AC jr questions

[DamnPepShrimp]

I want to get something that controls my temp since the weather is changing and I will have some crazy swings. I was going to get a ranco controller but now I am leaning towards an AC jr since it can do that and so much more. If I were to buy one, can it control my lights with out any addons? What does just a stock one do? Just give you a readout of the temp? Also, a lot of them come with Temp Probe, Serial Port & Direct Connect 8. The temp obviously lets me control a heater and/or chiller, but what does the serial port and direct connect 8 do? Thanks for any help or light anyone can shine on this subject for me!

 

[flamron]

You would need the DC8 to control anything. Without that, or a DC4, you cannot control, just monitor. The serial port is there for upgrades, and to connect to a computer. The DC8 is controlled via phone line connected from the ACJr. to the DC8.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

So in order to control my lights or heater, I need the DC8? And if I want to expand beyond that, like pH probe etc I'd need the serial port? Looks like I am just going to have to buy it and play around with it until I get the hang of things. Thanks for your quick response.

 

[flamron]

The DC8 is just a powerstrip. You plug your lights/heaters/etc into them and then program the head unit to turn on/off whenever you want, i.e. time, temp, ph, etc.

The unit has a temp port and a PH port, as well as serial, power, and the connection for the DC8.

The ACJr. will control a max of 12 outlets, so you can buy a DC8 and a DC4, or three DC4's, or they also have a DC4HD, which is heavy duty for lighting, chiller, etc.

I don't believe you need the serial port for the pH probe.

 

[Enjoy]

DamnPepShrimp - Yes you need the DC8 to control anything. The monitor is simply to well..... monitor. I am pretty sure the serial port is on the actual base unit, nothing needed to buy. You will need base unit, DC8, probes (PH,Temp,ORP), and whatever else want to add on. (Aquasurf, etc....)

Im looking into buying one as I type

Dont mean to hijack, but i have a some questions as well. How does this unit get power? Simple two prong/and ground power cord, or does it need to be hard wired? And can the DC8 handle 150w MH, and 4-T5s? Im not electrician savy, so any help is appreciated.

Has anyone had any major problems with the ACjr?

 

[flamron]

I'm currently running 2 150MH and 2 110w VHO on a Ice Cap 660 ballast, along with a 300w heater, a fan, a few powerheads, and skimmer. The unit is powered by a wall-wart. You then also plug the DC8 into the wall as well.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Ok, sounds good. I don't think I will need more then the DC8 since I will only be running my lights and heater from it. When I venture more into SPS I guess I could find more things to add to it? What else do people run? I've read you can run powerheads on a wavemaker style with this? The only other thing I think I'd need to my tank is a Ca reactor, which would run independently. I guess I could run my pumps as well, since it'd be easier to turn off rather then unplugging them.

enjoy, no hijack at all, more questions the better! As long as we can get answers

So now where is the best place to buy them? I'll have to wait until I start my new job first though.

 

[justinm0424]

I would buy a reefkeeper lite. They're only $99 right now and have a ton of functions and are easily upgradeable. digitalaquatics.com is their site. It comes with a pc4 which controls only 4 outlets but it's cheaper than a acjr and a lot easier to use. I have an acjr that i tossed once I got the reefkeeper lite

 

[flamron]

They are nice and simple.

However, I wanted online access for my controller, and the RKL doesn't offer this yet.

So, I went with the ACJr.

I've actually been kicking around getting an RKL for my nano.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

What online access do you get? Isn't there something you can hookup to an iPhone? I'd love to be able to monitor my tank from my phone or online somehow when I am not there.

 

[flamron]

Yes, you can. Google ACSerial2Web

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Pretty cool. Is there anything you have to buy or do you just download that version to get it? I'd guess you'd have to buy/download an app on your iPhone to get it to work? I didn't see how to actually get it, or costs, just how it works/what it does.

 

[Enjoy]

flamron - Like i said I am horrible with electrics. What did you mean, "The unit is powered by a wall-wart."? Sorry if this is your basic wall outlet, just never heard that term. That seems like a lot of stuff you run on one outlet if so. The last thing I want is my apt going up in flames due to the ACJr. Give me the run down on what I will need to supply power if you can. Thanks!

The online update aspect of the ACjr is what sold me, compared to the rkl. And i got a great deal on the ACjr. Mine (used) comes with the aquasurf, but i have no tunze pumps to use it for.
Oh well, just sell it to someone who can use it.

 

[justinm0424]

I had all kinds of problems with my acjr. The power cord is like a headphone plug and any humidity rusted it. The PH and temp would change just by touching the unit i could add like 4 degrees by holding it. It has the PH, Temp, Power, DC8 cord all plugged into the headunit where the RKL only has one cord that plugs into the pc4 which has 1 power cord and the temp daisy chained to it. I love how the rkl doesn't need headunit power and i've never had a problem with it before. But the rkl does become limited as it's very simple to use. the acjr has a lot more complex features that aren't available on the RKL but hopefully they're new myreef will allow different things. They're very secretive about it and say it's going to blow all other software away but who knows.

 

[MJAnderson]

I would be very careful with the ACjr. I've had a fuse blow inside the DC8, 4 temp probes go bad and one of my outlets still doesn't work and there is no reason why. After crashing my tank for the second time I really only use it to turn on/off my lights and for the monitoring. I would never rely on one for critical systems (return pump, heaters, kalk, etc) without at least one backup.

 

[sjm817]

I had an ACjr for 4 years and had great luck with it. I did have a DC4 go out. Other than that, no problems at all. I recently upgraded the head unit to an ACIII for the network connectivity. I'm using the same temp and PH probes from the ACjr. They are going on 5 years old.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Hmmm.... seems to be a mixed review about the AC jr, but I guess with anything and everything, there will be that. Maybe I won't run my pumps off it, but all I really want it for is monitoring, lights and heaters, also having it connected to my iPhone would be cool.

 

[sjm817]

If you want web access the ACIII is better. It has an Ethernet port. The ACjr has a serial port and needs to be connected to a PC for web access.

I have mine controlling my pumps, lights, fans, heaters, skimmer, dosing, pretty much everything except the ATO.

 

[flamron]

I've got my ACJr running through a wireless bluetooth adapter. I would recommend the ACIII for a better web purpose, but the Jr. will do it wirelessly as well.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I just think the ACIII is overkill for me. I'll try the ACjr and see how things go. Is the web access something you download or buy? I googled it and didn't see prices or anything about getting it, just what it did.