Extend Conductivity Probe?

[cm11599ps]

I've got my PM2 in my garage but my sump in in my living room on the other side of a wall. I need the probe cable length to be about 15' long. Is it possible to extend the length?

 

[schwaggs]

I wouldn't extend the probe cable... why not move the PM2 closer with a longer Aquabus cable?

 

[cm11599ps]

Because I'm using the temp probe to monitor top off water in the garage. I may be able to move it close, we'll see.

 

[aquamanic]

I think Jon is right but you can buy male - male BNC cables on eBay but at the first sign of faulty probe readings, I'd suspect the cable. Much more reliable to extend the USB cable and move the PM2 since Neptune supports up to 200' but they do not support probe extensions.

 

[cm11599ps]

I think Jon is right but you can buy male - male BNC cables on eBay but at the first sign of faulty probe readings, I'd suspect the cable. Much more reliable to extend the USB cable and move the PM2 since Neptune supports up to 200' but they do not support probe extensions.

It's not so much the USB cable, it's the temp probe. If I move the PM2 closer to my sump then it's taking it further away from where I need the temp probe.

I guess I could move the PM2 a little closer. I'd go and check but if I got up right now my dogs would start barking and it's late and I don't need that. :spin2: Gotta run to HD tomorrow for something for my water storage area so I'll see what it looks like then.

How useful is the conductivity probe? I'm not looking to use it to control anything.

 

[aquamanic]

Either probe (temp or pH) can be extended with the right coupling. Your temp needs a 4-wire phone coupler and more 4-wire phone cord. pH needs a male-male BNC. Those are cheap solutions and you can try them, you're not going to break anything. Just be aware that if you start getting strange readings, short term spikes or drops or anything else that might cause you to question your probe readings, those extensions have to be the primary suspects.

If you're not using temp/pH to control anything that could kill your tank and you have the proper safeguards in your outlet code, then I'd give it a try and monitor the results for a while.

 

[RussM]

pH needs a male-male BNC.

male-female is better. Eliminates the need for a barrel connector.

 

[aquamanic]

You're right - my bad. Male - female is ALWAYS better than male - male!

 

[coralreefhq]

I'd go with the male to female as well.
Any electronics store like Fry's or something would have the extension.
I wouldn't use the coupling, as I will be force to make physical changes.

Goodluck, let us know how it turns out.

 

[Hawkdl2]

I played around with an Apex in my laboratory to monitor a bioreactor and had to extend the pH cable to about 15'. It worked fine.

 

[cm11599ps]

The probe was at my door when I got home from work. I ran the cable through the wall and as feared, it's about 3' short of reaching my sump. I probably could move my PM2 a little closer so that the probe could reach my sump but instead I put it right on the backside of my overflow box. No need to move the PM2 and no need for an extension cable.