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Superfish Slim LED 74 conversion into smart light?

MrClockOff

MrClockOff

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Joined
20 Aug 2020
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486
Location
Bridgend
Hello all
This is a little technical question but I wonder if anyone tried this LED controller on Superfish Slim LED 74 or similar lights?
My main intention is to make my lights controllable over internet and also have timer synchronised online. So when power goes down my lighting schedule can fully recover configuration.

Cheers
 
MrClockOff said:
Hello all
This is a little technical question but I wonder if anyone tried this LED controller on Superfish Slim LED 74 or similar lights?
My main intention is to make my lights controllable over internet and also have timer synchronised online. So when power goes down my lighting schedule can fully recover configuration.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Those controllers should work on any constant voltage type lights.
Just need to stay within the electrical parameters..
Usually 12 to 24v power supplies.
Power: 6A/channel Total power max. 15A .DC12V 180W max. DC24V max. 360W.
Click to expand...
 
Superfish Slim LED 74 is 24V, 46W. No amps specs provided but based on given other specs it should be 2A ish. So it looks like everything is within electrical parameters.
 
Just ordered the bits. Will report my findings once all connected. I really hope that going sleep/waking up feature is equivalent to sunrise/sunset feature on my current timer 😁
 
Received the bits (controller and DC extension cable 2.1mm to 5.5mm). Cut the cable and connected male bit to controller. Connected power supply and lights to controller and lights light up. Paired with the app and it has dimming and wake/sleep features to replicate sunrise/sunset and dim the light. So just waiting for photoperiod to start and see if all is working as expected!

Edit
Also used SmartThings app to link my Tapo and Smart Life devices into one place. That starts looking awesome.
 
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So thought to write some summary.
Everything went to the plan. New LED controller is worth every penny. I can now fully control my lights with mobile phone. I don’t need to worry anymore that after power cut my photo period will get out of sync with CO2 injection period. All times will be re-synced through WiFi connection. Controller has very much loved feature dimming/brightening lights over time (aka sunset/sunrise). Integrating my Tapo account and Smart Life account into awesome SmartThings mobile app allowed me to have central place to control all my smart gadgets. So for e.g. I have created routine for maintenance which allows with a single tap turn my lights to 100% brightness, turn skimmer, heater and filter off.

Conclusion. If anyone is into smart gadgets I absolutely recommend this setup.
 
A little late to the party - but can you get this to ramp up and then stay at a dimmed level?
So it can turn on slowly, but then not be at full power all day to allow a longer photo period?
Eg:

9am - 0%
9.10am - 50%
4.50pm - 50%
5pm - 0%
 
Paulthewitt said:
A little late to the party - but can you get this to ramp up and then stay at a dimmed level?
So it can turn on slowly, but then not be at full power all day to allow a longer photo period?
Eg:

9am - 0%
9.10am - 50%
4.50pm - 50%
5pm - 0%
Click to expand...
@Paulthewitt yes you can by setting final brightness at the end of brightening/dimming - so at 9am you say go from 1% to 50% with final state on and at 5pm from 50% to 1% with final stante off. Also you can set duration for brightening/dimming.
 
MrClockOff said:
@Paulthewitt yes you can by setting final brightness at the end of brightening/dimming - so at 9am you say go from 1% to 50% with final state on and at 5pm from 50% to 1% with final stante off. Also you can set duration for brightening/dimming.
Click to expand...
Stumbled across this when searching for a dimmable controller for my Superfish scaper light, is it still working as intended and would you recommend? There doesn't seem to be anything else like this on the market for the Superfish lights
 
Jussi75 said:
Stumbled across this when searching for a dimmable controller for my Superfish scaper light, is it still working as intended and would you recommend? There doesn't seem to be anything else like this on the market for the Superfish lights
Click to expand...
Yeah @Jussi75 it’s still the case. Still using it and still loving it. Though I think there must be some alternatives available. Just watch out for supported load and when you do wiring just pay attention when picking the connector so it’s matching led light connector.
 
MrClockOff said:
Yeah @Jussi75 it’s still the case. Still using it and still loving it. Though I think there must be some alternatives available. Just watch out for supported load and when you do wiring just pay attention when picking the connector so it’s matching led light connector.
Click to expand...
@MrClockOff thanks. Parts ordered and will give it a go over the weekend.
 
MrClockOff said:
Hello all
This is a little technical question but I wonder if anyone tried this LED controller on Superfish Slim LED 74 or similar lights?
My main intention is to make my lights controllable over internet and also have timer synchronised online. So when power goes down my lighting schedule can fully recover configuration.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Hi @MrClockOff,

just like Jussi75, I've also stumbled across your topic a few days ago because I'm also looking for a controller for a Superfish light. In my case its the newer Scaper RGB 131.

Unfortunately I am not very good with electricity stuff, but I was wondering if a similar wifi controller would work for this particular LED light. I am not really interested in changing the light rendition, but given that its an RGB ligtht, it would be a bit of a shame not to buy the right controller.

Another question I have is about the DC extension cables. From what I can get, the output (73W, 20V) should be over 3 Amps (3.65 amps) but I'm struggling to find any cable with the right power specs, is it imperative that I find one with the correct numbers (most are optimized up to 3 amps)?
 
PaulTM said:
Or... Is this all I really need?
Click to expand...
The controller you can buy for the light looks to be one "channel" so probably not wired for separate rg and b channels.
Probably on the circuit board but that is a whole set of problems.

Cable sizing depends on length ass well as amperage.
Not sure what your intentions are here.

16ga ( 1.5 metric) will handle 5A @ 5ft (4.6 m) round trip I believe with 3% voltage drop.
http://assets.bluesea.com/files/resources/newsletter/images/DC_wire_selection_chartlg.jpg
A simple calculator.

Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems

circuitwizard.bluesea.com circuitwizard.bluesea.com

Keep in mind that the choices are usually very conservative..
 
Last edited:
oreo57 said:
The controller you can buy for the light looks to be one "channel" so probably not wired for separate rg and b channels.
Probably on the circuit board but that is a whole set of problems.
Click to expand...
There's am rgbw version available, I just don't know if I will be able to connect the lights to it. Is that what you are referring to?
 
oreo57 said:
I was referring specifically to the sscaper rgb131... Just because it's RGB didn't mean each individual color can be controlled separately.
Click to expand...
I guess it’s all depends on cable interface. If yours is standard barrel style then there’s no point buying RGB controller. Single channel would work. When I was buying power cable for interface I was only paying attention for supported load and connector compatibility. Mine is working fine, no flickering, stable WiFi connection.
 
Update - Tried to set up the controller today but doesn't seem to work for me unfortunately. Connected the lights power cable to the controller and the app recognises the controller but then using the new DC extender cable from the controller through to the light and nothing works. Looks like I'll be sending it back to Amazon.
 
Jussi75 said:
Update - Tried to set up the controller today but doesn't seem to work for me unfortunately. Connected the lights power cable to the controller and the app recognises the controller but then using the new DC extender cable from the controller through to the light and nothing works. Looks like I'll be sending it back to Amazon.
Click to expand...
Are you sure you have connected red and black wires correctly. LED effectively is diode and will let electricity through only one way.
 
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