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Aquaero RGB header voltage

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Railgun

Full Member

Aquaero RGB header voltage

Tuesday, March 3rd 2015, 8:47am

Can someone confirm that the aquaero RGB led header is 4.5v?

Second to that, can someone provide a part number for a common cathode diffused LED that will take that voltage. Seems like a strange voltage.

I had all colors at full tilt and that's what I measured. I'd like to use a diffused LED as the one provided separates colors a bit and doesn't mix very well.

InfoSeeker

Senior Member

Saturday, March 7th 2015, 1:48am

I am not very technical, so I am not sure if this applies or even address' your question, but I found the following in the aquaero 5/6 manual.

Quoted

4.11. Connector „RGB LED“
Connector for up to three LEDs or one two-color or RGB illumination module
(not included in delivery). High brightness LEDs (3-4 V, 20 mA) may be con-
nected without series resistor, a series resistor is built into the aquaero.
Pin assignment:
Pin 1: VCC LED 1
Pin 2: VCC LED 2
Pin 3: GND
Pin 4: VCC LED 3

Railgun

Full Member

Saturday, March 7th 2015, 4:23pm

I did see that, but that being the case, 3-4 isn't 4.5. Can't say I've run into too many LEDs, in particular RGB ones with a >2.1v red element.

I've got some diffused common cathode LEDs already that are rated for 1.9, 3.1 and 3.2v respectively. I suppose I can toss some resistors on, but I'd rather find what their P/N is and find a diffused variant.

Railgun

Full Member

Sunday, March 22nd 2015, 11:09am

AC guys...any input? I can't imagine an LED is a closely guarded secret.

InfoSeeker

Senior Member

Sunday, March 22nd 2015, 2:22pm

I think aquacomputer support does not necessarily monitor these forums on a regular basis, but an email to support@aqua-computer.de should yield a timely response.

Railgun

Full Member

Sunday, March 22nd 2015, 2:39pm

Fair enough. :thumbsup:

Railgun

Full Member

Monday, March 23rd 2015, 9:55pm

Well, it seems it doesn't matter. I had some spare diffused LEDs and just give it a go, and it's all good. Dunno why my multimeter was reading 4.5v...oh well.

sircody01

Junior Member

Monday, March 23rd 2015, 11:45pm

Was your reading taken with the output loaded i.e. driving an LED or unloaded? The Aquero LED outputs have a built in resistor. You will get a significantly lower reading when the output is loaded down.

Railgun

Full Member

Tuesday, March 24th 2015, 7:53am

The reading was taken unloaded, and for this voltage, any controller worth anything would hold its voltage weather loaded or not. Certainly shouldn't show a difference over a volt and an LED wouldn't cause that kind of drop.

sebastian

Administrator

Tuesday, March 24th 2015, 9:19am

Every LED Output Pin can supply max. 20mA.

RGB Connector:
Pin 1: (Red) 2.1V 20mA
Pin 2: (Green) 3.2V 20mA
Pin 3: Ground
Pin 4: (Blue) 3.2V 20mA

The current is limited with a built in resitor for each color on the aquaero pcb.

sircody01

Junior Member

Tuesday, March 24th 2015, 4:12pm

@Railgun. The output is current limited, not voltage limited and there's absolutely nothing wrong with this design. The current limitation will prevent you from burning out your LED's. It also prevents you from getting accurate voltage measurements until the output is drawing the right amount of current, i.e. you have an LED running off of the output.

Railgun

Full Member

Wednesday, March 25th 2015, 11:10am

Well, that's not entirely true. Eg I have an LED rated at 2.1v, 50mA. All that means is it will be a dimmer LED on this controller. No biggie. But I can put it on a circuit that could provide 20A at 2.1V and all that LED will draw is 50mA. For some LEDs in this respect, you don't need to worry about current limiting designs. I gave it half an amp and it was happy as it could be.

I have another LED that will eat 300mA+ at 2.2v and will eventually cook itself. It ultimately depends on the LED.

It's sometimes for the protection of LEDs. And heat. Perhaps it's a trade off in the design of the circuit as well.

Voltage kills LEDs in this first example. Not amperage. Well, heat does to, hence limiting the amperage to LEDs controls the heat of said LEDs.

But this goes way OT. The issue was why my voltmeter was reading such high voltages. But it's a non issue now as my question was answered and that makes sense.

sebastian

Administrator

Wednesday, March 25th 2015, 11:59am

Quoted from "Railgun"

ell, that's not entirely true. Eg I have an LED rated at 2.1v, 50mA
This is only for Pin1 allowed.

Quoted from "sebastian"

Pin 1: (Red) 2.1V 20mA
Pin 2: (Green) 3.2V 20mA
Pin 3: Ground
Pin 4: (Blue) 3.2V 20mA
The current is limited for a specific voltage. The Output has no current limiter/ controller.

You can connect a 3.2V LED at pin 2+4. The current is internal limited with an resistor for this specific led voltage to 20mA.

When you connect other LEDs with other voltages the current can exceed the allowed 20mA. In this case you have to limit the current with an external resistor.
The 20mA is the maximum allowed source current from the aquaero, when you get more current the aquaero can be damaged.

Or use the simple way: use this LED: http://shop.aquacomputer.de/product_info…roducts_id=2664

Railgun

Full Member

Wednesday, March 25th 2015, 4:42pm

I got that part, Sebastian, I was just saying that from a general perspective in terms of what LEDs can/can't handle.

I was just saying that in a case of a particular LED that I have, I can drive it at 2.1v and delimit the amperage and all is right with the world.

With the RGB LED I have, it's rated at 1.9, 3.2, and 3.3V for RGB respectively at a max of 30mA. I don't see this being an issue.

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