A question for DIYers

nachooo

nachooo

Well-Known Member
Lets say I have a Led strip I want to run 4 hours at 350ma and after that, 8 hours more at 700ma. I have two drivers: one gives 350ma and the other gives 700ma. How can I automate this situation using timers? I mean..Is there some kind of easy way of switch between drivers using the same led strip?

Thanks in advance
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
nachooo said:
Lets say I have a Led strip I want to run 4 hours at 350ma and after that, 8 hours more at 700ma. I have two drivers: one gives 350ma and the other gives 700ma. How can I automate this situation using timers? I mean..Is there some kind of easy way of switch between drivers using the same led strip?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
You'd be much better off using like a meanwell HLG 700 that can dim and take a controller, and automate it through that. Never done it though but its absolutely possible.
 
nachooo

nachooo

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
You'd be much better off using like a meanwell HLG 700 that can dim and take a controller, and automate it through that. Never done it though but its absolutely possible.
Click to expand...
Well I know some meanwell can do certain things...but I was thinking in some kind of switch or relay...to change from one driver to another...
 
Isawthelight

Isawthelight

Well-Known Member
You could use auctioneering diodes to keep the current from flowing into the driver that is turned off. Put one diode Anode in series with the + output wire for each driver. Connect the cathodes of both diodes together then into the + input of your LED strip. Connect both of the drivers - outputs together and to the - input of your LED strip.
Here is a 10 pack of 6 Amp diodes that should do the job. https://www.amazon.com/AMP-DIODE-D6A-10-PACK/dp/B0071E2JU2
 
nachooo

nachooo

Well-Known Member
Isawthelight said:
You could use auctioneering diodes to keep the current from flowing into the driver that is turned off. Put one diode Anode in series with the + output wire for each driver. Connect the cathodes of both diodes together then into the + input of your LED strip. Connect both of the drivers - outputs together and to the - input of your LED strip.
Here is a 10 pack of 6 Amp diodes that should do the job. https://www.amazon.com/AMP-DIODE-D6A-10-PACK/dp/B0071E2JU2
Click to expand...
Thats exactly what I am looking for, thanks. I understand that the concept is like use an air valve that works in one direction only…
I add a schema..for you to see if I understand it..
IMG_20190606_035905.jpg

I have found this in Spain :
https://www.ebay.es/itm/x5-Diodo-Rectificador-10A10-1000V-10A/162513431049?hash=item25d68e2a09:g:OUQAAOSwjL5ZFcI6

https://www.ebay.es/itm/10-x-Diodo-Rectificador-1N5408-3A-1000V-RECTIFIER-DIODES-T0017/201521743715?hash=item2eeba1c763:g:EOkAAOSwu1VW4oGj

Could I use them instead the one you post before?
 
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nachooo

nachooo

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
Your schematic is good. It should work, but there will be a small voltage drop across the diodes, something like .5 -.7v. Just wondering, why do you want to do this?
Click to expand...
I have a lamp with 660 nm reds and far reds… I want to run the far red during daytime at lets say 700 ma or more with the 660 reds running at the same time..and I want to use the far reds alone at 350 ma or less for EOD treatment after lights go off.. I have a lot of Little cheap drivers that are doing nothing...I Will use sonoff timers. Deep reds Will be run by other driver
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Ahh, more to the plot than I expected. ;)
To the real electronics guys out there, are the diodes even necessary? Hmm, I have couple cheap drivers... And I do like empirical evidence...(:
 
grotbags

grotbags

Well-Known Member
nachooo said:
I have a lamp with 660 nm reds and far reds… I want to run the far red during daytime at lets say 700 ma or more with the 660 reds running at the same time..and I want to use the far reds alone at 350 ma or less for EOD treatment after lights go off.. I have a lot of Little cheap drivers that are doing nothing...I Will use sonoff timers. Deep reds Will be run by other driver
Click to expand...
you could run the far red at 700ma for EOD, just half the time?.
 
Isawthelight

Isawthelight

Well-Known Member
nachooo said:
Thats exactly what I am looking for, thanks. I understand that the concept is like use an air valve that works in one direction only…
I add a schema..for you to see if I understand it..
View attachment 4345664

I have found this in Spain :
https://www.ebay.es/itm/x5-Diodo-Rectificador-10A10-1000V-10A/162513431049?hash=item25d68e2a09:g:OUQAAOSwjL5ZFcI6

https://www.ebay.es/itm/10-x-Diodo-Rectificador-1N5408-3A-1000V-RECTIFIER-DIODES-T0017/201521743715?hash=item2eeba1c763:g:EOkAAOSwu1VW4oGj

Could I use them instead the one you post before?
Click to expand...
Your schematic is correct and both of those diodes will work fine, but be sure to insulate those diodes with some shrink-tubing.


@1212ham is correct = these silicon auctioneering diodes will use about 0.6 volts, reducing the amount of voltage at the LED strip. Why use these diodes? The 350ma driver's internal parts may be rated for a lower voltage than the 700ma driver and the turned-off 350ma driver's outputs may leech some of the turned-on 700ma driver's output, so less to the LED strip.
 
nachooo

nachooo

Well-Known Member
Isawthelight said:
Your schematic is correct and both of those diodes will work fine, but be sure to insulate those diodes with some shrink-tubing.


@1212ham is correct = these silicon auctioneering diodes will use about 0.6 volts, reducing the amount of voltage at the LED strip. Why use these diodes? The 350ma driver's internal parts may be rated for a lower voltage than the 700ma driver and the turned-off 350ma driver's outputs may leech some of the turned-on 700ma driver's output, so less to the LED strip.
Click to expand...
So.. for example....If this diodes use about 0.6 volts... and the led strip use itself 12 volts at 350ma and the driver is rated for 10-20 volts output...and 350 ma. Will the driver compensate for this 0,6 volts needed by the diode giving 12,6 volts total? I hope you understand what I trying to say...my english is limited…

Also..I understand that this diodes are named by the amps and volts they can handle.. as I need only relative low amps...less tan 1 amp actually...and about 10-20 volts. Should I have to find diodes that work with less amps (1 amp instead of 6 amps) and this way this diode would need less volts to work?

Thanks for your help.
 
Isawthelight

Isawthelight

Well-Known Member
A one watt diode would do. I just picked some higher voltage blocking diodes because I had no idea what the LED driver open circuit voltage would be.
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Hey Nachoo, have you thought about trying some sonoffs wireless relays? I think they do a 2 channel version with 2 timers, one for each driver.
 
nachooo

nachooo

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info Rocket Soul. Got two TH10 and a 4 CH pro..Probably I Will buy one 4 channel more to make this kind of dimming that Isawthelight post time ago
Sonoff Resistor Dimmer mk2.png

My current setup is this right now:

Screenshot_20190607-212447.png
 
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