Apex Controller - Details?

[Constantin]

any idea if there will be more power bars to purchase by then?

 

[scollier]

Will there be a probe expansion hardware similar to the PX 1000 that runs on the airbus available soon?

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15265451#post15265451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Constantin
any idea if there will be more power bars to purchase by then?

Curt told me that additional modules will be available - I quote from his e-mail:

"We are going to ship all the standard Apex system pre-orders first, and then we'll start processing the additional module orders. Once we start shipping, we'll open our website up so that you can order the additional equipment."

LL

 

[benihana]

does anyone know how the main control unit will hook up with the rest of the components? It looks as if it may be wireless????

 

[Deleted member 143833]

All connections use a USB-like connection; Neptune uses the name 'AquaBus'. This isn't 'really' USB but rather an industrial strength USB which can go 200' so don't go plugging USB devices into it

 

[benihana]

ok, I just watched the video and looked at a few more pics, and it looks like it only has a single wire coming out of the head unit at the bottom??

I am in the middle of a tank upgrade, and am seriously considering the Apex, and just trying to come up with a clean look for the controller

 

[Deleted member 143833]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15266576#post15266576 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benihana
ok, I just watched the video and looked at a few more pics, and it looks like it only has a single wire coming out of the head unit at the bottom??

I am in the middle of a tank upgrade, and am seriously considering the Apex, and just trying to come up with a clean look for the controller

Yes, that sounds about correct; 1 wire from the Apex base (AquaBus) to devices. Also from the base would be probes (PH, ORP, temp, variable speed pumps) but device to device would be AquaBus cable.

 

[benihana]

what about from the head unit to the module? aquabus??

 

[Deleted member 143833]

All connections between modules are AquaBus (AB).

Each AB connection can handle 1 device. An EB for example has 6 AB ports and you could plug up to 6 devices into it (e.g., display and base or you could plug a display into the base and a second display into the EB8, or an EB8 into the base and another EB8 into the 1st EB8); get the idea?



As long as the controller is somewhere in the mix it can control everything and displays (1 or more) can also be anywhere in the mix (e.g., 1 at tank 1 and another at s second tank in another room).

 

[Big_D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15267480#post15267480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benihana
what about from the head unit to the module? aquabus??

Not sure if it's Aquabus, but it does look like it's a single cable... it's hard wired into the bottom of the display module. Here's a pic from reefbuilders...

D

 

[benihana]

that is perfect! I will just plan on mounting it on the front of the stand and drilling a hole behind it....THANKS!!

 

[Creetin]

Hoping to have this setup a week or two before i leave for vacation in august. Dunno what i am going to do if its not here in time.
Might have to buy a cheap controller for a temp one and keep as a backup.

 

[benihana]

I just pre-ordered mine!! Plenty of excitement here!!

 

[ah30k]

Hopefully all of the assembly and testing of the components (sans plastic housing) along with firmware loading is proceeding anyway resulting in a large quantity of units ready to pop the plastic on and wrap for shipment.

 

[builderguy]

spoke to Curt yesterday...he said he expects to begin shipping the Apex units next week.

 

[SirVilhelm]

heard that before!

 

[ah30k]

Yes, Curt posted that same news here on the previous page.

I'm pleased to announce that Apex beta testing is going very well, and the assembly of production units moving ahead as scheduled. The one snag is that a key component (Apex base module plastic) has not arrived. They were supposed to be delivered last week, and now we are being told that they will arrive next week. This delay will result in moving out our FCS to the week of July 6th. I'm sorry about any inconvience this delay will have on you; it sure is frustrating to us as well. Curt

 

[benihana]

I would rather wait an extra week (or two or three) than get a product that is not the high quality piece that we all expect from Neptune. While it always sucks to wait, there are always reasons for a delay and Neptune is doing all of their customers a favor by holding off for an extra week and making sure that what they deliver meets/exceeds our expectations

 

[builderguy]

It doesn't take long to look at the old posts for the RKE when it came out...an apparent rush to market. There were many problems, some which are still being resolved now over 6 months later. Not to say that there won't be any "bugs", but I think Curt is more focused on having a reliable product. He's used an industrial-grade bus for the connections, the Apex is a 32-bit system with lots of memory...he's gone the extra mile to make this a quality product...for that we should be grateful, even if we have to wait just a little longer

 

[ah30k]

Waiting a week to slap the missing plastic housing on the controller is not really helping improve quality though.

I recognize Curt for his presence here but at some point people should stop kissing a$s.

The claim was this would be shipping the end of May and we are now into July.

I wish everyone would kiss my butt when I miss my deliverables.