24V DC Accessories Port VS 1 Link Ports on EB832

[yepreef]

Hello all, so i already used up 2 of 24v DC ports on my EB832 and i need to add 2 more for the fan and soleinoid. Can i just use the 1 link port instead? I know the 1 link has 4 pin (2 for power and 2 for data ), if so, how do i know which one is for the power and which one is for the data or they are interchangeable.
Thanks a lot.

 

[SuncrestReef]

No. The 1Link ports are not like a regular DC24 Accessory port. The 1Link ports do not show up as a controllable output, so you cannot create any programming to turn them On or Off like the regular DC24 Accessory ports.

The 1Link ports are essentially just another AquaBus port that happens to also carry 24v of power, but can only be used to connect approved 1Link devices which contain motors such as the WAV, DOS, Trident, or COR15 pump. Once you connect one of these devices to a 1Link cable, that device creates its own controllable Output which can be added to your dashboard to turn On and Off, and assign programming.

See my Apex Hardware Overview article for details on all the available modules, including those capable of connecting via 1Link:

Apex Hardware Overview

Here's a quick overview of the Apex hardware family: Apex controller (sometimes referred to as the "base module" or "brain") The Apex controller is the primary device that controls and monitors the entire Apex setup. There are two current...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[SuncrestReef]

One other (lower cost) alternative is to use the DC24 external power adapter which can be plugged into any regular EnergyBar 120v output to control a DC24 device:

DC24V Power Supply

Practical Multi-purpose Utility Pump (PMUP) Power Supply lets you power up your PMUP pump without the need for a 24V port on an Apex Controller. This will let you use the PMUP with any other type of controller, timer, or manually control. This will also power the Neptune SV-1 For use with PMUP...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[yepreef]

One other (lower cost) alternative is to use the DC24 external power adapter which can be plugged into any regular EnergyBar 120v output to control a DC24 device:

DC24V Power Supply

Practical Multi-purpose Utility Pump (PMUP) Power Supply lets you power up your PMUP pump without the need for a 24V port on an Apex Controller. This will let you use the PMUP with any other type of controller, timer, or manually control. This will also power the Neptune SV-1 For use with PMUP...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Thanks a lot for the info, i'm just trying to avoid on and off cycles thru the 120v output on the bar that can wear out my bar. Is there an alternative way to add more dc 24v accessories port , like a module or something?

 

[SuncrestReef]

Thanks a lot for the info, i'm just trying to avoid on and off cycles thru the 120v output on the bar that can wear out my bar. Is there an alternative way to add more dc 24v accessories port , like a module or something?

There are three modules that provide additional DC24 outputs:

• FMM has one DC24 output and 4 sensor (optical, flow, leak) ports ($129.90 including 24v power adapter)
  
  
• 1Link module has two DC24 outputs plus three 1Link ports ($149.95)
  
  
• EB832 has two DC24 outputs plus three 1Link ports, and eight 120v outputs ($279.95)
  
  

 

[SuncrestReef]

Thanks a lot for the info, i'm just trying to avoid on and off cycles thru the 120v output on the bar that can wear out my bar. Is there an alternative way to add more dc 24v accessories port , like a module or something?

I'm not aware of any evidence that the On/Off duty cycle of the DC24 outputs is any different than the On/Off duty cycle of the 120v outputs on the EB832. If you're thinking the DC24 outputs will work forever but the 120v outputs have a limited life, I think that's a flawed assumption.

 

[_AV]

I agree, 24V outlets will not last forever either.

Both 120VAC and 24VDC outlet types are switched by mechanical relays. Relays have limited life expectancy, which depends on many factors and the relay quality is IMO the biggest one. On paper, relays used in EB832 have similar life expectancy.
Mechanical expectancy is at 10^7 operations for both of types.
120VAC:

24DC:

Electrically, the 24VDC relays are actually less capable. 100,000 vs 30,000 operations
120VAC:

24VDC:

But, 24VDC relays electrically will never operate anywhere near 8A 250VAC loads.
So, I'd expect the 24VDC relays to last about as long as as the 120VAC relays.

However, in real world, 120VAC outlets on EB832 do fail more often. It has to do with two basic issues:
- There are many more 120VAC outlets being used compared to 24VDC outlets on average, so failure occurrences are more frequent
- 120VAC outlets tend to carry much higher loads (Hundreds of watts per outlet for heaters, chillers, pumps, etc.) stressing the relays

Practically speaking, having a 24VDC power supply load on a 120VAC outlet will be very similar to using a 24VDC outlet. Primarily because of similar electrical loads.