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Nexenn
02/03/2012, 04:40 AM
I see that you can do storm mode and also lightning with the AI LEDs but it says in the manual that you cant do lightning with the variable speed ports. Is there a way to program my white LEDs on a variable speed port to do lightning strikes at all?

Jocko
02/03/2012, 07:53 AM
Hmm I've never been overly motivated to scare my fish so I have not tried to create a program for mine. But I'm thinking it should be doable. You can do variable speed profiles in 1/10th second increments. For instance I have my Tunze's alternating every 8/10th's of a second. Turn on the divide by 10 setting and see what kind of havoc you can create. Heh.

Nexenn
02/03/2012, 08:20 AM
Sweet thanks, anyone successfully do this?

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

aquamanic
02/03/2012, 02:49 PM
The lightning logic is part of the AI fixture, not the Apex. The Apex VDM module sends a signal to the AI fixture to turn on/off lightning mode but doesn't know anything more about it than that.

Nexenn
02/03/2012, 05:59 PM
Would it be hard to set the variable speed outlet to turn on the white lights with the lightning code when a storm is on?

Nexenn
02/06/2012, 10:42 AM
One more bump then ill just try and figure it out when I get my LEDs installed in about a month

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Jocko
02/07/2012, 08:06 AM
Not sure how the whole storm mode thing works. But I'm willing to bet, worst case scenario, you could program your own storm mode by making a virtual outlet and then having a bunch of different profiles for the lights and the pumps. Pretty advanced, but I bet it can be done with sufficient creativity.

Xcali1985
02/07/2012, 08:34 PM
First off I never understand this scare the fish scenario. There are lighting storms in the wild.

Secondly I was able to get the storm via a little clever programming from the feed cycles.

Basically I made my feed D cycle execute a profile on the VDM port.

I set the intensity to 80 and and minimum to 0. I also set the time on to 1 sec. I then played with the initial time off settings.

I have 10 drivers on my set up. 5 blue 5 white. I personally only like the lighting on blues only.

So I created profiles Storm, Storm2, etc. I selected random initial off times for them so that the areas light up at different times.

For example storm is at every 7 seconds, storm2 is at every 5 seconds. So you can see that storm will light up at 5,10,15,20,25,30,35. Storm2 will light up at 7,14,21,28,35.

As you.can see at 14 & 15 seconds I get a quick double flash. Then at 20 & 21 I get it in the reverse order. The. At 35 both light at the same time.

Now think about this with 5 storm profiles you can have a random looking storm that would have to go on, depending on your initial off times for 30 to 40 minutes before they started to repeat.

Now to execute all this is simple add this line to you VDM outlet.

If feed D 000 then Storm

On the next one add

If feed D 000 then Storm2


And so on.

I'll post a video of mine working when I just had 2 banks going to test it out.

Xcali1985
02/07/2012, 08:58 PM
If this came in as one big paragraph I apologize I am using tapatalk and it won't correct it.

Nexenn
02/07/2012, 11:55 PM
so are your lightning strikes on for a whole second?
is storm a lightning strike then? or do you have a storm dim the lights a bit as if clouds are crossing and then lightning on top of it?

I can see that when I'm done with my DIY LED I'm going to have a lot of work to do :)

Jocko
02/08/2012, 08:02 AM
Just use divide by 10 and you can do shorter durations. Although on the flip side I guess that will limit how far apart your "strikes" can be.

Xcali1985
02/08/2012, 04:08 PM
Just use divide by 10 and you can do shorter durations. Although on the flip side I guess that will limit how far apart your "strikes" can be.

Thats not a problem set it to 1000 to have a 10 second difference.

Here is the video as I stated.

This was when I was still playing around with the coding so the times are a little far apart.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFVd5AnFX24

I don't do a cloud cover, however, im sure with some clever programming it can be done. Maybe with some virtual outlets to turn on and off depending on the time within the feed cycle. For instance. If you have Clouds as a profile and Storm_Start maybe you can set a condition where you create some virtual outlets.

Say Storm_Control and it has If Feed D 000 Then ON.

Then the Clouds have If Outlet Storm_Control = On then ON.

Then Storm_Start would have 2 lines. If Outlet Storm_Control = ON then ON & DEFER 005:00 Then ON.
That will allow 5 minutes for the clouds to roll in and you can change this to whatever you want, also you will need to adjust the feed time for this.

Then in the VDM Outlet profile you can have 2 lines.

IF Outlet Clouds = ON then CloudIN(This is a profile you will have to create, a simple dim down to say 20 or so should be ok to start the storm)
If Outlet Storm_Start = On then Storm(1,2,3 etc.)

I haven't tried these yet, I will test it all this weekend. But in theory this should work...

Nexenn
02/19/2012, 08:10 PM
xcali, do you have to activate your feed for this to work? I'm trying to figure out a way to get my white string to dim for storms that are about 15 minutes in duration, about every 4 hours and then only during the storms my whites will flash to 100% for like 0.25 seconds at a seemingly random way.

Nexenn
02/19/2012, 09:55 PM
Can you do Divide 10 on any advance programming or only on the pump profile?

RussM
02/20/2012, 07:38 AM
Anyone thought about using a strobe from a DJ/music shop to simulate lighting?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-Big-Shot-Mini-Strobe-Light-100407405-i1156144.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-S-81-Mini-Strobe-100006879-i1156195.gc

Comtek
02/20/2012, 11:29 AM
i have thought about it but figured they would look bad unless there was enough of them to make it look random

Xcali1985
02/20/2012, 03:20 PM
Anyone thought about using a strobe from a DJ/music shop to simulate lighting?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-Big-Shot-Mini-Strobe-Light-100407405-i1156144.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-S-81-Mini-Strobe-100006879-i1156195.gc

Would be a lot easier. I would just want smaller models so that It wouldn't light the entire tank up. Im thinking this will require an entire EB8 to do on my tank. No less than an EB4

Xcali1985
02/20/2012, 03:22 PM
Now this would work!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-SF-1-Hanging-Strobe-Light-101585420-i1156204.gc

Xcali1985
02/20/2012, 03:48 PM
Now to figure out how to get it to flash for 1/2 a second

RussM
02/20/2012, 06:14 PM
When you get the lightning figured out, then you can move on to coordinating it with rainfall as ATO.:D

Nexenn
02/20/2012, 10:33 PM
I actually think I figured it out. If you guys could check my code and let me know what you think. It takes 3 extra profiles and 6 extra virtual outlets.

Variable Outlet for my white LEDs:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 14:30 Then WtRampUp
If Time 14:31 to 19:59 Then WhiteMax
If Time 20:00 to 22:30 Then WtRampDn
If Outlet Storm1 = ON Then StormDn
If Outlet Storm2 = ON Then StormUp
If Outlet Lightning1 = ON Then Lightnin
If Outlet Lightning2 = ON Then Lightnin
If Outlet Lightning3 = ON Then Lightnin


Virt Outlet Storm1:
Set OFF
OSC 030:00/015:00/150:00 Then ON
If Time 19:00 to 23:59 Then OFF
If Time 00:00 to 15:00 Then OFF


Virt Outlet Storm2:
Set OFF
OSC 045:00/005:00/145:00 Then ON
If Time 19:00 to 23:59 Then OFF
If Time 00:00 to 14:00 Then OFF


Virt Outlet Lightning1:
Set OFF
OSC 000:07/000:01/000:01 Then ON
If Outlet LtTime = OFF Then OFF

Virt Outlet Lightning2:
Set OFF
OSC 000:09/000:01/000:01 Then ON
If Outlet LtTime = OFF Then OFF


Virt Outlet Lightning 3:
Set OFF
OSC 000:11/000:01/000:01 Then ON
If Outlet LtTime = OFF Then OFF


Virt Outlet LtTime:
Set OFF
OSC 002:30/001:30/004:00 Then ON
If Outlet Storm1 = OFF Then OFF
If Outlet Storm2 = OFF Then OFF


Profile WtRampUp:
Ramp
Ramp Time - 150 minutes
Start intensity - 15
End intensity - 50

Profile WhiteMax:
Ramp
Ramp Time - 1 minute
Start intensity - 50
End Intensity - 50

Profile WtRampDn:
Ramp
Ramp Time - 150
Start Intensity - 50
End Intensity - 15

Profile StormDn:
Ramp
Ramp Time - 5 minutes
Start 50
End 15

Profile StormUp:
Ramp
Ramp Time - 5 minutes
Start 15
End 50

Profile Lightnin
Pump
Divide 10
Initial Off - 5 (really 0.5sec)
On Time - 1 (really 0.1 sec)
Off Time - 5
Min intensity 15
Max intensity 100



What all this does is create a storm which dims the whites to 15% for 20 minutes at different times each day and not during sunrise/sunset. Only during these storms there will be lightning that occur for 1.5 minutes in each 8 minute time period. The lightning will seeming be random because they are set at 9, 11 and 13 seconds.(Ex: after 2.5 minutes of lights dimming for a storm, there will be lightning for 1.5 minutes with strikes lasting 0.1 seconds occuring at 9, 11, 13, 18, 22, 26, 27, 33, 36, 39, 44, 45, 52)


Might add in another virt lightning outlet and do like 9, 11, 13 and 15 seconds to make more randomness. Will just have to see how it looks

Nexenn
02/20/2012, 10:46 PM
I was thinking I could make another profile with another pump that makes the light flash twice within a second and sync that with the extra virt outlet. That way its not always just 1 flash in a second and if it flashed twice at 52 seconds and once at 53 then it would look like 3 flashes in a row

Nexenn
02/24/2012, 09:19 AM
After testing I noticed that the virtual outlets really can't turn on and off in 1 second with the osc command. It really takes like 2 full seconds to respond. Anyone else have this trouble with response rates?

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Comtek
02/24/2012, 09:15 PM
i picked up 3 strobes i'm going to play with them tomorrow i'll post my findings here

Nexenn
02/25/2012, 03:28 AM
Let us know how they go but id like the focus of this thread to be ways to program it into apex for a DIY led. I still think its doable. I need to redo my numbers on my timing and ill make a video to post on here after I actually get my lights up here today

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

jdthomas24
03/02/2012, 08:56 PM
anyone having any luck with this? I just purchased an apex and finishing up on my DIY LED build. I noticed the storm mode in the programming but im not sure if it works with my cree LEDS which are dimmable. I did notice the storm mode on AI was built into the fixtures and not the apex, so does that mean it will work with the apex alone?

Comtek
03/02/2012, 10:20 PM
no it only works on the ai fixtures.
i just gave up and put 3 strobes on a outlet and oscilate it on for 1 sec off for a few sec and it looks pretty good.
where they are only being energized for 1 sec sometimes they flash some times they don't some flash and some don't. looks half decent.
i know this thread is about diy led lightning but thought i would throw this in here as an option

RussM
03/02/2012, 10:26 PM
Cloud cover will work fine. Lighting, as Comtek said, only really works properly with AI Sols.

jdthomas24
03/02/2012, 10:49 PM
dang it!!! i guess i will be one that plays with codes to see how well i can make it work when its all up. does anyone know why it only works with AI fixtures. are the drivers different or something?

RussM
03/02/2012, 10:56 PM
dang it!!! i guess i will be one that plays with codes to see how well i can make it work when its all up. does anyone know why it only works with AI fixtures. are the drivers different or something?
It was said here by someone a while back that the commonly-used drivers for DIY LEDs don't respond quickly enough to properly simulate lightning.

jdthomas24
03/02/2012, 11:58 PM
that really does suck!

ryman
03/03/2012, 11:39 AM
Cloud cover will work fine. Lighting, as Comtek said, only really works properly with AI Sols.

Here's something the would be a nice addition to the Neptune module lineup:

Instead of a Lunar Simulator module, how about a Weather Simulator module? This could provide the following features:
1. (4) variable speed ports to use the DIY dimmable ballast. This way, all lighting contol functions could stay on one device (except for the main power for the drivers).
2. Still retain the Lunar LED's to provide the moon phase. However, make the Lunar LED's work on separate channels. For instance, I use the 5-LED Lunar Sim for my 96" wide tank, and would like to see those as 5 separate channels.
3. By having the separate channels, the Weather Sim could actually use the Lunar LEDs to provide the lightning at any time, day or night.
4. Then the programming could provide the following: (not real code, just an example of what's going on in my head)

If sunrise 000 then Ramp_Up
If sunset 000 then Ramp_Down
If Moon 000/000 then On
If storm ON and lights ON, then dim variable speed ports (main lights) to 20% (user selectable, maybe even be able to enter a value for each port)
If storm ON then flash Lunar LEDs at random intervals, channels, and brightness (add a delay to allow main lights to dim)

Then after storm is over, ramp up main lights to its current point in the light cycle. Wether it's in sunrise, full sun, or sunset.
I would like to trigger my storms based off of the ATO function. I am already working on the ATO to pump freash water to the display and simulate rain.
Or, Make the storm function based on the seasonal charts. Maybe make the storm occur 20% (user selectable) of each seasonal chart. This could also be used to simulate cloud coverage also.

If Neptune is working on one, I would like to volunteer to test it.:thumbsup:

I'm not sure why there is an un-happy face in the subject line. I'm not angry about anything.

Xcali1985
03/16/2012, 05:17 PM
This is as far as I have gotten with the DIY LED. I'll post the coding later, I just don't have the heart right now to go buy an EB8 and 4-5 Strobes to see if I can make it better.

Still a work in progress as I add 24-48 more LEDs to my tank. Turn up the volume to hear the sound effects.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xphwxo_80-complete-diy-led-sample_animals

Comtek
03/16/2012, 06:37 PM
all 3 of my strobes run on one outlet.
where the outlet is only on for one second. sometimes they flash some times they dont. some times the left will flash then a fraction of a second the right will flash. on the next cycle it might flash only the center. next maybe all 3. i wish i could make video's to show.
it makes it look pretty random

but this thread is about DIY Led lightning which does not look too bad when you follow the examples earlier in this thread

maybe in the future we will get an eb8 that can work with the divide by ten then i think it will be no problem

Xcali1985
03/18/2012, 03:54 PM
As promised here is the code.

Variable Speed Ports:



1-White
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:00 to 14:00 Then wSunrise
If Time 14:00 to 20:00 Then wMidday
If Time 20:00 to 21:00 Then wSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then OFF
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

1-Blue
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:00 to 13:00 Then bSunrise
If Time 13:00 to 22:00 Then ON
If Time 22:00 to 23:00 Then bSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then Storm-1
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

2-White
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:05 to 14:05 Then wSunrise
If Time 14:05 to 20:05 Then wMidday
If Time 20:05 to 21:05 Then wSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then OFF
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

2-Blue
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:05 to 13:05 Then bSunrise
If Time 13:05 to 22:05 Then ON
If Time 22:05 to 23:05 Then bSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then Storm-2
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

3-White
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:10 to 14:10 Then wSunrise
If Time 14:10 to 20:10 Then wMidday
If Time 20:10 to 21:10 Then wSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then OFF
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

3-Blue
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:10 to 13:10 Then bSunrise
If Time 13:10 to 22:10 Then ON
If Time 22:10 to 23:10 Then bSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then Storm-3
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

4-White
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:15 to 14:15 Then wSunrise
If Time 14:15 to 20:15 Then wMidday
If Time 20:15 to 21:15 Then wSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then OFF
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

4-Blue
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:15 to 13:15 Then bSunrise
If Time 13:15 to 22:15 Then ON
If Time 22:15 to 23:15 Then bSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then Storm-4
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

5-White
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:20 to 14:20 Then wSunrise
If Time 14:20 to 20:20 Then wMidday
If Time 20:20 to 21:20 Then wSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then OFF
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF

5-Blue
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:20 to 13:20 Then bSunrise
If Time 13:20 to 22:20 Then ON
If Time 22:20 to 23:20 Then bSunset
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then Storm-5
If Outlet L.E.D.(Fans) = OFF Then OFF


Now the profiles:



Storm-1 [PF7]
Type: Pump
Synchronize: Disable
Divide By 10: Disable
Initial Off Time: 3
On Time: 1
Off Time: 11
Minimum Intensity: 0
Maximum Intensity: 10

Storm-2 [PF8]
Type: Pump
Synchronize: Disable
Divide By 10: Disable
Initial Off Time: 5
On Time: 1
Off Time: 7
Minimum Intensity: 0
Maximum Intensity: 10

Storm-3 [PF9]
Type: Pump
Synchronize: Disable
Divide By 10: Disable
Initial Off Time: 5
On Time: 1
Off Time: 14
Minimum Intensity: 0
Maximum Intensity: 10

Storm-4 [PF10]
Type: Pump
Synchronize: Disable
Divide By 10: Disable
Initial Off Time: 9
On Time: 1
Off Time: 9
Minimum Intensity: 0
Maximum Intensity: 10

Storm-5 [PF11]
Type: Pump
Synchronize: Disable
Divide By 10: Disable
Initial Off Time: 6
On Time: 1
Off Time: 5
Minimum Intensity: 0
Maximum Intensity: 10


Now the virtual outlets to control it all: This is programming to have automatic storms, you can also trigger the storm mode by using feed cycle "c". Set the length of the feed cycle in your settings to determine how long you would like it to go. Set the days you want it to run with - and put the letter of the days you don't into the statement. In my example it only runs on Sunday.


Lightning [17]
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Moon
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 23:35 to 23:50 Then ON
If DoW -MTWTFS Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then ON


Optional EB8 Controlled Outlets: These are outlets on the actual EB4 or 8 that you control power to. The mp3 player just has a looping track of thunder and rain sounds. You can get a decent one off youtube and use a youtube to mp3 converter. The mp3 outlet needs to have continues power or the battery will die in it.

The speakers I used are standard desktop speakers, powered by USB. I used a USB wall charger and plugged it into outlet 8 as mine would stay on if even a little bit of power was provided. Different models may act differently. The speakers turn on when the storm is on and off when it's over. The mp3 stays on.


FX-Source [25]
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Bell
Program:
Fallback ON
Set ON

FX-Speakers [26]
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet Lightning = ON Then ON


That should do it.

If you have controllable pumps you could use a profile with " If Outlet Lightning = ON then <<Profile Name>>" to increase or decrease waterflow. Or create bigger waves, etc.

If you wanted to add rain you could run a piece of PVC and drill holes into it and trigger a pump to run water through it to drip water down.

It's not exactly quick strike lightning, but I've shown 20-30 people it and they all loved it.

Landsailor
03/19/2012, 07:20 AM
Hey XCali,

Guess who wants a lightning storm after seeing yours the other night!

Xcali1985
03/19/2012, 11:06 AM
hey xcali,

guess who wants a lightning storm after seeing yours the other night!

lol! Getting the wife on board is the first step!

ghellin
03/30/2012, 12:07 AM
Xcali can you post a video of your storm.

Xcali1985
03/30/2012, 12:08 PM
Xcali can you post a video of your storm.

Sure, here it is before I added the Storm-5 LEDs so this is just with Storm-1 thru Storm-4 running.


If you want an updated one, I will record tonight.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xphwxo_80-complete-diy-led-sample_animals

ghellin
03/30/2012, 11:19 PM
Awesome thanks!

JBsmurf85
10/21/2012, 10:43 PM
ok this has been bugging me for months now. I dont know if there are different 60D drivers from meanwell but Ive heard that some will respond quickly enough to get the flash and some wont.

I am going to reach out to RapidLED tomorrow to get some clarification and may call meanwell directly.

Here is what I do know though.....their( RAPID Led) has a nano driver that runs at 700mA and I have it hooked up on my UV's string and it will for sure respond quickly enough to give a QUICK flash using the divide by 10 option.

Ill post my results here soon.

ltlevil
10/22/2012, 08:10 AM
I've also been looking into this and it appears the drivers that stevesleds makes may work they are actually a PWM driver with an atmel chip on board. He also makes a harness to convert the0-10v analog signal to the digital PWM signal. Just a quick look appears that for around a hundred bucks you can have a setup for lightning on its own channel. This way you could program your main LEDs for the clouds and a dedicated string for the actual lightning. I haven't tried this yet but something to consider.

Landsailor
10/22/2012, 12:12 PM
Steve's LEDs drivers use an OnSemi CAT4101 driver. It is PWM dimming, so you'll need the converter board to use it with an Apex.

You can also DIY it fairly easily or find a DIY guy who has extras.

BigAl2007
10/22/2012, 01:54 PM
Turn up the volume to hear the sound effects.

How did you get the sound effects integrated into the mix?

Xcali1985
10/24/2012, 12:03 AM
How did you get the sound effects integrated into the mix?

Added usb speakers. A usb wall adapter to plug it into a port.

From there you can hook up any device that can play the sound. A cheapo mp3 player from ebay with it on repeat will work.

From there plug the mp3 player into a wall outlet so it's always charged and playing. Then plug the speakers into a port that turns on when you start the storm.