Silencer
New member
I'm setting up a tank and want to use the Aquacontroller Jr to run it. I just can't figure out a good way to set it up though. I have two 15a circuits and this is the equipment I need to power...
AC Jr Controlled Equipment (6 channels)
-Halide 1 (250w magnetic ballasts)
-Halide 2 (each bulb on seperate channel for offset on/off times)
-Halide 3
-Refugium Lights
-Heaters (2 to 4 heaters, 250w each, all on same channel)
-Cooling Fans
Manually-Switched Equipment
-Closed Loop Pump
-Return Pump
-Seios/Tunzes (2)
Always-On Equipment
-Lunar Tracker
-Super Squirts (2)
-AC Jr
So what's the best way to set up an AC Jr to actually do that?
Originally I was going to build an electrical box in my stand that had 8 or 9 of those X-10 enabled outlets. This would provide me all the X-10 outlets that I need plus a row of always-on outlets, and splitting the load across both circuits would be very easy. I hear these outlets don't last that long though, and I'm somewhat reluctant to setup a system that could ruin the tank when a critical outlet fails.
So then I have the option of the DC8. It seems like it would be a more reliable and compatible way to set things up, but after looking more closely there seem to be just as many problems. First is the fact that I would have no way to split the load across multiple circuits which is required due to my power loads. I would need a second unit which I can't really afford or the addition of X-10 outlets which leads me back to the initial problem. I would also still need to wire up an electrical box with some always-on outlets so it's not really saving me any work either.
Neither seems to be a good setup. One is mostly what I need but not reliable, the other is reliable but can't do what I need without spending a ton of money on a second unit. There has to be a way to do this. I mean it's not like my equipment list is very complex. If anything my setup is more simple than most. Does anyone have any suggestions?
AC Jr Controlled Equipment (6 channels)
-Halide 1 (250w magnetic ballasts)
-Halide 2 (each bulb on seperate channel for offset on/off times)
-Halide 3
-Refugium Lights
-Heaters (2 to 4 heaters, 250w each, all on same channel)
-Cooling Fans
Manually-Switched Equipment
-Closed Loop Pump
-Return Pump
-Seios/Tunzes (2)
Always-On Equipment
-Lunar Tracker
-Super Squirts (2)
-AC Jr
So what's the best way to set up an AC Jr to actually do that?
Originally I was going to build an electrical box in my stand that had 8 or 9 of those X-10 enabled outlets. This would provide me all the X-10 outlets that I need plus a row of always-on outlets, and splitting the load across both circuits would be very easy. I hear these outlets don't last that long though, and I'm somewhat reluctant to setup a system that could ruin the tank when a critical outlet fails.
So then I have the option of the DC8. It seems like it would be a more reliable and compatible way to set things up, but after looking more closely there seem to be just as many problems. First is the fact that I would have no way to split the load across multiple circuits which is required due to my power loads. I would need a second unit which I can't really afford or the addition of X-10 outlets which leads me back to the initial problem. I would also still need to wire up an electrical box with some always-on outlets so it's not really saving me any work either.
Neither seems to be a good setup. One is mostly what I need but not reliable, the other is reliable but can't do what I need without spending a ton of money on a second unit. There has to be a way to do this. I mean it's not like my equipment list is very complex. If anything my setup is more simple than most. Does anyone have any suggestions?