Alternatives to Digital Aquatics Probes and Parts.

jefffersin · Oct 18, 2018

Thanks so much for this information... it is so helpful!!

Does anyone know which pins of the RJ12 are used when connecting a temp probe?

n2585722 · Oct 18, 2018

primo21 said:
Any alternatives to the DCI connection cable to the head unit?

I think those are 4 conductor flat phone cable with RJ22 connectors. Not sure about the wiring. Do you have one to go by?

n2585722 · Oct 18, 2018

I will try and get a photo of the connector this weekend.

primo21 · Oct 18, 2018

no, the guy i bought the system from had a dci but never used it because he thought he needed the apc. so no cables. he sent a ton of bus cables, can i use any of them with new connectors?

n2585722 · Oct 22, 2018

jefffersin said:
Thanks so much for this information... it is very helpful!!

Does anyone know which pins of the RJ12 are used when connecting a temp probe?

Photo below of connector. Looks like it uses the two contact at bottom in photo. Hope this will help.

n2585722 · Oct 22, 2018

primo21 said:
no, the guy i bought the system from had a dci but never used it because he thought he needed the apc. so no cables. he sent a ton of bus cables, can i use any of them with new connectors?

I would get a photo of one of these cables, but I don't use the DCI or APC. So, I don't have one of these cables. I have Ecotech MP10's for flow. Lindsey @pickupman66 might have one though.

NewYorkReefer1988 · Oct 23, 2018

Does anyone know if I can re-wire the connection of an I-temp probe to fit the sl1 temp switch port and have it actually work? I have a glitchy new style temp probe and a good I-temp probe. I would just stick with the I-temp probe but if I plug it into a bus slot then I can’t use myreef2.0 because it leaves nowhere for the sid to plug into. Let me know! Thanks!

n2585722 · Oct 23, 2018

NewYorkReefer1988 said:
Does anyone know if I can re-wire the connection of an I-temp probe to fit the sl1 temp switch port and have it actually work? I have a glitchy new style temp probe and a good I-temp probe. I would just stick with the I-temp probe but if I plug it into a bus slot then I can’t use myreef2.0 because it leaves nowhere for the sid to plug into. Let me know! Thanks!

The sensor is the same. The only difference is the connector.

NewYorkReefer1988 · Oct 23, 2018

Does anyone know if I can cut and slice an I temp probe with the newer style temp probe that plugs into the SLX module?

pickupman66 · Oct 23, 2018

n2585722 said:
I would get a photo of one of these cables, but I don't use the DCI or APC. So, I don't have one of these cables. I have Ecotech MP10's for flow. Lindsey @pickupman66 might have one though.

I have a Pair of DCI that I use. IIRC the connectors are smaller than the Rj11 ones. I had to buy several as at one point i made some custom cables I think. RJ9 maybe. its been a LONG LONG while since I did that. I did use the same cables to go from my archon to the DCI and also from my APC to the DCI. Ill see if I can remember to get a pic tonight.

n2585722 · Oct 23, 2018

As I stated the temp sensor is the same the only difference is the type of connector. It either has the rj11 connector or the Micro Fit 3.0 connector. The iTemp is the newer of the 2. The RKE came first and it cannot use an iTemp probe without changing the connector. Earlier in this thread is the info on the connectors.

pickupman66 · Oct 23, 2018

4 wire. Same size as the receiver cord from a telephone. Wired as a straight thru cable.

n2585722 · Oct 23, 2018

Lindsey, is the top photo one end and the bottom the other? If so it looks like the wires flip from one connector to the other. On a buss cable the same wire is in the same pin of each connector. On that cable it looks like they or on the oppisite side on the second connector.

pickupman66 · Oct 23, 2018

Correct. Here are the bus cable ends.

Jason777 · Oct 24, 2018

Does anybody have a non-functioning temp probe that they might be willing to dissect for us? I suspect it is just a 10k thermistor, looking at the data Danny provided, but would like to see the "guts" of the probe to maybe speed up the trial and error process of finding a suitable replacement. With a little luck maybe a part number could be found on something inside the probe.

scottsreef · Oct 27, 2018

I am having same problem and need to replace i-temp probe. They are becoming very hard to find and i am very tech savvy. I dont mind having to cut and redo connectors. Would any exciting aquarium temp probes out there work with changing connectors, I have the SL2 module and can used the temp port on there aswell.

n2585722 · Oct 27, 2018

scottsreef said:
I am having same problem and need to replace i-temp probe. They are becoming very hard to find and i am very tech savvy. I dont mind having to cut and redo connectors. Would any exciting aquarium temp probes out there work with changing connectors, I have the SL2 module and can used the temp port on there aswell.

Did you read post #3. It has info on the thermistor used in the temp probe. I used them for a few weeks. When I did a 2 point calibration with them on my Archon they started to drift. I think it had to do with placing them in ice water to do the calibration. They just have epoxy coating on them. I think water entered between the wire insulation and the epoxy. If you use these you may want to come up with some way to make sure they are more water proof. Those temp sensors do have the right thermistor though.

n2585722 · Oct 27, 2018

Jason777 said:
Does anybody have a non-functioning temp probe that they might be willing to dissect for us? I suspect it is just a 10k thermistor, looking at the data Danny provided, but would like to see the "guts" of the probe to maybe speed up the trial and error process of finding a suitable replacement. With a little luck maybe a part number could be found on something inside the probe.

Sorry I do not have one that is bad at the moment. The ones I got in post 3 worked for a few weeks. I think there was a leak between the epoxy coating and the insulation on the wire and water got to the connections inside the epoxy. I will probably get some more and try and coat them something and test them again. The also have the same thermistors with a stainless steel tip. I am not sure that tey won't have the same issue.

Jason777 · Oct 28, 2018

n2585722 said:
Sorry I do not have one that is bad at the moment. The ones I got in post 3 worked for a few weeks. I think there was a leak between the epoxy coating and the insulation on the wire and water got to the connections inside the epoxy. I will probably get some more and try and coat them something and test them again. The also have the same thermistors with a stainless steel tip. I am not sure that tey won't have the same issue.

I've got one of the plastic coated "waterproof" ones coming next week and hope to get some time to get it hooked up and run some tests. My thought with the ones you tried was to use some marine grade shrink wrap to waterproof them. The plastic one looks like the same type probe on the cheap aquarium digital thermometers and I've had some luck with them so thought it might be worth a try first.

scottsreef · Oct 31, 2018

I fixed my i-temp probe and works like brand new and with some extra work i even got to use the excisting probe tube and wire. All i had to do was calibrate it once it was done. If anyone wants to know how i did it let me know.