DIY LEDs with Radion Pro G2 pucks?

rcmike · 02/14/2014, 08:44 PM

I recently upgraded my Radion Pro G2 to the G3 pucks. I got to thinking, is it possible to hook the old G2 pucks up to a driver somehow and still use them? Has anyone done it? I know it would be hard to have the color customization but I would be happy of they were just dimable. I hate to get rid of the if they are useful. It looks like the puck is mostly just the LEDs with a few resistors and a couple of other components.

zachts · 02/15/2014, 12:42 AM

some meanwell LDD drivers, a PSU, heat sink, and any arduino based controller (storm would even give you lightning and moonlight) and your set for a mini radion......

or just donate them to me, I'll gladly pay shiping, LOL!

sfsuphysics · 02/15/2014, 11:14 AM

If you have a multimeter with a diode test function you might be able to test the LEDs to get them to light up (I say might, because for whatever reason can't get my multimeter to light them up at all), or get a couple triple/double A batteries and test the pins on your puck. Looking at the upgrade kit at ecotech looks fairly straight forward, however the resistors and capacitors (??) have me wondering how they wired it up.

Couldn't hurt to play around with it.

sfsuphysics · 02/15/2014, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachts

some meanwell LDD drivers, a PSU, heat sink, and any arduino based controller (storm would even give you lightning and moonlight) and your set for a mini radion......

or just donate them to me, I'll gladly pay shiping, LOL!

If you get them donated you need to do a write up

Seriously, $150 for an upgrade kit, that's $75 per puck which is cheaper than RapidLED's knock off radion pucks.

zachts · 02/15/2014, 11:55 AM

Most of those resistors are "000" just bridging connections that are not used by LEDs. I believe that is what the cluster of 4 up in the corner do also. Probably just complete circuit traces that didn't fit otherwise on the boards.

No idea what the small transistor, two capacitors, and other resistor by the plug do. Probably for some on board monitoring etc, and wouldn't matter in a DIY with the boards. you would just need to figure out which pins go to which LEDs.

A multimeter and the continuity/diode test should be enough to figure out the positive and negative pins for each string of LEDs.

It really is a waste if people throw these things out after upgrades.......

_shorty_ · 02/15/2014, 03:13 PM

Interesting idea. How many watts are these clusters? What would a set of these clusters be equivalent to if you were to DIY your own 3w LEDs? Would it be cost effective if you had the skills?

Edit- I count 21 LEDs per puck- which would provide 42 LEDs for 150 + another 30 for the lense kit. So... Cost wise it might be pretty similar to buying your own LEDs, with a more compact design than you could DIY...

sfsuphysics · 02/15/2014, 04:58 PM

I think each cluster pushes somewhere north of 150W, various clusters have different maximum currents though, I'm sure you could find the actual specs on EcoTech's website.

zachts · 02/15/2014, 05:38 PM

RB and Whites are 1.5amp max. chips.

Blue and Green are 1amp max chips.

Reds and violets are 700mA max chips.

sfsuphysics · 02/15/2014, 08:23 PM

Scratch what I said earlier, the whole fixture pushes a bit more than 150W, I was looking at a data sheet and they had a picture of one of the lenses with the caption "this is just one of the two lenses" and my mind immediately went to thinking the data given was also just for one cluster.

If I didn't already have a box of LEDs that needs assembling I might buy one of these kits and play around with it, even though I'm not a fan of the green, red or yellow LEDs they use.

Fredfish · 02/15/2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfsuphysics

If I didn't already have a box of LEDs that needs assembling I might buy one of these kits and play around with it, even though I'm not a fan of the green, red or yellow LEDs they use.

I bet you were that kid with the giant box of Lego...

sfsuphysics · 02/16/2014, 01:14 PM

Nope, it was more of a garbage bin full of Legos

PeteStewardson · 03/01/2014, 05:42 AM

Shame my post was deleted, but yes I've done this, very easy to do. I have a sump light and building a 'Radion Nano' for my 60l QT tank.

PeteStewardson · 03/01/2014, 02:25 PM

Oh and for those PM'ing me, I'll be able to reply soon, I don't have enough posts to reply to PM's yet.

rcmike · 03/01/2014, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteStewardson

Oh and for those PM'ing me, I'll be able to reply soon, I don't have enough posts to reply to PM's yet.

I thought you were just ignoring me.

PeteStewardson · 03/01/2014, 02:41 PM

Nope not at all

sfsuphysics · 03/01/2014, 04:20 PM

Why was your post deleted? Try to bypass a filter for a banned website? Try to sell something in it? Regardless I'd love to see what you did if you're allowed to post it again

PeteStewardson · 03/01/2014, 04:23 PM

I just posted a link to my thread on another reef site. I didn't realise this forum also had the silly rules about not posting links to other forums, its all about the money these days

Demonic · 03/01/2014, 04:50 PM

I'm def interested. I have the Radion G2 and really close to pulling the trigger on the upgrade it.

TimmyD16 · 03/01/2014, 06:59 PM

Ya PM me with that link when ever you are able, I'd love to read up on it.

sfsuphysics · 03/02/2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteStewardson

I just posted a link to my thread on another reef site. I didn't realise this forum also had the silly rules about not posting links to other forums, its all about the money these days

Yeah that'd do it. Especially if it's "competition"

You could copy/past and create a thread yourself. If anything it'll get your post count up for you to send PMs

Theokie · 03/02/2014, 01:19 PM

Patiently waiting for your post count to get high enough.

Though you could always describe a bit more on what you did in a post, kill two birds with one stone, gives you more posts, and helps get the creative juices flowing for the rest of us.

sfsuphysics · 03/02/2014, 01:54 PM

Yeah lets kill two birds with one stone.

Was there anything special that had to be done to get them to light up? Is it as simple and as figuring out which side is the positive pin for a particular channel and which is the negative?

Demonic · 03/02/2014, 04:42 PM

If you guys do this then there may be a market for me to sell my Gen 2 pucks

zachts · 03/02/2014, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonic

If you guys do this then there may be a market for me to sell my Gen 2 pucks

Ebay, there already is a market..........

there is the Aurora, and Lumia chips out there as competition, I'd think these should go for something reasonable considering they'd be used.

sfsuphysics · 03/03/2014, 07:30 AM

I dunno, the Aurora and Lumina are relatively expensive compared to the Ecotech pucks, you get 2 for $150, so $75 a piece, and that's the Gen3 upgrade.

02/14/2014, 08:44 PM	#1
rcmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dickson, TN Posts: 3,369	DIY LEDs with Radion Pro G2 pucks? I recently upgraded my Radion Pro G2 to the G3 pucks. I got to thinking, is it possible to hook the old G2 pucks up to a driver somehow and still use them? Has anyone done it? I know it would be hard to have the color customization but I would be happy of they were just dimable. I hate to get rid of the if they are useful. It looks like the puck is mostly just the LEDs with a few resistors and a couple of other components. __________________ Michael Current Tank Info: 110 oceanic, 2 Radion Pros, 2 MP40s, Apex controller

02/15/2014, 11:14 AM	#3
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	If you have a multimeter with a diode test function you might be able to test the LEDs to get them to light up (I say might, because for whatever reason can't get my multimeter to light them up at all), or get a couple triple/double A batteries and test the pins on your puck. Looking at the upgrade kit at ecotech looks fairly straight forward, however the resistors and capacitors (??) have me wondering how they wired it up. Couldn't hurt to play around with it. __________________ Mike

02/15/2014, 03:13 PM	#6
_shorty_ Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 1,048	Interesting idea. How many watts are these clusters? What would a set of these clusters be equivalent to if you were to DIY your own 3w LEDs? Would it be cost effective if you had the skills? Edit- I count 21 LEDs per puck- which would provide 42 LEDs for 150 + another 30 for the lense kit. So... Cost wise it might be pretty similar to buying your own LEDs, with a more compact design than you could DIY... Last edited by _shorty_; 02/15/2014 at 03:27 PM.

02/15/2014, 04:58 PM	#7
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	I think each cluster pushes somewhere north of 150W, various clusters have different maximum currents though, I'm sure you could find the actual specs on EcoTech's website. __________________ Mike

02/15/2014, 08:23 PM	#9
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	Scratch what I said earlier, the whole fixture pushes a bit more than 150W, I was looking at a data sheet and they had a picture of one of the lenses with the caption "this is just one of the two lenses" and my mind immediately went to thinking the data given was also just for one cluster. If I didn't already have a box of LEDs that needs assembling I might buy one of these kits and play around with it, even though I'm not a fan of the green, red or yellow LEDs they use. __________________ Mike

02/15/2014, 12:42 AM	#2
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	some meanwell LDD drivers, a PSU, heat sink, and any arduino based controller (storm would even give you lightning and moonlight) and your set for a mini radion...... or just donate them to me, I'll gladly pay shiping, LOL!

02/15/2014, 11:55 AM	#5
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	Most of those resistors are "000" just bridging connections that are not used by LEDs. I believe that is what the cluster of 4 up in the corner do also. Probably just complete circuit traces that didn't fit otherwise on the boards. No idea what the small transistor, two capacitors, and other resistor by the plug do. Probably for some on board monitoring etc, and wouldn't matter in a DIY with the boards. you would just need to figure out which pins go to which LEDs. A multimeter and the continuity/diode test should be enough to figure out the positive and negative pins for each string of LEDs. It really is a waste if people throw these things out after upgrades.......

02/15/2014, 05:38 PM	#8
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	RB and Whites are 1.5amp max. chips. Blue and Green are 1amp max chips. Reds and violets are 700mA max chips.

02/16/2014, 01:14 PM	#11
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	Nope, it was more of a garbage bin full of Legos __________________ Mike

03/01/2014, 05:42 AM	#12
PeteStewardson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 54	Shame my post was deleted, but yes I've done this, very easy to do. I have a sump light and building a 'Radion Nano' for my 60l QT tank.

03/01/2014, 02:25 PM	#13
PeteStewardson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 54	Oh and for those PM'ing me, I'll be able to reply soon, I don't have enough posts to reply to PM's yet.

03/01/2014, 02:41 PM	#15
PeteStewardson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 54	Nope not at all

03/01/2014, 04:20 PM	#16
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	Why was your post deleted? Try to bypass a filter for a banned website? Try to sell something in it? Regardless I'd love to see what you did if you're allowed to post it again __________________ Mike

03/01/2014, 04:23 PM	#17
PeteStewardson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 54	I just posted a link to my thread on another reef site. I didn't realise this forum also had the silly rules about not posting links to other forums, its all about the money these days

03/01/2014, 04:50 PM	#18
Demonic Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 815	I'm def interested. I have the Radion G2 and really close to pulling the trigger on the upgrade it. __________________ 23,996 thawed iced cubes in a big cube and filled with flowers that grow under water.

03/01/2014, 06:59 PM	#19
TimmyD16 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 280	Ya PM me with that link when ever you are able, I'd love to read up on it. __________________ ~TimmyD “Jellyfish are 97% water or something, so how much are they doing? Just give them another 3% and make them water. It's more useful.” Karl Pilkington

03/02/2014, 01:19 PM	#21
Theokie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Near Edmonton Ab Posts: 166	Patiently waiting for your post count to get high enough. Though you could always describe a bit more on what you did in a post, kill two birds with one stone, gives you more posts, and helps get the creative juices flowing for the rest of us.

03/02/2014, 01:54 PM	#22
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	Yeah lets kill two birds with one stone. Was there anything special that had to be done to get them to light up? Is it as simple and as figuring out which side is the positive pin for a particular channel and which is the negative? __________________ Mike

03/02/2014, 04:42 PM	#23
Demonic Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 815	If you guys do this then there may be a market for me to sell my Gen 2 pucks __________________ 23,996 thawed iced cubes in a big cube and filled with flowers that grow under water.

03/03/2014, 07:30 AM	#25
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	I dunno, the Aurora and Lumina are relatively expensive compared to the Ecotech pucks, you get 2 for $150, so $75 a piece, and that's the Gen3 upgrade. __________________ Mike