Why Controllers???

[Harry_Y]

But the controller isn't going to know its being powered by the UPS or regular electric, unless you have it monitoring something else that isn't plugged into the UPS.

Correct you just set it up to notify you that the power is out
depending on the controller there are various ways of doing this

 

[btkrausen]

I don't think that would work on the Apex, as the breakout box and display derives its power from the EB8. If it were to go out, the controller would have no power to send, and it wouldn't be able to tell whether it was running on UPS or regular power? Am I missing something?

I know for a PC/server, it has software that connects to a UPS via serial cable that can tell the unit to shut down, since its running on battery.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

The Apex is powered via the energy bar connected to a UPS. It never loses power. A second power connection on the controller itself is plugged directly into a household circuit (no UPS.) This functions solely to sense any power outage.

I've had this in place for over a year. :smile:

 

[Harry_Y]

I don't think that would work on the Apex, as the breakout box and display derives its power from the EB8. If it were to go out, the controller would have no power to send, and it wouldn't be able to tell whether it was running on UPS or regular power? Am I missing something?

I know for a PC/server, it has software that connects to a UPS via serial cable that can tell the unit to shut down, since its running on battery.

I don't have an Apex I have an RKE but assume it would be done in a similar manner
or either monitoring another plug strip Not on the UPS and watching the current
draw and it goes to Zero then the controller sends an alarm message to you.

Or you could have a relay plugged into a wall outlet wired in such a manor that
when the power goes out it opens or closes the contacts (depending on your logic)
and that in turn triggers an alarm message.

There are many ways to make a controller do what you want.

 

[patent]

I use my controller for a ton of things:

pH monitoring: Monitor the Ca Rx effluent pH, allows me to turn on or off the CO2 and keep track of how much is being pumped into the tank
pH monitoring for the tank, automated, and graphed, can see if day/night differences, etc.

Temp monitoring for tank:

redundancy for the thermostats on the heaters. I can also track heater usage - which if the heaters suddenly are "on" more than usual indicates one of the heaters has failed.
Turn off halides if too hot
Turn on chiller if too hot (not presently in use as its winter - sort of not an issue here in MN right now)
Alert me to a problem via emails
​

Redox monitoring: actually not sure why I do this. Guess I'm just a geek. Ostensibly a water quality monitor, but I learn more from looking at the tank.
water monitoring: Can monitor water levels for autotop off. I just use as a warning to generate an email to me
Water on floor monitor: thankfully have never gotten this email.

Would like to add a salinity monitor to prevent autotopoff overdosing, but have not yet.

I think most people can keep a very good tank w/o a controller, and having one doesn't make your tank good by itself, but I really like having one.

 

[GeoHawk]

CalmSeasQuest, Thanks for your post I will check out your videos as soon as I have a free time to take it in and understand it.

 

[GeoHawk]

Speaking of the power outage feature. I wonder if it would be smarter to save your money for a generator, before spending the money on the controller. That way if the power does go out and you are alerted at least you can do something about it.

 

[CJO]

Have your modems and routers on a UPS like I do.

Also, when the power goes out (assuming you have your equipment on a UPS), you can have your controller turn off your lights, turn off other non-essential equipment. On mine, I can even change the speed of my powerheads if the power goes out.

Besides the heater, there are many other fail safes you can program in
-turn off you lights if the tank gets too hot (or control your chiller)
-turn off your calcium reactor if the pH gets too low
-turn off your kalk reactor if the pH gets too high

You are basically only limited by your imagination and wallet.

CJ

 

[Harry_Y]

Speaking of the power outage feature. I wonder if it would be smarter to save your money for a generator, before spending the money on the controller. That way if the power does go out and you are alerted at least you can do something about it.

Actually I am a little anti-generator.

We had a 30 day power outage up here from an ice storm in a town north of me
I would prefer a battery backup that can be recharged from solar and gas fired
heater solution.

In an emergence you can do with out a lot of luxury but even in an an
emergency you can use the controller to control the emergency devices.

There are many controllers out there from very simple to very
complex. Even timers are a controller in the simplest of sense.

Bottom like a Controller if just another tool we
have available in helping us maintain our tanks.