Coralvue hydros question

[jrloyd]

I’m trying to figure this hydros system setup. Probably an easy answer but I’m kind of confused. I have a Launch, a Blenny, and an XP8. All 3 are plugged in to a GFCI 4 outlets plugin. Do I need to run a BUS controller between them, only data, Not combined data and power, or is it not necessary if the units are within 15 ft of each other? I feel like the instructions say you only need the BUS cable if the units are greater than 15ft apart. My 3 units are all within about 1 foot of each other. Thank you

 

[tbrown]

If they're close enough, use the 1' cables for a cleaner install. I use 6' between all of mine because they were out of the 1' when I was ordering.

You'll also need 2 terminators.

A good way to run them would be XP8 with a Terminator and Bus cable out to Blenny, Bus cable out to Launch from Blenny, and a Terminator on the Blenny.

You'll still need to use the power brick on the Blenny to the Power port.

 

[n2585722]

Those three controllers are ok to use the regular bus cables unless they are going to be over 14ft apart. Those have isolation built into the controllers between the power input and the command bus. The only power supply that is an issue is the one that plugs into a command bus port.

 

[jrloyd]

I feel like I still do not understand. I only see data only cables that are 25 or 50ft long. I have 2 6inch data/ power bus cables. All 3 devices are plugged in to wall power. My understanding is you are not supposed to use data/power bus cables if the devices are all plugged in to wall power individually.

 

[tbrown]

I feel like I still do not understand. I only see data only cables that are 25 or 50ft long. I have 2 6inch data/ power bus cables. All 3 devices are plugged in to wall power. My understanding is you are not supposed to use data/power bus cables if the devices are all plugged in to wall power individually.

You're not supposed to use the "Wall Warts". The little square AC Adapters that plug into the Command Bus ports.

 

[jrloyd]

So can I only plug the XP8 in to the wall, only run the bus power/data cable to the Benny and same to the launch? The launch and Benny physically do not need to be plugged in to the wall? I thought reading all of the coralvue instructions it said all three units needed to be plugged in to the wall since they come with their own power supply.
It would be awesome if I only needed to plug in the xp8 to the wall and the bus cables worked for the other 2 to power them.
Sorry I feel like an idiot figuring this out……..

 

[n2585722]

So can I only plug the XP8 in to the wall, only run the bus power/data cable to the Benny and same to the launch? The launch and Benny physically do not need to be plugged in to the wall? I thought reading all of the coralvue instructions it said all three units needed to be plugged in to the wall since they come with their own power supply.
It would be awesome if I only needed to plug in the xp8 to the wall and the bus cables worked for the other 2 to power them.
Sorry I feel like an idiot figuring this out……..

You will need to use power supplies on all three controllers or their output ports will not work since those are not powered from the command bus. Like I said all three of the controllers you mentioned have isolation built into the controllers themselves between their power source and the command bus that only allow current to flow from the controllers power source to the command bus side of the isolation but the current cannot travel from the command bus back into the power source. The power supplies that connect directly to the command bus do not have this isolation and cannot be used with another source of power on the command bus unless you use a data only command bus cable between that supply and any other source of power. Any distance over 14' would also require a data only command bus. I use one data only cable between the controllers at the tank and the controllers in the garage 35 feet away from the tank. My mixing station with my RODI and reservoirs is in the garage. I have 15 controllers in that one collective and several of them provide power but controllers that came with the power supplies that connect directly to the command bus are not using their power supplies but their are plenty of controllers like the ones you have including 2 Krakens that provide enough power to power the controllers that do not have their own power supplies connected since those controllers get their power from the command bus even when using their power supplies.

 

[jrloyd]

Thank you. That is very helpful. I guess I missed or didn’t understand the line isolation that is built in. I will have all 3 plugged in to the wall, run the xp8 with a terminator and a bus power/ data cable to the blenny, bus power/ data cable to the launch with a terminator on the launch. I really appreciate your help/ advice. Thank you very much.

 

[kratosxxl]

I’m trying to figure this hydros system setup. Probably an easy answer but I’m kind of confused. I have a Launch, a Blenny, and an XP8. All 3 are plugged in to a GFCI 4 outlets plugin. Do I need to run a BUS controller between them, only data, Not combined data and power, or is it not necessary if the units are within 15 ft of each other? I feel like the instructions say you only need the BUS cable if the units are greater than 15ft apart. My 3 units are all within about 1 foot of each other. Thank you

I just got Hydros set up. If you want to run everything under Collective (so all devices show up in one view and you can use automation better), you’ll need the bus cable to connect them.
You can also just run them separately, but then you have to switch between devices every time you want to check the stats.
If you plan on using the “Depend On” feature — which is actually really useful — you’ll want to add them to Collective.