Acjr

I have had my ACJR for about a week now. I am also having problems with (or should I say that I am not happy with the performance of) the tempature reading of the JR. I have the probe in my sump and I have (3) of these in the sump within 6 inches of each other also to verify tempature:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...s//T1/F55DX+0047+0936/EDP/43107/Itemdy00.aspx

The (3) chepo depot's all react to tempature changes almost instantly and read within .2 degrees of each other.

The ACJR reads anywhere from right on the money (if I am lucky) to 1.5 degrees off (normally in the warmer direction).

I have tried to calibrate it in a glass of ice water to 32 degrees (the Coralife's all reacted fast and read 32 degrees).

After calibration, the ACJR was still slow to resond to temp changes and was reading 1.5 degrees higher than the Coralife's).

I then tried to calibrate the ACJR to the Coralife and this seemed to get me the closest. However it still in my opinion reacts too slow to tempature changes and it always reads .3 to 1.5 higher than all (3) of my Coralife's.


I hope someone from Neptune can jump in and help as I really bought the Neptune for the tempature accuracy and controll. It kind of defeats my purpose of having it. I wounder if anybody with the ACII is having this problem and if the electronics in the tempature section of the ACJR and the ACII are the same.

I do not know if it makes any difference or not, but I am at 8 ft above sea level.

Thanks,

Mike
 
You said it. If this is the case, then it truly defeats the purpose of purchasing this unit. I had everything on cheap timers before & bought this one for the temperature sensing functions.

Can anyone from Neptune help us out? I am going to try a home thermometer now, the one you use to take your own temp with. WIll report back.
 
FastUno,
The ACJR was calibrated to a NIST traceable temperature and should be within +- 0.5F. You can always adjust the temperature offset up or down in the setup->temperature setup menu, if you don't believe the accuracy of the numbers. I personally don't put much stock in the thermometer you posted a link to. If it is anything like the floating thermometer that I've had in the past simply turning it upside down would result in the paper with the temperature scale moving about 1/4" and a couple of degree variance in temperature reading.

mozdaman,
I don't recommend calibrating the ACJR temperature to 32F with ice. First this 50F away from the temperature that you are interested in measuring and 32 is outside the operating temperature range that the ACJr is designed to work.
You don't want the temperature readings to react too quickly to temperature changes. The Jr temperature probes reacts much faster then any temperature changes that occur in your tank. Slower response helps filter noise, and adds hysteresis.
If you are seeing changes in the AquaController's temperature relative to other probes, then it is caused by some external factor:
- Temperature probe too close to heater.
- Temperature probe too close to chiller output.
- Temperature probe directly under high intensity light (localized heating)

Curt
 
Curt,

Thanks for the response. I agree that the ice water thing was not the best method of calibration but it was the only known calibration that I could trust at my use.

My probe is nowhere near any of the external factors you listed. I do not have any problem with the readings that I am getting from the JR. I have to question the accuracy of it. I thought that it was a + _ .3 degree device. If that is the case, why is it allways reading .2 to 1.5 degrees higher than the other (3) that I have in there. Before I put all my trust in the JR's temp reading:

1) What is the sampling frequency of the temp probe? Not that I am un happy with the sampling rate, I am just wondering.

2) Why are the JR's readings always .2 to 1.5 degrees higher than the other read outs and allways on the higher scale, never lower? and never consistant.

3) If I put my trust in the JR. What is the best method to calibrate it at home without spending a furtune on a meter?
 
The temperature probe is sampled 250 times/second. Program evaluations occur about 1/second depending on number of statements and complexity.
I think that there must be some external factor that is causing the temperature reading to change. Set the log interval to say 5 minutes in the controller, and see if there is any consistency to the chances in reading, and if they are correlated with anything turning on/off.
If you don't believe our calibration, then you must find a temperature reference that you trust. A NIST traceable temp probe is best. I've seen digital NIST temp monitors for about $60 w/ +- 0.5F accuracy. Most inexpensive temperature monitors on the market only have a stated accuracy +-2F.

Curt
 
Man I must have a defective unit. I set my RCJR clock some 3 or so weeks ago. Found out this weekend that it was something like 12 mintues behind. I set the clock this weekend to my SkyScan atomic clock & only 3 days later it's almost 4 min behind again.

So now two essential operations of this unit are not working properly. This whole unit was purchased & revolves around its ability to keep track of time & temp.
 
I just set the ACJR to my atomic clock again. I can see the seconds run by on the ACJR & they are not consistant. Spits out 2 seconds at same interval, then it spits out the next one faster. Then it spets out the 4th at a much slower rate.

I will tell you how much it deviated by tomorrow.
 
You can make minor adjustments to the speed of the clock by using the setup->clock setup-leap second menu. From what you describe it sounds like the clock is losing 60 seconds/day. So you would enter 60 seconds for the leap second.
The display update on the main display is occurring asynchronous to the actual internal clock timing, so seeing jitter is normal.
If you continue to have problems with the accuracy of the clock, please send an email to support@neptunesys.com, and we can replace the unit.

Curt
 
I just got the ACJr yesterday. When I installed the temp probe, it read 2 degreesF higher than my "American Marine Pinpoint Wireless Aquarium Digital Thermometer System".
 
Came back home & found out it's about 1min & 14s off & it has almost been 24hrs.

I don't mean to be rude, but have we not figured out how to reliably keep track of time digitally quite some time ago? I am sure the Romans had more precise mechanical devices.:D

If I am being honest, then I must say that I am disappointed. Although in theory this unit seems great, but in actuality I almost feel like disconnecting it. I don't understand, since there were so many praises for this unit. I was about to go with the Reefkeeper & last minute changed my mind to get this ACJR.
 
I think that with just a few key strokes you shuld be able to enter a leap second of 74seconds and that particular problem will be solved. Probably quicker than typing that last post :)

I dont have a comment on your temp issue. Mine reads higher than my pinpoint monitor as well. By a couple of degrees. I'm still waiting to find a calibrated thermometer to determine if or how far it is off.
 
Well, I tried 80s. Now the timing on the sec is 2,4,6,8...etc.
Timing is off even faster now. I will try 60s.
 
I adjusted my temp compensation for now, but question the reliability of the readings throughout the day. Actually I question the whole unit now.
 
I tried 60s too & seconds went up by 2x, but this time 1,3,5,7...etc.

I then did a self test on the unit & it now seems to be running fine. We will see how much it's off by tomorrow.
 
73ChargerFan said:
Ask your LFSs if any of them have a calibrated thermometer which you can borrow.
Click to expand...

:lmao::, fastuno, while you are at it, ask them if they even know what a reflectometer is..
 
funny cali!

Hitting the self test button seems to have done the trick for the time. It has been running slightly over 2hrs & it's keeping pace up to the second with my atomic clock. Just wondering what it would read tomorrow, since I have the leap second set to 80s.
 
Well you've inspired me to set my leap second finally as well. I just reset the time and I'll check it again in a few hours. I know from the last time I set the clock that it is off somewhat because I've noticed the lights turning off later and later. Just never bothered worrying about it yet. There are a lot funner things to mess with with that controller than the time, so I've let it go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Malster1
Apex programing help (power lose & ATO max run)
Replies
1
Views
2K
Malster1
Malster1
C
Bad reading on temp probe?
Replies
2
Views
666
cub21rak
C
AquaCave
NEW - Hanna Marine Alkalinity dKH Checker HI772
Replies
0
Views
8K
AquaCave
AquaCave
Bent
Common equipment failures and how to prevent them.
Replies
10
Views
2K
Bent
Bent
jason2459
The Gapper 400GPD Light Commercial RO from Buckeye Hydro
2 3
Replies
54
Views
12K
jason2459
jason2459
Back
Top