WARNING: Avoid latest AOS updates!

[Troylee]

Couldnt you plug the dos' power supply to one of the outlets and program when ph > to turn it off?

While I believe you can my issue with this whole story is…. I top off with kalk and use my dosers for all for reef and bacto balance! Now I have a big enough system that if the all reef dumped all 1000ml I’d have time to change some water and what not… on the other hand if my bacto balance dumped I’d lose my entire tank! Ugh… ain’t no way to detect a carbon source over dose to turn them off unless I can program “cloudy tank then off” haha!

 

[hunterallen40]

Couldnt you plug the dos' power supply to one of the outlets and program when ph > to turn it off?

Yes, this is a workaround if you aren't using the 1-link cable (and also have an eb8 outlet to sacrifice).

I have not tested this though, and I am not going to push my luck any more at this point.

The fact that this still happened after the latest fix to the last firmware is not good.

I honestly don't know if they knew. It's VERY infrequent.

Ugh… ain’t no way to detect a carbon source over dose to turn them off unless I can program “cloudy tank then off” haha!

Yep. It's pretty obvious when it's NaOH, but... for other alk supplements... it could go unnoticed for a good while. Especially with how quiet the new one is!

 

[theatrus]

I have opened it up. And to be clear, this was a gift from aperture, I didn't pay for it.

To answer your question, the improvements made with the QD isn't simply swapping out the stepper motors. It's made possible the hardware and software.

They incorporated the same Trinamic motor driver (TMC5130) that the ecotech versa uses. The stealth chop and/or spread cycle that is internally programmed into those drivers are what provides all the silent motor operation. They simply created a platform that communicates with the driver, I'm assuming they utilized SPI interface but that's just a guess based on the fearures versa taps into with their pump.

Unfortunately you'd have to get the NS proprietary custom PCB with the appropriate software installed to take advantage of the new tech. Plus there are some subtle differences in how the buttons are handled in the software that the old one doesn't have.

Is it possible? Probably. Is it worth it? Probably not.

This was my theory - stepper motors generally don't change much, its all in the drivers.

And yes the interface is different here - unlike the standard TI or other pin-configured steppers, there is a SPI/UART interface. So the firmware on the Aquabus interface MCU (previously some low end AVR) is very different.

 

[theatrus]

I guess I can share.



Not much to it...

Looks like they're using the EcoTech PCB folks this time around, since the layout looks a lot more logical than before. Same exact stepper motors (at least to the manufacturer).

 

[hunterallen40]

Looks like they're using the EcoTech PCB folks this time around, since the layout looks a lot more logical than before. Same exact stepper motors (at least to the manufacturer).

Yeah, gotta say... Much cleaner on the inside that the old model.

 

[BZOFIQ]

The price of 6 $400 scoly. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I’ll take the insurance/automation personally.

Big big edit: automation has to work though!

I am big on automation, have multiple apexes. I have an enormous (one would say abnormal) amount of I/O connected to the apexes, switching to Hydros would have been far more than that due to limit of number of Inputs that each module grants.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Looks like they're using the EcoTech PCB folks this time around, since the layout looks a lot more logical than before. Same exact stepper motors (at least to the manufacturer).

Ecotech has pick and place machines which means all the circuit boards are know made in house in Pennsylvania.

 

[herozero]

I am big on automation, have multiple apexes. I have an enormous (one would say abnormal) amount of I/O connected to the apexes, switching to Hydros would have been far more than that due to limit of number of Inputs that each module grants.

Out of curiosity, by i/o you mean analog inputs or digital or other?

 

[JeffB418]

I have opened it up. And to be clear, this was a gift from aperture, I didn't pay for it.

To answer your question, the improvements made with the QD isn't simply swapping out the stepper motors. It's made possible the hardware and software.

They incorporated the same Trinamic motor driver (TMC5130) that the ecotech versa uses. The stealth chop and/or spread cycle that is internally programmed into those drivers are what provides all the silent motor operation. They simply created a platform that communicates with the driver, I'm assuming they utilized SPI interface but that's just a guess based on the fearures versa taps into with their pump.

Unfortunately you'd have to get the NS proprietary custom PCB with the appropriate software installed to take advantage of the new tech. Plus there are some subtle differences in how the buttons are handled in the software that the old one doesn't have.

Is it possible? Probably. Is it worth it? Probably not.

Hydros uses the same driver family for the X10 dosers too.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hydros uses the same driver family for the X10 dosers too.

That's not surprising, Trinamic leads the industry in motor drive technology. I used a version (5160) in my concentrated brine pumps.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Out of curiosity, by i/o you mean analog inputs or digital or other?

analog inputs N/O & N/C

 

[dangles]

It almost sounds like the DOS is losing communication with Apex (which would explain not being able to use the toggle switch to shut it off), and falling back to ON instead of OFF like it's supposed to. Is that somehow a possibility?

 

[hunterallen40]

It almost sounds like the DOS is losing communication with Apex (which would explain not being able to use the toggle switch to shut it off), and falling back to ON instead of OFF like it's supposed to. Is that somehow a possibility?

I don't think it's that. The other dosing head keeps going business as usual.

I have mine hooked back up now, just no dosing lines. Hoping to catch it again.

Let me know if there's anything you guys want me to try next time it happens.

 

[tsharpe291]

all this talk has got me checking my dashboard constantly , luckily I haven't had any issues with the update.

 

[hunterallen40]

all this talk has got me checking my dashboard constantly , luckily I haven't had any issues with the update.

The fortunate for us / unfortunate for Neptune systems part is that it's unbelievably infrequent.

If you are using a 1link cable, I would try to change to the DC adapter so that you can program a rule in case of overdose (to toggle the DC adapter outlet off). That feels like the best safeguard to me for now.

 

[tsharpe291]

The fortunate for us / unfortunate for Neptune systems part is that it's unbelievably infrequent.

If you are using a 1link cable, I would try to change to the DC adapter so that you can program a rule in case of overdose (to toggle the DC adapter outlet off). That feels like the best safeguard to me for now.

good idea!

 

[hunterallen40]

good idea!

I have not personally tried this yet, but I do think it's the most promising way.

Also, just want to say how happy I am this didn't turn into a "this is why I use hydros" or similar type of discussion. What an excellent community of individuals we have :).

 

[Troylee]

I have not personally tried this yet, but I do think it's the most promising way.

Also, just want to say how happy I am this didn't turn into a "this is why I use hydros" or similar type of discussion. What an excellent community of individuals we have :).

Is this affecting the older dos or only the newer one? I’ve updated when it came out but only have an old dose and no problems so far! Fingers crossed! lol

 

[areefer01]

Is this affecting the older dos or only the newer one? I’ve updated when it came out but only have an old dose and no problems so far! Fingers crossed! lol

I've updated both my Apex head unit and original DOS a few times over the past 45 days and not run into any troubles. I have two DOS units, both updated, but only one in service. The second one is a spare. I dose 90 ml AFR between 0900 and 1800 on one head the other is dosing 11 ml of ESV transition element in a single burst starting at 0800. So one over time the other in a burst.

I've not noticed anything different in the UI (desktop) nor continuous running. I would more or less noticed it as my containers are visible as I pass by. Not that I examine them but I would notice if they are bingo. Especially the ESV because it is a dark color in a clear Voss water bottle.

Edit: pattern below:

 

[hunterallen40]

Is this affecting the older dos or only the newer one? I’ve updated when it came out but only have an old dose and no problems so far! Fingers crossed! lol

Honestly, I don't know. I have only seen it with the new doser, and the new doser just took the place of the order model. It could very well be related to just the new doser, but I do not know this 100%.

At least with the order model it would be a bit easier to hear it haha.