EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40 Release Information
- Thread starter EcoTech Marine
- Start date
jnarowe
New member
CeeGee: That was important to me too and I went with the Neptune ACIII Pro and the Vortechs. It hasn't worked out in my case but you could poll Vortech owners and find out what is working. I have a somewhat unconventional situation but I am sure you could set them up with some type of controller.
There has been some success with old style wavemakers from what I understand. A little research and you might not have to wait for their controller to come out.
There has been some success with old style wavemakers from what I understand. A little research and you might not have to wait for their controller to come out.
CW from the OC
New member
jnarowe
I meant to mention this when you mentioned your controller issue in anotehr thread: I have a Aquacontroler II, and one of my drivers died too. They replaced it right away. I was alternating the pumps in a 10 minute cycle. I do wonder if wavemakers are causing problem swith the coding in the driver to erase or something.
I meant to mention this when you mentioned your controller issue in anotehr thread: I have a Aquacontroler II, and one of my drivers died too. They replaced it right away. I was alternating the pumps in a 10 minute cycle. I do wonder if wavemakers are causing problem swith the coding in the driver to erase or something.
jnarowe
New member
Well, my assumption, and I am no electrical engineer, is that somehow the Vortech driver board does not have enough built in protection from varying electrical currents.
I had 4 drivers go South on me and they replaced them all but instructed me to not use them with the Neptune system. They recently asked me to put one on a DC8 but with no switching. Essentially it is just turned on all the time as an experiment because they had another client fry a driver on a DC8. So far, it has operated flawlessly as are the other 3 that are just hooked into AC plugs.
As an early result, I installed one of the new washers meant for tanks with 3/4" sides on my most problematic pump yesterday. This morning it is operating with no rattling! Typically I would have to adjust this pump every morning and sometimes 2 or 3 times per day. So this could be a nice improvement. I have no idea why a thicker washer would make the difference and I will report back in a week or two with long-term results.
I had 4 drivers go South on me and they replaced them all but instructed me to not use them with the Neptune system. They recently asked me to put one on a DC8 but with no switching. Essentially it is just turned on all the time as an experiment because they had another client fry a driver on a DC8. So far, it has operated flawlessly as are the other 3 that are just hooked into AC plugs.
As an early result, I installed one of the new washers meant for tanks with 3/4" sides on my most problematic pump yesterday. This morning it is operating with no rattling! Typically I would have to adjust this pump every morning and sometimes 2 or 3 times per day. So this could be a nice improvement. I have no idea why a thicker washer would make the difference and I will report back in a week or two with long-term results.
melev
Well-known member
Jonathan, I recently retested my x-10 module for electricity when it was "off", controlled by the Aqua Controller II. It was reading 58.9v.
I've never had a DC-4 or DC-8, so I can't test my theory that these are burning up the power supply or the driver due to incorrect power being fed into them in the OFF position.
I've never had a DC-4 or DC-8, so I can't test my theory that these are burning up the power supply or the driver due to incorrect power being fed into them in the OFF position.
jnarowe
New member
58.9v??? Uhhhh...that's not OFF! 
We already went over this, and the DC8 and DC4HD do not have any current when in the OFF position. I tested them thoroughly when I first started to lose drivers. I guess Eco-Tech really would be the ones to answer the driver failure problem relating to these power modules.
They have mine and others for analysis and I am sure that they will figure it all out soon enough. I waited months to get the pumps and don't mind waiting a little longer to find a way to run them on my controller.
It's just a pain to have to turn them up and down manually every day.
We already went over this, and the DC8 and DC4HD do not have any current when in the OFF position. I tested them thoroughly when I first started to lose drivers. I guess Eco-Tech really would be the ones to answer the driver failure problem relating to these power modules.
They have mine and others for analysis and I am sure that they will figure it all out soon enough. I waited months to get the pumps and don't mind waiting a little longer to find a way to run them on my controller.
It's just a pain to have to turn them up and down manually every day.
melev
Well-known member
I want to get my hands on a DC-4 or DC-8. I know that Servo has one, because I was at his house two weeks ago. The bad thing is his are in the attic. 
Maybe at MACNA, I can go to Curt's booth and get a little feedback from him.
It seems anything that uses a power supply suffers when connected to x-10. As long as it is direct current, there isn't a problem. The lower voltage stuff using the black transformers seem to overheat ime.
Maybe at MACNA, I can go to Curt's booth and get a little feedback from him.
It seems anything that uses a power supply suffers when connected to x-10. As long as it is direct current, there isn't a problem. The lower voltage stuff using the black transformers seem to overheat ime.
jnarowe
New member
It would be worth putting a tester on one at MACNA. I wish I could go. What would be even better is getting Eco-Tech and Neptune to work this problem out together.
I think the Vortechs are very complimentary to the Neptune system and although Eco-Tech would probably rather sell their own controller, it seems to be good business sense to me to have the Vortechs be compatible with Neptune. Maybe you can encourage them to get together!
What would be even better is getting Eco-Tech and Neptune to work this problem out together.I think the Vortechs are very complimentary to the Neptune system and although Eco-Tech would probably rather sell their own controller, it seems to be good business sense to me to have the Vortechs be compatible with Neptune. Maybe you can encourage them to get together!
I'm running on a AC jr and a DC8. I did have both drivers go bad right after the shafts froze up. Tim thought this caused an overstress. It was the old style drivers.
I have had issues with my eballasts causing interference but when the lights are off the Vortechs have operated flawlessly. I'm running 5 min on, 2 min off.
I have also had them just plugged into the DC8 but not switched. Didn't notice any issues.
Where is this other thread? I'd like to read it.
I have had issues with my eballasts causing interference but when the lights are off the Vortechs have operated flawlessly. I'm running 5 min on, 2 min off.
I have also had them just plugged into the DC8 but not switched. Didn't notice any issues.
Where is this other thread? I'd like to read it.
jnarowe
New member
OK...quick update on the gasket I received for 3/4" tank walls:
I have to say I am very pleased with this very simple alteration. So far my pumps have been running much better and with nearly zero noise. I say "nearly" because I still have one problem pump that still needs adjusting occassionally, but at a greatlly increased interval. Instead of needing adjustment multiple times each day, it is down to one time every couple of days, and since it takes a while to seat new gaskets, that may diminish entirely too.
The other pumps have not needed any adjustment since I put in the new gasket! That is really good news for me as I was quite annoyed by having to fiddle with the Vortechs all the time, and it makes me feel a bit better that it was not me screwing them up.
Thanks are due to Eco-Tech for sticking with it!
I have to say I am very pleased with this very simple alteration. So far my pumps have been running much better and with nearly zero noise. I say "nearly" because I still have one problem pump that still needs adjusting occassionally, but at a greatlly increased interval. Instead of needing adjustment multiple times each day, it is down to one time every couple of days, and since it takes a while to seat new gaskets, that may diminish entirely too.
The other pumps have not needed any adjustment since I put in the new gasket! That is really good news for me as I was quite annoyed by having to fiddle with the Vortechs all the time, and it makes me feel a bit better that it was not me screwing them up.
Thanks are due to Eco-Tech for sticking with it!
jnarowe
New member
So far I am really happy with all the improvements. I am still having trouble with the cord keepers and that seems to effect pump noise to some degree. I just can't get them to stay stuck on the tank. I have been testing heavy duty velcro with good results so I think I may switch to that, although I am contemplating acrylic cord keeper brackets cemented to the tank as well.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
I received the new wet gaskets that physically "snap" into the wet housing a few months ago. I just got around to putting them on about a week ago (sorry for the delay). One of the pumps has "disconnected" and fallen off the glass three times now in one week.
Could this be because I installed it incorrectly? I really need to fix this. The wet side keeps falling on a couple of corals that are getting damaged.
I'm also noticing a little rattle coming from the propeller shaft (not the new ceramic one). I'm afraid to tighten it for fear of breaking the wet frame.
Any suggestions?
Could this be because I installed it incorrectly? I really need to fix this. The wet side keeps falling on a couple of corals that are getting damaged.
I'm also noticing a little rattle coming from the propeller shaft (not the new ceramic one). I'm afraid to tighten it for fear of breaking the wet frame.
Any suggestions?
jnarowe
New member
What else is different for the pump that keeps falling off? The new gasket assembly should just snap in and that should be it. What is the thickness of your glass/acrylic? Is your cord keeper staying affixed?
As far as the rattling goes, it is tough to deal with. I think a lot of mine was due to that I have 3/4" acrylic and after I got the new washers it has all but gone away. If you have 3/4" glass, that could be the entire problem. I would swap out the rattling propeller shaft for the new one and just barely tighten it. Then see how it performs. You can slowly tighten it as you review the performance and hopefully find the right tightness.
As far as the rattling goes, it is tough to deal with. I think a lot of mine was due to that I have 3/4" acrylic and after I got the new washers it has all but gone away. If you have 3/4" glass, that could be the entire problem. I would swap out the rattling propeller shaft for the new one and just barely tighten it. Then see how it performs. You can slowly tighten it as you review the performance and hopefully find the right tightness.
From IceCap:
ReefWaters - What are you using on the dry side as a gasket or boot setting?
As a support to the cord, on the far end of my tank I screwed a small hook into my hood and then clipped the cord to itself to hold that length. When I move it I loosen the wires and adjust to the new distance.
Andy
ReefWaters - What are you using on the dry side as a gasket or boot setting?
As a support to the cord, on the far end of my tank I screwed a small hook into my hood and then clipped the cord to itself to hold that length. When I move it I loosen the wires and adjust to the new distance.
Andy
