RJ45 dimmers

Anyone have a source for these? My strips have onboard dimmers that go from 40% to 100% in 20% intervals but I’d like to be able to dim lower/more precisely. Is there just a basic potentiometer type knob that I can plug into the 0-10v RJ45 ports or do I need to run an actual lighting controller? My alibaba supplier said my lights are compatible with the Gavita controller but I was hoping for a lower cost alternative that only controls dimming as I use smart switches for timing, monitoring and remote operation.

You could cut off the end of a network cable and wire a potmeter to the wires?

sf_frankie said:

Anyone have a source for these? My strips have onboard dimmers that go from 40% to 100% in 20% intervals but I’d like to be able to dim lower/more precisely. Is there just a basic potentiometer type knob that I can plug into the 0-10v RJ45 ports or do I need to run an actual lighting controller? My alibaba supplier said my lights are compatible with the Gavita controller but I was hoping for a lower cost alternative that only controls dimming as I use smart switches for timing, monitoring and remote operation.

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What light do you have? Does it have to be 0-10v or will a potentiometer work?
I believe this is actually a 0-10v dimmer. Polarity must be correct, so it's not just a simple potentiometer. You would just need to make the connection. https://www.rapidled.com/cased-potentiometer-with-knob/

1212ham said:

I believe this is actually a 0-10v dimmer. Polarity must be correct, so it's not just a simple potentiometer. You would just need to make the connection. https://www.rapidled.com/cased-potentiometer-with-knob/

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so just cut one end off of my rj45 cable and wire it to that?

Yes, and reverse polarity if it doesn't work. What light is it?

1212ham said:

Yes, and reverse polarity if it doesn't work. What light is it?

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Alibaba 8-bar LED with Sonsen drivers. It’s basically a fluence spydr knock off

1212ham said:

What light do you have? Does it have to be 0-10v or will a potentiometer work?
Polarity must be correct, so it's not just a simple potentiometer.

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So then when you say a simple potmeter wouldn't work you post a link to buying a potmeter mounted on a box?

Potmeters don't have polarity. Not when you put them in a case either. The only thing that can change is if you dim turning clockwise or anti-clockwise depending how you connect the wires.

If that cased pot works, any standard two dime pot would work just as well. Just wire to the middle terminal and the left or right one depending on which way you ant to turn.

The question would be more if resistance dimming will really work. It could be something that really works on voltage. These things are supposed to be hung in large rooms and all controlled from a single point. That's very cumbersome to do with a pot meter. You'd need to adjust the resistance to the number of lights attached like with Mean Well dimming.

Also, if it's really Gavita compatible then it would be 12V.

wietefras said:

So then when you say a simple potmeter wouldn't work you post a link to buying a potmeter mounted on a box?

Potmeters don't have polarity. Not when you put them in a case either. The only thing that can change is if you dim turning clockwise or anti-clockwise depending how you connect the wires.

If that cased pot works, any standard two dime pot would work just as well. Just wire to the middle terminal and the left or right one depending on which way you ant to turn.

The question would be more if resistance dimming will really work. It could be something that really works on voltage. These things are supposed to be hung in large rooms and all controlled from a single point. That's very cumbersome to do with a pot meter. You'd need to adjust the resistance to the number of lights attached like with Mean Well dimming.

Also, if it's really Gavita compatible then it would be 12V.

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I did not say a potentiometer won't work. I did say "will a potentiometer work?"

I also said "I believe this is actually a 0-10v dimmer".

wietefras said:

So then when you say a simple potmeter wouldn't work you post a link to buying a potmeter mounted on a box?

Potmeters don't have polarity. Not when you put them in a case either. The only thing that can change is if you dim turning clockwise or anti-clockwise depending how you connect the wires.

If that cased pot works, any standard two dime pot would work just as well. Just wire to the middle terminal and the left or right one depending on which way you ant to turn.

The question would be more if resistance dimming will really work. It could be something that really works on voltage. These things are supposed to be hung in large rooms and all controlled from a single point. That's very cumbersome to do with a pot meter. You'd need to adjust the resistance to the number of lights attached like with Mean Well dimming.

Also, if it's really Gavita compatible then it would be 12V.

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The spec sheet on the lights says 0v-10v so I think you’re right. I think I probably have to get a fluence or gavita controller. Doesn’t look like I can just use a potentiometer. I need to back off the light intensity somehow. I can’t raise them any higher. I’m gonna chop the legs on my tables by 10” or so and crank up the CO2 a bit so the clones can handle some more light.

sf_frankie said:

The spec sheet on the lights says 0v-10v so I think you’re right.
Doesn’t look like I can just use a potentiometer.

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Well it could be both. A 0-10V dimmer can usually also be controlled with a potmeter.

I know people use the Gavita controller with Mean well 0-10V drivers. And Mean Well drivers can also be controlled with a potmeter. Doesn;t say much, but it shows those dimming systems are flexible.

Gavita is 12V though, so they can only go to 80% on the Master controller when dimming a 0-10V driver like Mean Well.

Can't your Alibaba contact tell if a potmeter would work?

I would just get the RJ45 end of a cable, measure what is on those wires and add a potmeter. You'll see if it works right away.

I actually use a simple resistor of 47 k ohm to dim the lights to about 50%.

wietefras said:

Well it could be both. A 0-10V dimmer can usually also be controlled with a potmeter.

I know people use the Gavita controller with Mean well 0-10V drivers. And Mean Well drivers can also be controlled with a potmeter. Doesn;t say much, but it shows those dimming systems are flexible.

Gavita is 12V though, so they can only go to 80% on the Master controller when dimming a 0-10V driver like Mean Well.

Can't your Alibaba contact tell if a potmeter would work?

I would just get the RJ45 end of a cable, measure what is on those wires and add a potmeter. You'll see if it works right away.

I actually use a simple resistor of 47 k ohm to dim the lights to about 50%.

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I‘ll see if I can find a pot and multimeter at the hardware store tomorrow and give it a shot. It’s not like hooking one up could damage anything right? I just need to check the wires for voltage and wire up the pot right? My light has on board dimming that gets it down to 40% but it’s still too intense for the clones.

If a meanwell driver can be pot controlled then so can the driver in my light. The same light I had was available with a meanwell driver as an upgrade.

I don’t trust my alibaba supplier. They already scammed me by sending lights with lm281 diodes instead of lm301. Fuck them

Perhaps you can keep an eye on the current going through the resistor. Usually the current is very low. Like with a mean well driver it's 100micro amps maximum. Low enough that it's actually fine to even shortcut those wires to dim to 0%.

sf_frankie said:

I‘ll see if I can find a pot and multimeter at the hardware store tomorrow and give it a shot. It’s not like hooking one up could damage anything right? I just need to check the wires for voltage and wire up the pot right? My light has on board dimming that gets it down to 40% but it’s still too intense for the clones.

If a meanwell driver can be pot controlled then so can the driver in my light. The same light I had was available with a meanwell driver as an upgrade.

I don’t trust my alibaba supplier. They already scammed me by sending lights with lm281 diodes instead of lm301. Fuck them

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How did you establish the type of diode used? 301 is 3030 format. If it is 2835 could be any of a number of diodes. Also it would be a service to others reading to be aware of a particular vendor supplying other than advertised. Name and shame.

end_of_the_tunnel said:

How did you establish the type of diode used? 301 is 3030 format. If it is 2835 could be any of a number of diodes. Also it would be a service to others reading to be aware of a particular vendor supplying other than advertised. Name and shame.

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to be honest, I have no clue if it’s actually a Samsung diode or not. I know it’s a 2835 cause I measured them and then found a part number stamp that confirms 2835 was used. When I called out the supplier they said they accidentally sent me the wrong light. I’ve got a whole thread going with pics. The company is known as SGL (Sun grow lighting) and sundopt is the parent company. I’m also in contact with another user on here who also ordered from them and we are waiting for his lights to show up to see if they pulled the same shit with him. If he actually gets 3030 chips then I’ll believe the suppliers story about sending me the wrong order. I have no way to know if they’re actually Samsung chips or not. The lights are already being used so I can’t really take them apart right now to confirm. I honestly am still happy with the lights despite all that. They put out a ton of light...too much for my clones actually. I tested them with a PPFD app on my phone and the results were pretty damn close to what was advertised. I know those apps aren’t very accurate but I’ve got better things to spend $500 on than a par meter right now.

which app have you used? would love to try it.

cobshopgrow said:

which app have you used? would love to try it.

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It’s called Korona. The app is free but if you are measuring LEDs you have to pay $4.99 for the add on. Make sure to take a piece of TP and separate it to 1-ply and set it over your front camera lens. That acts as a light diffuser. You can also use a spent empty and cleaned yogurt cup or keurig k-cup.

thanks
what a shitty name, have problems to find it in the playstore.

edit... apple only it seems, cant test it.

for sure one of the better.
btw. nice article.
would be nice if they would have used a spectrometer but very helpfull for iphone users.

cobshopgrow said:

thanks
what a shitty name, have problems to find it in the playstore.

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lol yeah. when I first got it I didn’t know you needed a diffuser so I started googling and all I got were hits for the virus. Without a diy diffuser it said my PPFD was like 150 and i started getting even more pissed about my alibaba lights. Took me a min to settle down and realize that wasn’t possible since I was having issues with light burn even fully dimmed to 40% and like 40” above canopy. The instructions are linked to some blog on their website but doesn’t say anything in the app. I think it’s iOS only. There are some LUX meters on the play store and if you know your color temp/spectrum you can google to find the conversion rate to estimate your PPFD. Migrow has a video posted with common color temp conversion factors.

it reads good what the Korona guys write, basically it should be a benefit that there is not many hardware varaints, apple.
would love to compare to my spectrometer.
was in is a similar situation then you and questioned my 20$ lux meter readings.
havent found some useable andorid app so far, went the pricey way and bought a C7000.
when your lux meter readings are shit, the waveformlightning conversions makes no sense and it basically really just works with a knowen spectrum.

your app seems to be a hot tip for iphone users!
should be more knowen, if that works, it would be cool.
someone with a iphone a par or spectro meter can compare??

nice read (doubble post, sry)

cobshopgrow said:

it reads good what the Korona guys write, basically it should be a benefit that there is not many hardware varaints, apple.
would love to compare to my spectrometer.
was in is a similar situation then you and questioned my 20$ lux meter readings.
havent found some useable andorid app so far, went the pricey way and bought a C7000.
when your lux meter readings are shit, the waveformlightning conversions makes no sense and it basically really just works with a knowen spectrum.

your app seems to be a hot tip for iphone users!
should be more knowen, if that works, it would be cool.
someone with a iphone a par or spectro meter can compare??

Lux Meter Apps: Why Most of Them Are Useless

We tested popular lux meter apps for iPhone and unfortunately, almost all of them are essentially useless. They miss their one single purpose: To measure accurately.

korona.app

nice read (doubble post, sry)

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yeah I figured that’s why they stick with iPhone. Not as many hardware variances as android. At the very least it can be used to compare lights with other users on here to compare our China lights.