Apex unit

[tyson256031]

Does the apex unit come with a wireless internet option? or if not how have people been doing it? i really would not like to run cat5 cables through the house if i can avoid it lol

 

[tyson256031]

ok these things are a pain in the ass to program, any one with experience doing these interested in divulging their secretes lol

 

[estanoche]

I have absolutely no experience with these

BUT - it looks like they have a wifi module you can purchase so you dont have to run those dang CAT5 cables everywhere - Neptune Systems - AquaControllers - Wireless Expansion Module (WXM)

Anyone else have one of these?? Got any tips for programming??

 

[trido]

My best advice for programming your apex is to hook it up to your computer. Its ten times easier.
FWIW, the APEX I set up last spring is far easier than the older models and has a lot of the fail safes are already programmed in for you. Once you get into the computer the programming is set up real nice and is very user friendly

Here is the link to the wireless module on Neptune's site. Neptune Systems - AquaControllers - Wireless Expansion Module (WXM)

Ya, there is a learning curve for any controller. I still sometimes have to think real hard to program my AC jr or my friends AC III after doing it for near five years from the head unit. I was just researching a bunch on the LED dimmable options for the APEX units and will upgrade soon

 

[jrgilles]

I can help you out if you want tyson. Let me know what you are trying to do and I can pm you some code. I have an apex all setup, pretty easy really once you understand the syntax, which is pretty minimal.

You are doing this over the web browser, right?

As far as wireless goes, you will need to get a wireless gaming adapter. You can put that adapter on your wireless network then just plug the apex into it and you should be good to go.

 

[tyson256031]

mainly trying to get the thing to a starting point, they send it will all this factory crap on there lol makes it more confusing, but i will need to setup the following on there:

Mp40's
heater
return pump
skimmer
CA Reactor

im sure i'm missing some things as well. is there a way to just have the socket on all the time?

 

[jrgilles]

Are you using the web browser? Sounds like for most of this you don't need to program, just select 'light' or 'pump' from the pull down menu and enter some on off times in the time boxes. Should be simple.

I can give you my ca reactor script whn I get my apex back online. Had to replace my router and still need to sync the apex gaming adapter to the new network to get my access back

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[tyson256031]

ok, cool i will play around with it more today, thanks i really appreciate it!

 

[jrgilles]

OK, after much messing around with the new router, I have it all back up and functioning again. So, I can answer any questions you have or post code to you. Do you have web interface working yet? If not gotta get that going.

I will try to help you get it set up if it isn't. I would first get it working over a wire you you can set it up before adding in the wireless. Makes it easier )although you may be able to just go with the wireless....)

Anyway, I will answer back fast all night if you are still working on this. you can txt me too 206-713-7809

rob

 

[jrgilles]

Any luck with the setup this weekend? I have my webserver running so I can help you with code from work. Let me know how it all is going

 

[tyson256031]

Havent had the time this weekend or today, i might play with it tonight, i have been focusing on the stand and canopy as the tank is due to come this week

 

[jrgilles]

Cool. Just let me know if you have questions. I should be available and have this thread beeping into my cell phone

Before you even think about outlets you need to get it on your local network. Pretty simple once that is set up. You can then do all the programming on your computer (pretty simple and I can give you the code.)

I can also help you get it on the internet outside of your house later if you want. I find it pretty convenient and love getting alarm emailed to me and texted to my phone

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[tyson256031]

I have it on my home network, it is plugged straight into the router in the office. Looking into gamin adaptors this week for one that should work. once i start playing around on the thing on my Pc i will most likely have way more questions for you lol

 

[jrgilles]

Sounds good. I have some gaming adapter from trendnet. I think I got it because it was cheap at fry's. I will start copying some of my code to this thread when I get bored. Lights, ca reactor, etc.

For powerheads I am just using a separate tunze controller, so not doing them on the apex

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[tyson256031]

OK no need for lights, as i will be using the radion units which have a full lighting program inside them. But I would love the other code!

same for my power heads, i have Mp40's so they will be separate and work with the lighting as well on a separate.

Thank you!

 

[BigAl07]

OK no need for lights, as i will be using the radion units which have a full lighting program inside them. But I would love the other code!

same for my power heads, i have Mp40's so they will be separate and work with the lighting as well on a separate.

For now but once Ecotech releases their code to 3rd party vendors you'll probably want to go ahead and control your Radions and MP40's with your APEX. I'm confident a 3rd party controller will be able to really bring these units to life (I know that the ProfiLux really makes the Vortec powerheads rock the tank and I'm sure APEX is just as capable of the same "Schemes" with these units).

Re: Gaming Adapter - I just purchased and installed the DLINK DAP-1522 on my network and it was a breeze. I'm running ProfiLux but that's not an issue in this part of the instructions:

• A) Get your controller working and "discoverable" on your LAN hard wired
• B) Set-up/configure your access device (Gaming adapter, bridge etc) and confirm you're WIRELESS with it
• C) Plug your controller into the adapter and connect to it wirelessly

It's that simple. Depending on which adapter you get and the specific configuration of your router/network this could take as little as 5 minutes.

 

[jrgilles]

Here we go:
Heaters: (RT references the seasonal temperature chart which has seasonal temp, sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset data)

Fallback OFF
If Temp > RT+0.2 Then OFF
If Temp < RT+-0.3 Then ON

Here is my top off (which runs through a TLF kalk reactor) This disables the topoff if the pH gets too high in the sump.

Fallback ON
Set ON
If pH > 08.50 Then OFF

Here are my actenic lights (even though you said you are using radon controller, thought I'd just put it all in.) Again references seasonal charts, if the temp hits 82 in the tank, it shuts off and re-evaluates after 10 minutes.

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 000/120 Then ON
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF
Min Time 010:00 Then OFF

Metal Halide lights (similar to actenic, but waits 30 minutes after shut off before they can come back on (if temp is in parameters)

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 150/001 Then ON
If Temp > 81.8 Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

Moon Lights: (references moonrise/moonset chart and also doesn't allow the moonlights to be on if the MH lights are on, since they will be way way overpowered by the MHs)

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Moon 000/000 Then ON
If Outlet MH_6 = ON Then OFF

Here is ma CaRx: PH2 is the probe in my calcium reactor. This keeps the pH in the reactor between 6.7 and 6.8 and shuts it down for 5.5 hours during the night. I just tweaked these as I dialed in the reactor.

Fallback OFF
If Temp < 78.0 Then OFF
If pH2 < 06.70 Then OFF
If pH2 > 06.80 Then ON
If Time 01:00 to 06:30 Then OFF

Here is my email alarm (also texts me) If any of these conditions are met, I get a text and email telling me about the problem.
Set OFF
If Temp > 82.0 Then ON
If Temp < 74.0 Then ON
If pH > 08.45 Then ON
If pH < 07.80 Then ON
If pH2 < 06.60 Then ON

 

[tyson256031]

Hey so ive been playing around with it, are these for the outlets or the rules?

 

[jrgilles]

If you go to outlet programming and select advanced, it will show them in script form. Those are the scripts.

The 'premade' chiced (light, powerhead, etc) just help generate the scipt if you don't want to program

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[tyson256031]

Are you talking about XML outlet?