Member modified LED wiring question...APEX

[basscyn]

Shout out to MM LED folk.

Go me an APEX Controller. (Almost have IT figured out too):yes:

MM fixtures have 2 red and 2 black wires for the dimmable control through an RJ45 connection and a CAT5 cable. Im just using a CAT5 cable off the shelf.

Which pins do i rig this thing up with?
I see lots of posts to use #1#2 and #5#6.

Which ones are they?:huh:

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[wbeacham]

That is how mine is wired. Same plug too.

 

[basscyn]

Problem is I cant figure out the sequence of #1 #2 etc...on this female port.

 

[basscyn]

Thanks man.

I guess I may try to make my own here.
A little out of my comfort zone though...but what the heck.
That sounds like the solution.

I have 3 led units across a 6' tank.

Any more input on this appreciated.

 

[basscyn]

Well,
Here is what I envisioned...having given no thought to creating my own Ethernet cables. My Apex and EB8 are in my sump/fish room. This is a room directly behind my display.So Lots of wires goin through the wall.

All 3 led units with Ethernet ports runnin CAT5 patch cables to a junction or splitter of somekind. Then one single cable to the VDM port.

All this assuming I can separate the blue and white led signal.

I guess it's the same thing you suggest just using keystone connectors.


Doable???

 

[basscyn]

alcatoe;774817 wrote: Doable, yes. I was going down that road too but decided no one would ever see the cables inside the fish closet so i opted to just twist the wires to save time and headache. Realistically how often r u gonna disconnect and reconnect the cables?

Once it's all dialed in...not very often. Gonna build a canopy for these too (one of these days) so I might be move them around for a while. Once i get a canopy built if I need to take it off or whatever...I dunno.

It's more about straight and clean I suppose.

So...back to the drawing board.:up:

 

[jef4y]

I think it's been asked before but I can't find the answer.

How does one go about determining which red/black wire controls which color? Since there's 2 red/black combos coming out of the unit there's no telling so it seems. Can I do a quick battery test or something?

 

[eagle9252]

temp hook both up and when you turn on only one switch then unhook only one set and then turn the same back on then you know which wire does what.

 

[lilrobb]

Connect (short) one red to one black and watch which color dims...

JeF4y;778823 wrote: I think it's been asked before but I can't find the answer.

How does one go about determining which red/black wire controls which color? Since there's 2 red/black combos coming out of the unit there's no telling so it seems. Can I do a quick battery test or something?

 

[jef4y]

eagle9252;778844 wrote: temp hook both up and when you turn on only one switch then unhook only one set and then turn the same back on then you know which wire does what.

Can I do this with a 9v battery? I would THINK I could but I don't wanna fry anything out. It would be a million times easier to do it that way now and know beforehand vice doing it once the tank is up.

Edit:

LilRobb;778849 wrote: Connect (short) one red to one black and watch which color dims...

Perfect. Thanks Robb.

 

[eagle9252]

as for the 9v. i don't know what the voltage is. i would assume 12vdc but you know what happens when u assume.

but Robb is the one to ask

 

[jef4y]

I shorted the wires out and it was easy to tell which controlled which. =) I'm good to go. Gotta grab a 15' cat5 cable tomorrow and away we go!

 

[jef4y]

For reference in case anyone refers back to this thread.

On the RJ45 Jack that is in the lights, it has 8 pins and a color code sticker with 2 layouts on it (A & B).

For this exercise, I am referring to the "A" color diagram. Here are the pinouts:

1 - Green/White
2 - Green
3 - Orange/White
4 - Blue
5 - Blue/white
6 - Orange
7 - Brown/White
8 - Brown

So on your cat 5 cable, you will want the colors associated with pins 1 & 2 to wire to Green/White, Green on the light connector. And 5 & 6 to go to Blue/White, Orange on the light connector (again, using colors on diagram "A").

If this doesn't make sense I can try some pics.