a/c control question

[jfl14609]

In the new fish room I have a fairly large a/c unit and I am having trouble keeping the temp constant as the a/c only has high low and settings 1 though 9. so if I put it on a setting its too cold for night time. My question is does anyone know of any type of thermostat that will control the on and off of a outlet?

 

[IronMan72]

Thermostat fan cotroller

Thermostat fan cotroller

http://www.blackbox.com/resource/files/productdetails/26690.pdf

Says it will handle 15 Amps. Not sure how it would do with the inrush current of an AC unit. Expensive little bugger though.

 

[superkat]

check this out, Jeff:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0ffa8f2e7&rvr_id=&ua=WVF?&itemid=220282486743

 

[captain7359]

ranco ETC
http://www.etcsupply.com/

or a Johnson A419
http://cgproducts.johnsoncontrols.com/MET_PDF/125188.PDF


Both are good for 15A, but the Ranco cames in either a single or dual stage. The dual stage can be used for a heating stage and a cooling stage or two of either, so for summer you could have a fan as stage 1 at 79 and the ac kick on as stage 2 at 80.

Both are commercial/industrial control rated and quite reliable. My ranco came to me used and I've had it for 5 years with no issues.

If for some reason you're over 15A you can also use either of these to control a larger relay (20-30A).

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

when I had a window AC unit I used a heavy duty intermatic timer to shut it off at night. It will take several hours for a 210 to fluctuate in temp.

 

[StashuDave]

um.... Aquacontroller....., with a 210 reef, seems like a no brainer to me. I'd suggest getting something along the lines of an Apex, but even the $99 Reefkeeper lite can monitor temp and turn on and off a single appliance up to 10 Amps and even has readings to tell you how many amps it's using.... not to mention the zillion other things it can do for your reef.

Dave

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I think that's what he's going to do, Dave.

Seems like a no brainer if you already have a controller.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

My two cents: I would NOT rely on an off the shelf reef controller to turn heating or cooling devices on or off. Too much chance for something stuck on or off to crash a tank. Maybe use one for secondary use with respect to heating/cooling, but not as a primary controller. Just look at Gary's recent thread regarding "stuck" outlets on a reef controller. A Ranco controller is purpose-built for this function, they're used widely beyond the hobby, and are pretty much bulletproof.

 

[jfl14609]

I am thinking of a basic timer right now or a new a/c unit with a built in thermostat. A few problems with the given items. I like the one Kat suggested just not sure if I trust it. as far as hooking it up to my aqua controller this is the original plan I had as I have been using it for a few years and its never let me down. But here is the downfall dc8 I have 3 250 watt meta halides 1 110 watt vho bulbs and 2 heaters already on it add the a/c and I think we are way overloaded for one circuit. I could get one of the dc4 units that mean for heavy duty and put it on its own circuit. I love the stuff Walter sent but I am guessing the cost on those would be higher than just going out and getting the a/c with the thermostat

 

[StashuDave]

Agreed... Ranco are really well built and I've never had an issue with one, that being siad it has some of the same possible fialure points that a commercial controller could have. In my experience the fact that a controller can text or email me when something is wrong puts it over the top, a ranco can't do that or shut off my halides if its too hot, or etc.. That being said if you just want something to control temperature and are willing to pay a bit extra.. a dual stage Ranco is definately the Platinum Standard.

If you did want to hook it up to your DC8, you could get the Socket Expansion ( like $40). It uses 1 of the outlets from your DC8 to actually turn things on and off, but draws power from a seperate wall receptacle. Depending on how your electrical lines are configured, you could actually get the A/C off of that same circuit completely!!! That would give you a full 15 Amps and the possibility of even seperating that power draw from the rest of your tank.

Dave

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Single stage rancos can be had for like $50 - $60. Pretty cheap compared to a reef controller power strip or new A/C unit.

StashuDave, you bring up a good point that I was on the verge of diving in to when I made my comment above. It's great to have a reef controller monitoring temperature, for purposes of sounding alarms or taking secondary action (turning lights off if tank gets too hot, etc.), but I don't like them for primary control of HVAC stuff around a reef.

 

[jfl14609]

do they make a single stage for cooling that would be much better I really dont like the idea of having everything tied together then one thing fails and everything fails. I like the separate control idea. it might even be worth getting one of the new controlers they sell for 99 bucks and use it for the a/c and maybe a skimmer

 

[jfl14609]

If you did want to hook it up to your DC8, you could get the Socket Expansion ( like $40). It uses 1 of the outlets from your DC8 to actually turn things on and off, but draws power from a seperate wall receptacle. Depending on how your electrical lines are configured, you could actually get the A/C off of that same circuit completely!!! That would give you a full 15 Amps and the possibility of even seperating that power draw from the rest of your tank.

Dave[/QUOTE]

one thing though lets say something fails and the controller itself loses power then I would still lose control of the device right?

 

[StashuDave]

Yes if the controller loses power than you would also lose power to the device, as well as the rest of your aquarium.... I'm not sure what you are fishing for???? I would assume any power loss would affect your entire aquarium.... unless you have UPS or an auto start generator. What controller do you have? If it's an AC3 or an Apex then you can get alerts in the event of of power outage( assuming some sort of internet connection and UPS) The AC3 would only notify you when the power goes back on, the Apex on a battery backup notifies you the second the power goes out ( that's what I've got and it works really well).

Dave

 

[jfl14609]

I am just trying to be sure that if something happens and the breaker on either my ac or my aquarium trips it doesnt effect the other. does anyone know what type of unit is used to control 120 baseboard heating? I am wondering if there is anything along that lines that would work for cooling

 

[jfl14609]

I have been researching and the best option I have found is to get an expansion socket and program the air conditioner to run as the tank needs it not the room. So here are my plans. I have always planned on grabbing a ups for my pumps and heaters so I could just plug the acjr into that as well. My question is with the expansion socket does that give me an extra controllable socket so I would have 9 or does it actually take the place of one on the dc8 only allowing me 8

 

[StashuDave]

The Socket Expansion actually uses 1 of the outlets on your current DC8 so you will remain at "8" controllable outlets. The Socket Expansion does have 2 outlets... but they turn on and off together, so if you also wanted a fan to go on when the A/C kicks on you could plug it in also.

Dave