Hi there, i'm currently working on a project where i want dimmable led-strips in the back (Mi Light) that also act as courtesy lights. No rockerswitch, i want to switch the positive when i turn the strips on with the Mi Light controller. Could this be done with an automotive 5 pin relay where i hook up the Normally Open to the BCM timed and the Mi Light controller to the Normally Closed? And could i use the Mi Light controller to turn on the relay?
Combining BCM timed and Mi Light dimmer controller
- Thread starter rayvanb
- Start date
There are a few examples of lights being switched between BCM controlled and leisure battery. Most use DPDT relays (double pole double throw) to switch two lines (eg. pos and neg) between two supplies.
I imagine that the "door open" supply could be used to energise and relay to automatically switch across from the leisure battery supply. I think you would need a way to limit flow to the coil though to ensure the lights see enough of the current.
See @Dellmassive 's "How I done it" threads for info and added input from other members.
I imagine that the "door open" supply could be used to energise and relay to automatically switch across from the leisure battery supply. I think you would need a way to limit flow to the coil though to ensure the lights see enough of the current.
See @Dellmassive 's "How I done it" threads for info and added input from other members.
I'm pretty sure that as @Deaky points out, the MiLight controller will switch the negative side of the LEDs. If you look at a colour LED strip you will see a common positive and then separate Red, Green and Blue connections which switch to 0v. This is also reflected in the wording on this MiLight controller
Almost anything is possible configuration-wise but it really depends on exactly what it is you want it to do. As I understand it you want the LED strips to mirror the operation of the courtesy lights, but with the inclusion of the MiLight dimmer while the courtesy lights are in operation. (Is the dimmer essential or nice to have in this mode?) You also, I think, want to be able to switch on the LED strips with the dimmer, powered from the leisure battery when the courtesy lights are off. Is that correct?
Almost anything is possible configuration-wise but it really depends on exactly what it is you want it to do. As I understand it you want the LED strips to mirror the operation of the courtesy lights, but with the inclusion of the MiLight dimmer while the courtesy lights are in operation. (Is the dimmer essential or nice to have in this mode?) You also, I think, want to be able to switch on the LED strips with the dimmer, powered from the leisure battery when the courtesy lights are off. Is that correct?
Thank you for your reply @Mccoatup. I'm actually using a single color controller, but that might not make any difference. Even if the controller switches on the negative side, i still could relay that with a SPDT relay, right? And yes i want the LED strips to function as courtesy lights when opening the door. But i actually don't need the dimming function on the courtesy lightning, i want to separate that completely. The dimmer should overwrite the courtesy lightning and be (only) powered by the leisure battery.
I think this is where it gets tricky as both positive and negative are essentially BCM controlled? Hence the need for DPDT.
Happy to be corrected....
Happy to be corrected....
The plan i had at the back of my mind for this task was to use a mosfet as opposed to relays. Gate being fed from the BCM, Source leisure battery and drain to the rear area lights. As the BCM PWM's the mosfet, it will in turn PWM the rear lights however all power will originate from the leisure battery. A simple switch over bridging source and drain will allow normal manual operation of rear lights. potentially could do similar for the ambient lights also...but using N and P channel mosfets where appropriate.
You're all way overthinking it. This is exactly what I have in my van except the led's are RGBW and they are switched by three controllers all from the leisure battery.
They come on white when I turn on the cab light in the front
They dim up and down white when I open/close the doors
They dim up and down white from various pushbutton light switches through out the back of the van
They can be any colour controlled from RGB dimmers or smart phone.
All the controllers dim on the -ve side. The +ve side of the strip is connected straight to the leisure battery (Not the dimmers). The RGBW -ve connections go to the RGBW dimmers
There is then another white -ve connection to white dimmer packs
The BCM Brown/red is also connected to the white -ve
You might want to add a switch to the +ve of your Mi Light as it will constantly put a draw on your battery, even when the light are off.
No relays were envolved
They come on white when I turn on the cab light in the front
They dim up and down white when I open/close the doors
They dim up and down white from various pushbutton light switches through out the back of the van
They can be any colour controlled from RGB dimmers or smart phone.
All the controllers dim on the -ve side. The +ve side of the strip is connected straight to the leisure battery (Not the dimmers). The RGBW -ve connections go to the RGBW dimmers
There is then another white -ve connection to white dimmer packs
The BCM Brown/red is also connected to the white -ve
You might want to add a switch to the +ve of your Mi Light as it will constantly put a draw on your battery, even when the light are off.
No relays were envolved
You're right! I am only thinking of non leisure battery setups where you need to isolate completely when off....
Correct
Hi @Deaky, still a question. I tested my ledstrips +ve connected to the leisure battery and -ve connected to the BCM Brown/red. That works like a charm. But when i connect both those wires to a negative pole of 1 of my led-controllers output the light turns on and stays on. Even if i switch off the controller(s). I used the attached schematic. The second controller (2) works as expected.
Do your led controllers switch on the -ve or +ve side? I’d guess the latter
Hi are you using separate dimmers & controllers or those all in one?You're all way overthinking it. This is exactly what I have in my van except the led's are RGBW and they are switched by three controllers all from the leisure battery.
They come on white when I turn on the cab light in the front
They dim up and down white when I open/close the doors
They dim up and down white from various pushbutton light switches through out the back of the van
They can be any colour controlled from RGB dimmers or smart phone.
All the controllers dim on the -ve side. The +ve side of the strip is connected straight to the leisure battery (Not the dimmers). The RGBW -ve connections go to the RGBW dimmers
There is then another white -ve connection to white dimmer packs
The BCM Brown/red is also connected to the white -ve
You might want to add a switch to the +ve of your Mi Light as it will constantly put a draw on your battery, even when the light are off.
No relays were envolved
I've got this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CVGQZ6P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Can you recommend a bluetooth controller? Cheers
I've got the led's dimming on power up if I bypass the crappy controller but then i'm limited to red, green or blue.
I have 4 RGBW zones with a separate RGBW dimmer for each, these being a square centre light, side and rear soffit strips, pocket and speaker strips and floor zone.
The courtesy lights turn on the white leds in the ceiling square and the red leds in the floor zone and the pocket speaker strips. The push buttons for what I call the camping lights are connected to the white leds in the centre square. There is a button on the tailgate that turns on a white strip in the tailgate and also the white leds in the rear soffit strip. The red leds in the side soffit strips are also connected to the instrument lighting circuit so the come in dimmed as ambient lighting.
I think you’ll really struggle to get a dimmer module to dim up with the courtesy lights to a set colour, you might be able to mix the colours yourself. What colour were you looking for?
there’s more info in my build thread https://www.t6forum.com/threads/deaky’s-kombi-to-camper-journey.4662/
The courtesy lights turn on the white leds in the ceiling square and the red leds in the floor zone and the pocket speaker strips. The push buttons for what I call the camping lights are connected to the white leds in the centre square. There is a button on the tailgate that turns on a white strip in the tailgate and also the white leds in the rear soffit strip. The red leds in the side soffit strips are also connected to the instrument lighting circuit so the come in dimmed as ambient lighting.
I think you’ll really struggle to get a dimmer module to dim up with the courtesy lights to a set colour, you might be able to mix the colours yourself. What colour were you looking for?
there’s more info in my build thread https://www.t6forum.com/threads/deaky’s-kombi-to-camper-journey.4662/
Cheers will check out your build.
I have a 3 way switch wired up for on / off / on with door open.
It works now dimming the rgb leds with door open close etc.
I've just bypassed the controller and connected directly to the led strip.
So red is working nicely.
I would like to make a controller work for when I put the manual override on so I can choose a colour.
so.
- Door switch open = soldered connected to red led & V+ on led strip
- Switch off = no light.
- Manual on = rgb controller
I'll have a play around tomorrow. I reckon I could just add the controller at one end of the LED strip. And at the other end solder to the red channel & v+. Hopefully that should all work then.
Think I just answered my own problem
I have a 3 way switch wired up for on / off / on with door open.
It works now dimming the rgb leds with door open close etc.
I've just bypassed the controller and connected directly to the led strip.
So red is working nicely.
I would like to make a controller work for when I put the manual override on so I can choose a colour.
so.
- Door switch open = soldered connected to red led & V+ on led strip
- Switch off = no light.
- Manual on = rgb controller
I'll have a play around tomorrow. I reckon I could just add the controller at one end of the LED strip. And at the other end solder to the red channel & v+. Hopefully that should all work then.
Think I just answered my own problem
