Hydros maximum 8 wifi devices total? or per controller?

[chapter7]

So just trying to clarify .... is it 8 wifi devices per controller or for the whole collective?

I have 6 controllers total, so 48 wifi devices total? (not that I would ever need that many! )

Thanks in advance!

 

[tbrown]

From what I've read it's 8 per Collective. I only have 1 wifi power strip though, so I've never even gotten remotely close to exploring the limitations. It would be difficult to need more than 8 of their wifi accessories though. At that point it would almost be more beneficial to add an XP8 or 2, rather than relying on WiFi power strips.

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

8 WiFi Devices (WiFi Strip, WiFi Plug, WiFi Feeder, Sicce, etc) PER Device OR Collective. S

 

[tbrown]

8 WiFi Devices (WiFi Strip, WiFi Plug, WiFi Feeder, Sicce, etc) PER Device OR Collective. S

In other words if all of my controllers are separate it is 8 per controller BUT if I put them in a Collective it is 8 per Collective, correct?

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

In other words if all of my controllers are separate it is 8 per controller BUT if I put them in a Collective it is 8 per Collective, correct?

That is correct.

 

[chapter7]

Thank you both!

 

[BeanAnimal]

At that point it would almost be more beneficial to add an XP8 or 2, rather than relying on WiFi power strips.

Personally - I would not attach ANYTHING to a "wifi" device that was critical and required communication with the host to operate. Fine if it gets programming over WiFi and continue to "control" if signal is lost - but certainly not if it relies on Wifi for active control.

What is the "default" mode when/if these things lose communication?

 

[tbrown]

Personally - I would not attach ANYTHING to a "wifi" device that was critical and required communication with the host to operate. Fine if it gets programming over WiFi and continue to "control" if signal is lost - but certainly not if it relies on Wifi for active control.

What is the "default" mode when/if these things lose communication?

You choose that. Default on or default off. Heater - bad idea. ATO - bad idea. Plank Auto feeder - bad idea. Return pumps, skimmer, etc work fine but if you lose connection you can't just app control it off and they won't go into any modes if you have those modes set to timers.

 

[tbrown]

The default default setting is "Default to Off" off. Otherwise known as default to on.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Thanks - so similar to wired if the controller is down.

 

[rtparty]

Thanks - so similar to wired if the controller is down.

But this is only an option on "newer" wifi power strips and the issue is you have no idea if you got a new or old one when you purchase. I just ran into this with my Hydros XS. It was so old sitting on a shelf it has the old power strip still

If it loses Wifi, it will stay in whatever state it was when it lost connection

 

[BeanAnimal]

But this is only an option on "newer" wifi power strips and the issue is you have no idea if you got a new or old one when you purchase. I just ran into this with my Hydros XS. It was so old sitting on a shelf it has the old power strip still

If it loses Wifi, it will stay in whatever state it was when it lost connection

That is absolutely insane.

Do people know this?

Why is there no way to determine which version you have (I suppose one can look in the software and it either has the default settings or not?)

 

[rtparty]

That is absolutely insane.

Do people know this?

Why is there no way to determine which version you have (I suppose one can look in the software and it either has the default settings or not?)

I don't know if you can check in the software. I won't use them. I was told to turn off the XS, unplug the wifi strip, plug back in and see what state they start up in

No way people know this and there may not be enough old versions still on shelves to make it a big deal. Anyone with old power strips knows this or should at least

 

[BeanAnimal]

Maybe @Connor At CoralVue can offer some insight?

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

There is not a NEW vs OLD WiFi Strip.

The Default to OFF state is telling the configuration is the output default on or default off.

There is a feature, "If INPUT/DEPENDANCY Unavailable"...Turn ON/Turn Off. So if say the Temp on the Controller went unknown, the heater output could say HYDROS doesn't know, turn OFF.

I actually recommend ON for Heaters...this is due to blankets of redundancy. If Input Unavailable, If HYDROS doesnt know what to do with the heater...turn it on, let the heater controller figure it out. The major problem comes in when folks don't use heater controllers.

Let's breakdown Wireless (WiFi Strip, WiFi Plug) vs Wired (XP8, LAUNCH) outlets.

In the event internet is lost, local WiFi is still doing its job, everything is connected and functioning, uploads however will fail to the cloud, as no internet.

If the Internet is out and Local Wifi is down, Wired outlets are still functioning over the command bus in AUTO mode, everything wired is still automated, WIRELESS OUTLETS stay in THEIR LAST KNOWN STATE. If the outlet was off, it will stay off, etc.

 

[BeanAnimal]

WIRELESS OUTLETS stay in THEIR LAST KNOWN STATE. If the outlet was off, it will stay off, etc.

This is the basis for my initial comment trusting WiFi devices for critical functions. Given that a feeder would "keep feeding" or an AWC pump or other device meant to work "momentarily" would keep running is a bit concerning.

Next question:
Is the "default" state the "power up" state before Wifi connectivity is achieved? As in what is the sate of the outlets if the entire home loses power and everything reboot, but the Wifi devices are waiting on the APs to come up.

 

[rtparty]

Hmmmmm…..

This comes directly from someone who has been with Hydros since the beginning and knows the system better than just about anybody and certainly knows it more than any other Hydros user I trust

“Old WiFi strips would reset to OFF until they connected to WiFi/hydros. Newer strips remember their last state if power cycled”

Maybe I misunderstood though. Wouldn’t be the first and won’t be the last

 

[n2585722]

You choose that. Default on or default off. Heater - bad idea. ATO - bad idea. Plank Auto feeder - bad idea. Return pumps, skimmer, etc work fine but if you lose connection you can't just app control it off and they won't go into any modes if you have those modes set to timers.

That default is only for the controller or wifi master. The wifi device itself if it looses communications with the controller or wifi master will stay in whatever state it was in before the communications is lost. So if it was on it will stay on. If it was off it will stay off. So you do not want to use the wifi outlets to control dosers, ATO or AWC pumps. Heaters would be ok if they have another backup off like a heater with it's own thermostat. If you get a XP8 or Launch then those AC outlets are attached to a controller so on those if the inputs used or unknown or unavailable you can set that and it works regardless of wifi signal since the controllers communicate with each other on the command bus when in a collective and that is hardwired.

 

[chapter7]

8 WiFi Devices (WiFi Strip, WiFi Plug, WiFi Feeder, Sicce, etc) PER Device OR Collective. S

Sorry to interject on the whole wifi settings discussion, but @Connor At CoralVue , could you clarify once again for me? I just reread your response above and you say 8 WiFi devices and list the WiFi Strip as ONE device. Does that mean I could have 8 WiFi strips in my collective and therefore 32 things plugged in and controlled wirelessly? Apologies if I'm being dense, just trying to wrap my head around how to construct my build .....

 

[JeffB418]

Sorry to interject on the whole wifi settings discussion, but @Connor At CoralVue , could you clarify once again for me? I just reread your response above and you say 8 WiFi devices and list the WiFi Strip as ONE device. Does that mean I could have 8 WiFi strips in my collective and therefore 32 things plugged in and controlled wirelessly? Apologies if I'm being dense, just trying to wrap my head around how to construct my build .....

Yes. You can have up to 8 4-outlet WiFi strips. Per collective or single device.