AC Infinity C69 + other lights - heads up!

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Triplefastaction

Well-Known Member
Been using the C69 adaptor to control 480w of bar LEDs. Was working well, or so I thought.

I was poking around this morning with a Par meter, had some questions to myself, so I dug out the Killawatt meter ….

using the c69 controller, port set to control my lights set to “10”. My 480w lights will not draw more than about 375 watts when controlled by the C69. Disconnect the C69, plug them in, they draw 480w like they are supposed to, and are visually brighter. I confirmed this multiple times/ways, it’s not user error (this time at least)

I don’t know if it’s my particular lights, my controller or what. But seems like the C69 is throttling me, and I’m not too happy about that.
 
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Triplefastaction

Well-Known Member
Just some cheap 240w bar lights. Hydofe is brand name I think but same as any other generic ones, but not the cheapest on the earth. RJ11 to UIS adapter, the only one that works (so they say).

I have not called them. I tried that once before, I value my sanity too much to call them again. It’ll go in the box next to the UIS controlled outlet that crosstalks other electronics in my grow. I have a lot of their stuff and generally like it, I just dont think theyve done a good job of implementing other vendor products. At least that’s my experience…
 
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MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
If you have a volt meter see what the pins to the dimmer cable are seeing at full bright setting. I am willing to bet it's around 8V and what those wires need is 10V to give 100% brightness. Also depends on the driver too if you post what driver it is we can take a look.

if you look at the UIS description it says that you might not be able to dim fully with some drivers/lights.

also did you do the firmware update?
IMG_8600.png
 
Nizza

Nizza

Well-Known Member
Triplefastaction said:
Just some cheap 240w bar lights. Hydofe is brand name I think but same as any other generic ones, but not the cheapest on the earth. RJ11 to UIS adapter, the only one that works (so they say).

I have not called them. I tried that once before, I value my sanity too much to call them again. It’ll go in the box next to the UIS controlled outlet that crosstalks other electronics in my grow. I have a lot of their stuff and generally like it, I just dont think theyve done a good job of implementing other vendor products. At least that’s my experience…
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I'd send them an email, and a link to the thread. let them know you are just trying to figure it out and if they don't help you out, follow up on what happens with it here. If you spend a bunch of money somewhere and they don't help you out with any issues, other people should know about it~ you're helping others with how they invest in equipment for growing

alot of the times someone here can help you with their knowledge! good luck
 
PTAF

PTAF

New Member
Triplefastaction said:
Been using the C69 adaptor to control 480w of bar LEDs. Was working well, or so I thought.

I was poking around this morning with a Par meter, had some questions to myself, so I dug out the Killawatt meter ….

using the c69 controller, port set to control my lights set to “10”. My 480w lights will not draw more than about 375 watts when controlled by the C69. Disconnect the C69, plug them in, they draw 480w like they are supposed to, and are visually brighter. I confirmed this multiple times/ways, it’s not user error (this time at least)

I don’t know if it’s my particular lights, my controller or what. But seems like the C69 is throttling me, and I’m not too happy about that.
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Do you have an update to your situation? I am in the process of deciding (everything!) what to use and, since ACI was right up there, I am curious. Please do update & TIA!
 
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Triplefastaction

Well-Known Member
Dead end here, its just limited to about 80% and they only say they don’t guarantee compatibility.
I do have a new bar led arriving tomorrow, give me a few days and I’ll hook it up to the C69 and my killawatt meter

if you see what MidnightSun72 posted above, they lay this out there up front so this shouldn’t come as a surprise I suppose. I guess I just stupidly assumed the limited dimming range was on the low end of things, not the top end.
 
PTAF

PTAF

New Member
Triplefastaction said:
Dead end here, its just limited to about 80% and they only say they don’t guarantee compatibility.
I do have a new bar led arriving tomorrow, give me a few days and I’ll hook it up to the C69 and my killawatt meter

if you see what MidnightSun72 posted above, they lay this out there up front so this shouldn’t come as a surprise I suppose. I guess I just stupidly assumed the limited dimming range was on the low end of things, not the top end.
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thanks for the update - I'll try to find your reference - noob's noob, even learning the freakin' forum functions? ya know? - the type that has to have his wife partner hang up his it's new fangled cell U lar phone... bit of sarcasm/humor.. but, alas, some truth... lol!
 
PTAF

PTAF

New Member
sorry for the ignorance, but, what was/is the tl;dr here? Is this "governing" problem across the board? spectrum range? jeez... trying to be serious here... or is it really just a problem with this particular configuration? trying to learn and/or stop thinking of ACI as infallible.
 
Burndoggin

Burndoggin

Well-Known Member
PTAF said:
sorry for the ignorance, but, what was/is the tl;dr here? Is this "governing" problem across the board? spectrum range? jeez... trying to be serious here... or is it really just a problem with this particular configuration? trying to learn and/or stop thinking of ACI as infallible.
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TLDR.... If that's what you're asking about means... To Long, Didn't Read... Acronym
I believe it's from reddit. But could be wrong
 
Burndoggin

Burndoggin

Well-Known Member
Triplefastaction said:
Dead end here, its just limited to about 80% and they only say they don’t guarantee compatibility.
I do have a new bar led arriving tomorrow, give me a few days and I’ll hook it up to the C69 and my killawatt meter

if you see what MidnightSun72 posted above, they lay this out there up front so this shouldn’t come as a surprise I suppose. I guess I just stupidly assumed the limited dimming range was on the low end of things, not the top end.
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Dam, I really am looking for something to control my 0-10v photontek
 
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1212ham

Well-Known Member
Burndoggin said:
It comes with a 0-25-50-75-100 dial that comes with it. But I would like at least 10% incremental.
The photontek controller is way out of my price ranged and needs.... $500.
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I see them for $380 USD but that's obscene.
This should work. They call it a potentiometer, but it really is a 0-10V dimmer.
rapidled.com

Cased Potentiometer with Knob

.
rapidled.com rapidled.com


I believe I've seen this sold under several names, for a little as $75.
 
Burndoggin

Burndoggin

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
I see them for $380 USD but that's obscene.
This should work. They call it a potentiometer, but it really is a 0-10V dimmer.
rapidled.com

Cased Potentiometer with Knob

.
rapidled.com rapidled.com


I believe I've seen this sold under several names, for a little as $75.
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I've been seeing these in all my searches, but my problem is that I'm not that electicly inclined, if I had to splice something, would that mess up my 5 year warranty?
If it's a simple splice with some banana plugs, I think I could manage....+ wire - wire?
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Burndoggin said:
I've been seeing these in all my searches, but my problem is that I'm not that electicly inclined, if I had to splice something, would that mess up my 5 year warranty?
If it's a simple splice with some banana plugs, I think I could manage....+ wire - wire?
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It might be best to start your own thread on this. I'd try to get whatever connector the light uses so it can just plug in.

LED and other Lighting

Growing with LEDs / Inductive / Plasma etc.
www.rollitup.org
 
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T

Triplefastaction

Well-Known Member
I think the bottom line here is the controller may enable you to control the full range of your lights - or it may not. Depends on your light I guess. And that’s the reality of their sales pitch.

my real takeaway is even though the c69 controller showed as working through the entire 0-10 range, it really wasn’t. So just because your c69 says your lights are on full blast - don’t just assume they are.
 
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