Having issues with the Apex Jr. and Ecoxotic Retrofit LEDs

Udeus · 11/06/2011, 02:17 PM

So I have three Ecoxotic Retrofit dimmiable LED hooked up to an Apex Jr and I am having a lot of issues trying to get it to work correctly.

All the lights will turn on and dim, just not when I want to.

First question is on the unofficial guide on page 73 “For starters, you use two outlets for each ballast – an EB8 outlet for the 120vac power and a variable speed outlet to control the dimming."

How does this look when its wired? (Is there two plugs that should have been set up? If so, which wires to which plug?) Right now my LFS guy has one light wired to the meanwell, then the meanwell to a plug.
Light “Left” and “Right” are plugged into the same powerbar and the powerbar is plugged into the Apex.
Light “Center” is plugged directly into the Apex.
Lights “Left” and “Right” are attached to a single VDM in the V1/V2 plug
Lights “Center” are attached to another single VDM in the V1/V2 plug

The basic light set up for the lights works, but not when I change it to the advanced setting with the following language:
Set OFF
If Time 14:00 to 14:15 Then RampUp
If Time 14:15 to 22:00 Then ON
If Time 22:00 to 20:00 Then Night

RampUp and Night profiles do not work, but it will turn on.
RampUp is defined as:
Ramp time (minutes) 15
Start intensity: 0
End intensity: 100

Night is defined as:
Ramp time (minutes): 3
Start intensity: 50
End intensity: 10

Another interesting note, I also picked up Aquanotes app for the iphone. It will connect but VarSpd2_2_2 and VarSpd2_3_2 will only stay in the On or Off position, but in the Auto position it will push itself back to the ON position. Logging into the Apex via the web it shows the same VarSpd in the Auto position when in Aquanotes it is in the ON position.

Do I have a software programming issue? Wiring Issue or? Any help would be great, I’m completely at a loss at the moment.

RussM · 11/06/2011, 03:09 PM

The Aquanotes app has been replaced by a new one called "Apex"

What are the names of the VDM VS outlets? The behavior you describe can be caused by duplicated outlet names... all outlet names must be unique.

Were the cables connecting the VS ports to the drivers from Neptune, or are they DIY?

Udeus · 11/06/2011, 03:19 PM

RussM Thank you for the reply.
The names of the VDM VS outlets? You mean the EB4 outlets on the Apex? If so, one is named "LightLeftRig"
the other is "LightCenter"
The cables are from Ecoxotic, Neptune and Meanwell.

RussM · 11/06/2011, 03:45 PM

No, I meant the VarSpd outlets on the VDM.

Udeus · 11/06/2011, 04:53 PM

Russ:
Thank you for the Apex app update. Interestingly enough it is still doing to same thing: It will connect but VarSpd2_2_2 and VarSpd2_3_2 will only stay in the On or Off position, but in the Auto position it will push itself back to the ON position

first vdm:
varspd 1_2_1
varspd 2_2_2
varspd 3_2_3
varspd 4_2_4

second vdm:
varspd 1_3_1
varspd 2_3_2
varspd 3_3_3
varspd 4_3_4

Udeus · 11/14/2011, 11:52 AM

Sorry for the shameless bump, any help would be greatly appreicated.

Udeus · 11/14/2011, 11:58 AM

Sorry for the shameless bump, any help would be greatly appreicated.

ToLearn · 01/02/2012, 03:53 PM

Sorry to hear I'm not the only one having issues getting this set up. I have an full Apex(not the Jr.) and can't get my dimmable Exocotic to even turn on when plugged into the dimmable ballast(ELM-60-24D)

11/06/2011, 02:17 PM	#1
Udeus Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 6	Having issues with the Apex Jr. and Ecoxotic Retrofit LEDs So I have three Ecoxotic Retrofit dimmiable LED hooked up to an Apex Jr and I am having a lot of issues trying to get it to work correctly. All the lights will turn on and dim, just not when I want to. First question is on the unofficial guide on page 73 “For starters, you use two outlets for each ballast – an EB8 outlet for the 120vac power and a variable speed outlet to control the dimming." How does this look when its wired? (Is there two plugs that should have been set up? If so, which wires to which plug?) Right now my LFS guy has one light wired to the meanwell, then the meanwell to a plug. Light “Left” and “Right” are plugged into the same powerbar and the powerbar is plugged into the Apex. Light “Center” is plugged directly into the Apex. Lights “Left” and “Right” are attached to a single VDM in the V1/V2 plug Lights “Center” are attached to another single VDM in the V1/V2 plug The basic light set up for the lights works, but not when I change it to the advanced setting with the following language: Set OFF If Time 14:00 to 14:15 Then RampUp If Time 14:15 to 22:00 Then ON If Time 22:00 to 20:00 Then Night RampUp and Night profiles do not work, but it will turn on. RampUp is defined as: Ramp time (minutes) 15 Start intensity: 0 End intensity: 100 Night is defined as: Ramp time (minutes): 3 Start intensity: 50 End intensity: 10 Another interesting note, I also picked up Aquanotes app for the iphone. It will connect but VarSpd2_2_2 and VarSpd2_3_2 will only stay in the On or Off position, but in the Auto position it will push itself back to the ON position. Logging into the Apex via the web it shows the same VarSpd in the Auto position when in Aquanotes it is in the ON position. Do I have a software programming issue? Wiring Issue or? Any help would be great, I’m completely at a loss at the moment.

11/06/2011, 04:53 PM	#5
Udeus Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 6	Russ: Thank you for the Apex app update. Interestingly enough it is still doing to same thing: It will connect but VarSpd2_2_2 and VarSpd2_3_2 will only stay in the On or Off position, but in the Auto position it will push itself back to the ON position first vdm: varspd 1_2_1 varspd 2_2_2 varspd 3_2_3 varspd 4_2_4 second vdm: varspd 1_3_1 varspd 2_3_2 varspd 3_3_3 varspd 4_3_4 Last edited by Udeus; 11/06/2011 at 05:39 PM.

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11/06/2011, 03:09 PM	#2
RussM Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: El Cajon, CA Posts: 7,818	The Aquanotes app has been replaced by a new one called "Apex" What are the names of the VDM VS outlets? The behavior you describe can be caused by duplicated outlet names... all outlet names must be unique. Were the cables connecting the VS ports to the drivers from Neptune, or are they DIY?

11/06/2011, 03:19 PM	#3
Udeus Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 6	RussM Thank you for the reply. The names of the VDM VS outlets? You mean the EB4 outlets on the Apex? If so, one is named "LightLeftRig" the other is "LightCenter" The cables are from Ecoxotic, Neptune and Meanwell.

11/06/2011, 03:45 PM	#4
RussM Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: El Cajon, CA Posts: 7,818	No, I meant the VarSpd outlets on the VDM.

11/14/2011, 11:52 AM	#6
Udeus Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 6	Sorry for the shameless bump, any help would be greatly appreicated.

11/14/2011, 11:58 AM	#7
Udeus Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 6	Sorry for the shameless bump, any help would be greatly appreicated.

01/02/2012, 03:53 PM	#8
ToLearn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 452	Sorry to hear I'm not the only one having issues getting this set up. I have an full Apex(not the Jr.) and can't get my dimmable Exocotic to even turn on when plugged into the dimmable ballast(ELM-60-24D)