RGB LED strip control?

[Dom_P]

Hey all

Just got a hydros for a new tank I’m setting up after being away from reefing for 15 years. Controllers have come a long way… can’t wait to use the hydros.

While I’m waiting I’m building out a controller cabinet. I purchased one from adaptive reef with an RGB light strip in it. It has a standard 4 pin RBG connector. Is it possible to control colors of this strip via the hydros?

Thanks

 

[TanAsh]

Yes and no.

If you are just looking to turn it on/off, you can plug it into an outlet like the Wi-Fi strip or XP8. Also, if the RGB uses 12V, you can install a GX12 2-pin connector and use it on a drive port.

If you need to control the actual color on the RGB directly, then no.

The only workaround I would assume is to wire each color on the RGB individually. For example:

Let's assume it's a 12V RGB light and we are going to wire it to three drive ports from a Hydro's control.

The RGB pinout:

12+

R- = Red light

G- = Green light

B- = Blue light

We will need to wire each color individually to a GX12 2-pin connector. From the RGB light's 12V pin to GX12 pin #2 on all connectors, then the R pin, G pin, and B pin from the RGB to connector pin #1.

Now, if you need to turn the red light on, you just turn the drive port on where the red RGB is connected and the green and blue off.

If you need a yellow light, then turn the red and green lights on and the blue off.

I don't think it is worth wasting three drive ports or outlets just for RGB.

 

[Danny]

Hey all

Just got a hydros for a new tank I’m setting up after being away from reefing for 15 years. Controllers have come a long way… can’t wait to use the hydros.

While I’m waiting I’m building out a controller cabinet. I purchased one from adaptive reef with an RGB light strip in it. It has a standard 4 pin RBG connector. Is it possible to control colors of this strip via the hydros?

Thanks

The only way to control intensity is to have a X4 or WEv2 and the controller for the lights has to have 0-10v control inputs. The Hydros has no way to drive the lights directly to change the intensity without a lighting controller with a 0-10v input.

 

[Dom_P]

Yes and no.

If you are just looking to turn it on/off, you can plug it into an outlet like the Wi-Fi strip or XP8. Also, if the RGB uses 12V, you can install a GX12 2-pin connector and use it on a drive port.

If you need to control the actual color on the RGB directly, then no.

The only workaround I would assume is to wire each color on the RGB individually. For example:

Let's assume it's a 12V RGB light and we are going to wire it to three drive ports from a Hydro's control.

The RGB pinout:

12+

R- = Red light

G- = Green light

B- = Blue light

We will need to wire each color individually to a GX12 2-pin connector. From the RGB light's 12V pin to GX12 pin #2 on all connectors, then the R pin, G pin, and B pin from the RGB to connector pin #1.

Now, if you need to turn the red light on, you just turn the drive port on where the red RGB is connected and the green and blue off.

If you need a yellow light, then turn the red and green lights on and the blue off.

I don't think it is worth wasting three drive ports or outlets just for RGB.

Totally agree that would be a lot of drive ports to waste. No big deal really. Thanks for the detailed explanation