have arrived yesterday, when I was off work taking care of my little guy (who was ill). Aquarium supply retailers are trying to make me fat:   I was going to build the media basket out of egg crate for this build . . . but these media baskets are so pretty and nicely made. I just couldn't bring myself to do use egg crate. So I guess this is one thing that wasn't an absolute necessity that I bought anyway.
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#3
09-21-2012, 10:39 PM
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That is pretty nice
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#4
09-22-2012, 02:11 AM
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Woohoo!
 I've been fighting with these for a while. Hubby and I just completed a marathon troubleshooting session. In the royal blue string, there was one bad connector and one bent connection pin. In the white series there was a bad dimming splice. It looks like I'll be dimming the whites a lot more than the royal blues. My white ratio is higher than it really should be. But, I've got the Apex all programmed and figured out for this, so that'll be easy. There are four blue LEDs that are being run off of a little moonlight driver. Now I just need to get them mounted. (The concise details of this build, and the materials list, will be posted at a later date)
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#5
09-22-2012, 02:41 AM
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Thats freakin awesome. - I am very tempted to build a set of lights !
__________________
Acipenser 2012 nano contest entry.
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#6
09-22-2012, 03:44 AM
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Glad you got the lights working that must be a relief.
__________________
One more fish should be ok?, right!!! - Laurie
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#7
09-22-2012, 03:43 PM
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Quote:
Quote:
I almost made a hysterical phone call to sphelps from an electronic supply place yesterday (but reason intervened  ). Neither hubby or the gent behind the counter could figure out what potentiometer was required, and I didn't know enough to give them the info they required. In the end, the one we purchased worked.
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