24 hour sunrise/sunset dimmer for mains power light? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 31, 2018, 10:30:41 pm
content: I have a cube aquarium that I need to light with a single light bulb. I found the perfect bulb and whatnot. I have a tc420 led strip controller that has 5 channels and 12v 4a per channel output. The controller is used to dim the lights with a set timer curve. So it mimics sunrise and sunset and stuff like that. I'm a noob to this stuff but I read somewhere that I need to mess around with the mosfet inside this controller to be able to use a pwm dimmer or something like that. Don't know if I'm right at all here but I'll put links to everything I am using. Please help me out as I have no clue how to make this work.Bulb:https://m.lowes.com/pd/GE-Nighthawk-100-W-Equivalent-Dimmable-Warm-White-A19-LED-Light-Fixture-Light-Bulb/1000445307Controller:RGBSIGHT Programmable Time LED Controller - DC12V 24V 20A 240W Multi-function LED Timer Dimmer Controller for RGBW RGB Dual Color or Single Color LED Strip Lightinghttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0197U7R8Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dDheBbMH0XRBSSent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2018, 10:41:36 pm
content: It seems like you should use the LED strip lighting that goes with your controller. The bulb you showed is completely inappropriate as it is a mains voltage LED replacement lamp, not low voltage LED strip lighting.

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 31, 2018, 10:44:08 pm
content: The strips didn't come with the controller but strips are more appropriate indeed. What I'm mostly wondering about is if I can get some kind of controller to work with 120v bulbSent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

author: FriedMule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2018, 01:14:54 am
content: First, all above 12V in an aquarium is a wary bad idea! The fish can get killed or if even higher, you can get killed!!There are a heap load of things you have to consider while working with light to an aquarium and often is it better (less fun) to just bye the right gear, to avoid cooked fish, random shortages, fires and a lot more that your insurance will not cover!!

author: Leiothrix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 03:51:33 am
content: Quote from: FriedMule on June 01, 2018, 01:14:54 amIn Australia the overwhelming majority of submersible heaters and pumps are 240V, as are non-submersible air pumps and lights.Substitute with mains voltage of your choice, but I don't think it's different in other parts of the world.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 03:56:27 am
content: Maybe it's different in some places, but in the US I don't think I've ever seen an aquarium that didn't use 120V for everything, pump, heater, light, air bubbler, etc and I assume most 240V countries use 240V versions of the same thing. Now I haven't had an aquarium in more than 20 years but last I dealt with them the standard lighting was an ordinary fluorescent tube in a fixture that sits on top of the tank.There are all sorts of control devices out there for mains voltage bulbs, timers, dimmers, etc.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 12:33:25 pm
content: Quote from: FriedMule on June 01, 2018, 01:14:54 am230V can be used in an aquarium, as long as adequate precautions are taken: equipment and cables with sufficient IP rating and chemical resistance and an RCD/GFCI are mandatory.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 01:12:32 pm
content: PWM controller? Poor fish, they might not like that at all. Check the frequency and do some research if fish are sensitive to it.Check you're local aquarium shop and see their pro lighting, they are probably all analog current dimmed with a decent led driver.

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 01:52:21 pm
content: The light would theoretically be hanging well above the water. It would be a pendant style light. Almost 24 inches above the water. And it's freshwater. I might just look into an on/off timer as I can't seem to find a controller that will give me the sunrise/sunset effect.Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 02:00:02 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on June 04, 2018, 01:12:32 pmAgreed.If you do decide to use some type of dimmer, be sure it is filtered properly to prevent flicker if it is PWM controlled.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 02:16:09 pm
content: QuoteIt would be really nice if you edited the thread title to be something meaningful in relation to your problem, you might get wider readership too. You can do it by hitting modify on your original post and just changing it.

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 02:18:19 pm
content: Okay I'll do thatSent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 06:26:28 pm
content: There has to be a sunrise/sunset timed dimmer out there, I know there are ones that will do it manually because my other half has one on her bedside lamp. Otherwise it's something that could be built easily enough if microcontrollers interest you, it's the sort of thing one could easily make using an Arduino or whatever. If you're using a dimmable mains voltage LED lamp then it will just be an ordinary phase control triac dimmer circuit.

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 06:31:58 pm
content: Ok so I know some basic things about electronics but not so much about micro controllers. I have a couple of friends that are into that stuff but I honestly don't know much. I've been looking all over for a dimmer like that where you can program the sunrise and sunset dim times. The led bulb isn't very power hungry although really bright. It's 120v at 120mahSent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 06:33:53 pm
content: https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Single-Timer-Aquarium/dp/B00FDV1AFA*edit*Oops, I think that's a low voltage version, let me do some more looking and see if I can find a line voltage dimmer type.*edit*How about this? I'm not a huge fan of fancy smartphone connected widgets but it does appear it will do exactly what you want.http://shop.avi-on.com/ge-plug-in-smart-dimmer/

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 06:36:06 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on June 04, 2018, 06:33:53 pmRight but it's low voltage. 12-24vdcSent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2018, 06:44:05 pm
content: This looks more like what I had in mind.https://www.plumladen.com/en/electronics-and-technology/automatic-dimmer-time-switch.htmlThere's a US plug version available in the dropdown.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 10:43:56 pm
content: A question for OP,Are you sensing the daylight state by looking at the sky, or from the light falling on the aquarium?(or a combination)This will affect several things, and be affected by clouds, angle if the sun etc.

author: tekdan000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 11:11:20 pm
content: Typically I follow a prelogrammed time curve. On the tc420 controller, the software allows the user to program the % power at each 30 minute interval for a 24 hour day.5:00 - 1%5:30 - 3%6:00 - 10%And so on and so forth. And it gradually increases and decreases so there aren't any visible step ups and downs.Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk