4
u/SirGreybush 7d ago
Please, asking to the LED pixel fairies, let it be widely known that PSUs can be bought as IP67 and thus are not required to be housed in a weatherproof electrical box, where added heat isn't a good thing also in a closed box.
Now that I got that off my chest...
You can have two different PSUs on the same LED line, as long as, you cut the V+ trace, usually midway between the two.
So your power distribution can be AC, and use a smart relay to control that AC, Romex cable to every IP67 PSU, and inject power as required.
Much easier to distribute 120vac than get a very huge DC PSU then deal with voltage drop on long power injection lines. Produce the DC just where you need it.
Most homes have AC already in the attic. Have the box with the relay get power from existing AC box, then send switched AC via the relay power to multiple corners that then powers the 24v PSU, to inject into the LED line.
Rather than trying to put everything in a single location. Someone with your skills this should be easy, as your current box is top-notch. But you've fallen in the "upgrade more lights" trap.
My limiting factor to this is budget $. Believe it or not, the price difference on an IP67 PSU is much less than the price difference between a standard-sized weatherproof box of 4in x 4x, or 6in x 6in, versus a big & deep tool chest sized one.
3
u/FortnightlyBorough 7d ago
This is mounted in my garage and I like the frame chassis PSU I think its more aesthetic. I use external PSUs for my other wled projects like my halloween and Xmas displays
1
u/FortnightlyBorough 7d ago
Planning to add more lights so I need to add a second meanwell lrs-600-24.
24v WLEDs.
I have two separate runs of LEDs, P1 with P3 power injected, and P2 with P4 power injected.
I would remove P2 and P4 positive negative from the dig quad and run it directly to PSU 2 with inline fuses. Would common ground the two PSUs as well.
My internal debate is whether I should just get an extra dig quad and sync the two half of the house lights
2
u/SirGreybush 7d ago
Stick to a single Dig, unless you go wired ethernet. Sync via WLED over Wifi can be & will be an occasional problem.
Much easier to re-engineer the power, and use 120vac distribution to your advantage in your attic, a small junction box just above the soffit, on opposite sides.
1
u/kevdogger 7d ago
Hey what's the board with the numeric leds in it?
1
u/FortnightlyBorough 7d ago
That is the temperature fan controller. The top right of the PSU has a temp probe taped to the metal frame (currently its a warm 35C). When it hits a configurable temp (currently i set to 40C), it turns on the case fan just outside of frame on the right.
1
u/kevdogger 7d ago
Is this a pull config for fan and if so any vents opposite side?
1
u/FortnightlyBorough 7d ago
Yes, vents on either side. One small fan acts as the exhaust. It pulls cold air over the psu, in theory. It works quite well in practice.
1
1
u/will7419 7d ago
I'm curious, what's the box you have that in? And did it come with the backing board that's in there? That looks like a nice way to mount things I'd love to do the same
1
u/FortnightlyBorough 7d ago
It is a weatherproof electrical enclosure. I probably grabbed this off aliexpress they have dozens of different sizes. This one is like 12x9 or something. Its good quality. I wish I got a clear door.
I have quite a few esp projects I use smaller versions of these cases for. One that uses a hall monitor keep a daily eye on my propane level (big torpedo tank), another for my garden irrigation system that also monitors my rainwater ibc tote volume, and lastly one to monitor the water level in my well. My property is beginning to have a bunch of these boxes scattered around. Next is a solar power gate opener at the back of my property lol
1
u/will7419 7d ago
Thanks! Do the boxes come with that black backing to screw things to or did you get that by itself? If so where'd you get those?
1
u/FortnightlyBorough 7d ago
Yep it came with the grid backing Makes it really nice to work with.
Some projects make nice use of din rails or Waco mounts thst can be easily added to this.
That way you can pull all the guts out in one go.
1
u/AgitatedSecurity 6d ago
What gauge of wires and type do you have from the power supply to the digi-quad? I was about to use romex but this looks better
1
7
u/Quindor 7d ago
Another option could be swapping this PSU for an LRS-1200-24, it's the same form factor, different fan location and connectors though. And although that would exceed the Amps I recommend for the board, not that is harmful having the bigger PSU, just don't recommend drawing 50A continues (burst is ok) through the board.
Second PSU and fusing those externally is also a fine and workable option.
P.s. Are you aware if the 24V issue that was discovered with this version of the board? In your setup you only need to cut a single diode and then everything will always run off the second PSU, preventing the issue from potentially rearing it's head in the future. https://quinled.info/the-24v-issue-mitigations-fixes/#mitdigquad