the power of probes

[burning2nd]

controllers rock...

just pluged my reefkeeper 2 in.

my theremometer says 80.8.. reefkeeper says 82.4

HA~

 

[DonW]

controllers rock...

just pluged my reefkeeper 2 in.

my theremometer says 80.8.. reefkeeper says 82.4

HA~

Now you need to figure out which is right. Dont use that thing to control your heater or we'll be hearing about your tank crash eventually.

Don

 

[Krish]

LOL!!! Sounds cool...Post some pics Jon!

 

[burning2nd]

ya it has to be setup.... im messing with it now...

 

[burning2nd]

ok i fold here....

u can see it to the left...

i just have all the channels on right now... the wave was workiing... but i dont wanna get a call from home tomarrow while im at work... that goes something like "your lights just turned off"

so ill mess with it this weekend....

its nothing really more then a 250 buck super prograble power strip

 

[theJ]

Its actually a pretty badass little piece of hardware. I use it to control my temp, I just make sure it matches my other thermometers when I do water changes (as you should do anyway with any controller). That needs to be dialed in of course (just like any other controller). I also use it to monitor PH and its pretty accurate according to other probes/tests. I also use it to email me reminders when its time to change my bulbs and other maintenance. I also use it to control a couple webcams on the tank when I am away. Oh and give me status on all channels while I am out too. I also use it to turn off all my pumps/skimmer when I feed the tank. Haven't tried the wave function yet!

Have you checked out their forum yet?

grats on the purchase, you will enjoy it

 

[burning2nd]

ya im looking about... i agree with it being bad ass.... i just removed a bunch of power strips.

its controlling my fan for cooling now... the heater i dont want to have controled yet... cause i want to have 2 small ones insted of one large one... b4 i trust it...

im looking at serial to usb connectors..... i dont understand why they used a serial insted of usb...... serial connectors are a dieing art.... so now ill have to get something to adapt from serial to usb...

i wass looking thur the software and it looks like it would be nicer to use my computer to set that controller up then to try to flip thur the screens with my fingers....

ill keep you guys updated

 

[DonW]

im looking at serial to usb connectors..... i dont understand why they used a serial insted of usb...... serial connectors are a dieing art.... so now ill have to get something to adapt from serial to usb...

They use serial because the technology is really x10 just like the aquacontroller. What is does is send the x10 serial protocol signal to control the relays without converting the signal to the x10 powerline signal. The protocol can not be converted to usb so you have to have a usb to serial conversion cable and the drivers do all the work of a serial port.

Don

 

[theJ]

Don is right, I ended up keeping an older PC near the tank and using straight up rs232 for communication. Unfortunately the communication is only 1 way, so you will need to use the screens on the rk2 to configure it!

There are some other options other than a usb>serial adapter and drivers (which will work just fine), like the wireless serial to serial converter, but it gets a little spend. You could always get a 50ft serial cable and use that if your PC is not so close to the tank. I have spare PCs coming out of my ears so I lucked out and kept one near the tank. No monitor keyboard or mouse, just a wifi adapter and a remote desktop connection. Works great!

 

[burning2nd]

thats what i said... its a 20 dollor connector... i use to have one.. but i cant find it...
its no diffrent then useing a old serial port joystick with a connector 2 usb....

windows has thos drivers.

 

[burning2nd]

Don is right, I ended up keeping an older PC near the tank and using straight up rs232 for communication. Unfortunately the communication is only 1 way, so you will need to use the screens on the rk2 to configure it!

There are some other options other than a usb>serial adapter and drivers (which will work just fine), like the wireless serial to serial converter, but it gets a little spend. You could always get a 50ft serial cable and use that if your PC is not so close to the tank. I have spare PCs coming out of my ears so I lucked out and kept one near the tank. No monitor keyboard or mouse, just a wifi adapter and a remote desktop connection. Works great!

damn

didnt think of that...

iver learned the screens a little since then...

 

[burning2nd]

maybe ill just use the other computer... its closer to the tank then im....

im about 5 feet that computer is on the floor next 2 the tank

 

[DonW]

Serial data can antenna over about 10 feet unless you get rid of the ground loop or go less than 10 ft. Drop your baud rate to the minimum and it will communicate over the distance cleaner.

Don

 

[theJ]

Antenna? like wireless? I use 50ft serial cables all day long in hundreds of high availability data centers (9600-19200 baud). Regardless, 5ft = no worries m8.

 

[DonW]

Antenna? like wireless? I use 50ft serial cables all day long in hundreds of high availability data centers (9600-19200 baud). Regardless, 5ft = no worries m8.

Controllers are not quite that high tech any interference brought back to the controll via the ground loop will distort your probe reading. Remember its not a pc just a low powered device. This is why neptune make a device to cure the issues concerning ground loops over 10 feet.

Don