DIY open-source aquarium LED - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2025, 08:37:55 am
content: Hello folks:This is is my first post on EEVBlog forum and I’m excited to share my latest project with you all – an open-source, ESP32-C3 based dimmable LED light controller for aquariums. It includes hardware schematics, firmware, and a Flutter app for full control.Features:- 6-channel PWM Dimming: Simulate natural light cycles.- Flutter App: Control brightness, colors, and schedules via Wi-Fi.- Fully Open-Source: Hardware, firmware, and app code available on my GitHub:https://github.com/oldrev/borneoAnd yes, I must admit my documentation formatting skills far surpass my programming and electronics skills. If you spot any issues, please point them out mercilessly!I hope you have fun tinkering with this project.A short demo:

author: analityk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2025, 09:26:30 am
content: Hi.I think it should be ok as long as it will work in salt free environment.Otherwise you should place LED in on side of PCB and rest of components on second side or even on different PCB. This shall improve humidity resistance of your board.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2025, 10:10:43 am
content: Thanks for the suggestion, but right now I'm sticking to freshwater.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 02:42:08 pm
content: Finally done soldering the new prototype. The big change is that I moved the components to the back, which helped reduce the size. Plus, the LED PWM channels have been increased to 6, while still keeping the fan PWM and PWM-DAC voltage output.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:07:34 pm
content: Pehaps look into Quanzhou Smarts Electronics.They have some products that might facilitate this project.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:15:17 pm
content: Quote from: Langdon on February 12, 2025, 03:07:34 pmThank you, but the whole point of this project is to develop both the software and hardware from scratch and to surpass existing commercial-grade products.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:20:47 pm
content: What sort of power range are we dealing with?Also, I really recommend covering the PCBs with neutral-cure 100% silicone caulk, where possible; it will make them mostly indestructible.Polyolefin heat-shrink can protect stuff too.A lot of tanks are saltwater; plus even freshwater aquariums can have ammonia and stuff.Freshwater ≠ non-corrosive.Even regular water can corrode stuff really badly over a long time.Also, keep in mind that salt destroys almost anything; not just ferrous metals.Brick, stone, concrete, aluminum, and more are all damaged by salt, just not as dramatically.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:24:36 pm
content: Quote from: oldrev on February 12, 2025, 03:15:17 pmCommercial-grade is perhaps an over statement.The label on one of their power supplies is literally misprinted; line and neutral are reversed.Using existing products in the inital prototype can help you to develop your own.You can also disassemble it and see how it works.(For example, it turns out that the input voltage selection switch works by effectively doubling the input voltage whan 115V is selected)

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:31:10 pm
content: You may be interested in these:https://github.com/kasedy/esp8266-wifi-led-dimmerhttps://github.com/MagnusPer/LedDimmerAlso, I wouldn't bother designing your own power supply.Just buy one!Nobody is gonna solder their own power supply when you can buy a really good Delta one for like $20 that lasts 10 years.If you insist on designing your own power supply, attempt to increase cap life by reducing ripple current.I recommend using a toroidal inductor before the filter caps.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:36:28 pm
content: What about using "open source" products from some company?This product lists the schematic on the chassis, does that count?https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/delta-electronics/10GEEG3E-R/2744307?gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_adgroup=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Pmax_Shopping_Product_Toronto_CDI&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_id=go_cmp-21024044764_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-2744307_sig-CjwKCAiAqrG9BhAVEiwAaPu5zrLUEuAAkJG0KRFoxEoqjt2HrjAPWIg6oKxSD3PaOcKrQm-G6xij7RoC5zYQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAqrG9BhAVEiwAaPu5zrLUEuAAkJG0KRFoxEoqjt2HrjAPWIg6oKxSD3PaOcKrQm-G6xij7RoC5zYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 03:46:28 pm
content: Quote from: Langdon on February 12, 2025, 03:31:10 pmThe two repositories you shared are examples of misusing LEDs. High-power LEDs require constant current drivers; otherwise, a lot of power is wasted on current-limiting resistors. I even doubt if the authors of these designs considered current-limiting resistors.In aquarium lighting, the number of LEDs in each channel can vary a lot, which means the voltage drop across each channel can be quite different. I'm talking about systems similar to AI Prime that are 50W and above.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2025, 04:33:23 pm
content: Cool!People so often misuse LEDs!They think that because LED itself is like 99% efficient, so is the whole bulb.People who tell the public that LED lights are good and who give energy rebates on LED lights, regardless or the efficiency of the replacement bulbs/fixtures or the bulb/fixture getting replaced, have no idea what they are talking about.I am so sorry about posting repositories before studying them in detail.Remember: just because you are making an open-source design does not mean you need to design everything yourself from scratch.Using a commercial, proprietary power supply in an open-source design is not a crime.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 02:37:56 pm
content: Update:Just received the new aluminum PCB.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 06:23:08 pm
content: Quote from: oldrev on February 16, 2025, 02:37:56 pmDon't forget to change the copyright date to ©2024-2025 !Right now, it only says ©2024

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2025, 02:30:56 am
content: Fun fact update:My open-source controller is so good that aquarium forums (which are all sponsored by commercial products) won't let me post about it.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2025, 02:34:56 am
content: And here are some new images:

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2025, 02:37:28 pm
content: Make sure borneoiot.com redirects towww.borneoiot.comRight now, it just gives an error.I recommend using Cloudflare.It's free!

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 04:59:22 am
content: Quote from: Langdon on February 27, 2025, 02:37:28 pmThanks, already done it.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 02:25:04 pm
content: Quote from: oldrev on March 02, 2025, 04:59:22 amAlso, consider using Cloudflare Pages.It can sync with a GitHub repo and has no bandwidth limits, even for the free tier.As far as I know, there is no commit/day limit either.But max file size is 25MB.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 07:00:20 am
content: I just received the OSHWA certification for this project:https://certification.oshwa.org/cn000017.html

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 01:16:35 pm
content: I just finished soldering the LED driver PCB. The bottom side of this PCB has pads, and I'm planning to solder it onto an aluminum PCB. I'm a poor man, so I didn't go for a castellation board.And yes, those inductors are kinda small, because an idiot forgot to buy the right ones.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2025, 06:35:15 am
content: So I decided to make a complete reef LED lamp as a demonstration of my controller. Here is the result.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2025, 05:39:32 pm
content: You should also provide an image of the back of the PCB.By the way, it is probably a good idea to draw black silkscreen everywhere on the back of the PCB, as well as the front far away from the LEDs to improve heat dissipation via black-body radiation.

author: oldrev
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2025, 03:57:38 pm
content: I finally received all the parts and completed the assembly. For now, it just needs some real-world testing and tweaking. Once it's up to my standards, I'll open-source the aluminum PCB just like the controller and the app.

author: Langdon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2025, 09:32:27 pm
content: The replacable fuse is a nice touch.The app should probably say "Unlock Dimming Mode" instead of "Unlock the dimming mode".