Help with Variable speed ports on APEX

[cthedaytrader]

I picked up a network cable and was trying to figure out which wires correspond to which channel, but when I hook it up to the Volt meter I either get no reading or the APEX restarts.

I checked the pin configurations and tried to find the correct wires, to no avail and I cant even test it, am I doing somehting wrong?

I made a RampUp profile and then set the first two ports follow it, so I could check both channels and see which wires correspond but either no reading or it just restarts the apex when I touch the volt meter to the end of the wires.

 

[cthedaytrader]

Lol,

that sounds a little frantic as I was getting pretty frustrated with this, so let me try and explain a little slower lol.

I have a new ATI dimmable t5 fixture, and and I am trying to hook up the dimming fixture to my new APEX.

I picked up a standard ethernet cable, split it and was trying to determine which of the wires correspond to the pin diargrams in the usuer manual posted her (which is a big help thanks considering the Neptune one is very limited on this topic)

I was using a multimeter, set to 20 dcV, which as far as I know is the same as Vdc. Please correct me if I am wront.

I tried testing the wires that looked like they correspended to the pin diagram, and the meter reads 0, one set of wires, restarts the APEX, regardless of which lead is placed on which wire.

I tried testing both ports and same problem.

I tried multiple programs, set on, set to Rampup such as 1 min 0 min, 100 max and same results.

I am confused as to how the meter can restart the apex.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

I can't tell if the problem is with the wire, the meter or the apex or something I am not considering.

Thanks

 

[aquamanic]

No offense but for $20 the Neptune cable would have been a lot easier. :bounce1:

The controller will reboot if you short any of the wires.

If you're looking at the FEMALE receptacle ON THE CONTROLLER, the pins are numbered 1 - 8 from left to right. Pin 1 is 0-10vdc, 2 is ground for VS1 and Pin 5 is 0-10vdc, 6 is ground for VS2. Same goes for VS3 and VS4.

To test, configure a RAMP profile that goes from 0 - 100% over a couple minutes. You should be able to pick it up.

You can use your OHM function to match your cut wires (strip them first) to the pins on the MALE connector. Once you match the wire colors to the pins, you should be able to prove it's applying voltage properly.

 

[cthedaytrader]

Lol Non taken lol. I was thinking that but I really wanted to get my tank going, and I already waited two and half weeks for the Apex and waiting another week for a network cable was making me way to impatient lol.

Unless I am completely over looking something, there must be a problem.

I tested the cable with the ohm meter and made certain I had the correct wires.

Then tried programs with VS1, VS2, and VS3 and still nothing.

I set a profile titled Rampup

Time 5

Min 5

Max 100

Then on the variable Speed Ports

Set Off

If time x to y then Rampup
If time y to z then on
If time z to a then Rampdown

Tried to set it on, set to rampup, tried the other end of the wire.

Another thing I notices is the progams have a good 30 second lag before the Rampup turns on, is that normal?

Thanks for the help, any other ideas would be appreciated, but I am starting to think there is a problem with my unit, or the wire I am using. Although the wire I have is the same type that comes with the unit for the ethernet port.

 

[ilmigliore]

Sounds like you are having some fun getting this configured properly. I haven't a clue what could be going wrong for you. I am looking into the same sort of issue.

I have an aside if you don't mind a small thread-jack. Has anybody figured out the amperage on the 0-10vdc signal? Alan's manual says that it is "<10mA". I am just curious to know if anyone has taken it a step further to determine it.

 

[aquamanic]

any other ideas would be appreciated

Try just 'Set ON' for your VS outlet, or manually set it ON. You should find 10vdc on a wire IF you're matching it with the proper wire for ground. Once you find it, then you can work on the ramping.

 

[cthedaytrader]

Thanks for the help aquamedic, setting the outlets to on was much easier than playing with the rampup function while trying to test the port.

First off I have to say how dumb I was lol. I was looking at the wrong diagram for the multimeter and had the leads in the wrong ports, which is why I was reading zero, because I wasnt measuring anything.

I also contacted Neptune and got a very fast response back today.

This was the pinout they gave me.

"Following is the pinout of the variable speed connector. (pins 1 on left, pin 8 on right - looking at the variable speed connectorsof the Apex).

Pin 1 - Reserved.
Pin 2 - Reserved.
Pin 3 - Gnd (red)
Pin 4 - 0-10 Variable output A (black)
Pin 5 - Reserved.
Pin 6 - Reserved.
Pin 7 - Gnd (red)
Pin 8 - 0-10 Variable output B (black)

I mapped every wire on my wire with the ohm meter.

I was able to determine the correct wires for VS2, and the meter started off reading 4 and when I turned on the port went right up to 14, I tested the Rampup function on it and it worked great, started at 4 and over 2 minutes went up to 14.

I put the wire into VS3/4 and 4 worked perfectly too,

Trying the pin combinations I tried to get VS1 to work and could not. As soon as I hook it up it reads 14, when I switch the wire to Vs3 it starts off reading 11, no change in either when you turn on the ports, or turn.

Not sure what the issue is now unless I still cant get the pins straightened out, I figured at this point I would just order the wire.

Unless there is some internal link to VS1 and VS3 that would make them both fail and remain on, then I am guessing I must not be able t ofind the correct pins.

I did connect the workking ports and wire to my ATI dimmable and did get it to dim, I have to say the amount of dimming seems neglable from min to max as compared to the knob built into the fixture.

Any more ideas of what could be the issue with VS1 and 3 would be appreciated. Thanks again for the help.

 

[aquamanic]

I'd like to clarify the pinout statement above for future readers:

The female RJ45 receptacle on the Apex controller when you look at it, has the tab UP. When oriented this way, Neptune's pinout of 3/4 and 7/8 is correct if you count from left to right, 1 - 8. However, this is not the industry accepted numbering of an RJ45 plug or receptacle. This has created a lot of confusion in the past.

Industry norm always has the plug or receptacle with the tab DOWN. That's the orientation you'll see in the User Guide and on any pictures of RJ45 pinouts. When you look at it that way, then the pinout is 1/2 and 5/6. The pin count for the receptacle goes 1 - 8, left to right, tab down. For the male RJ45 plug, it's 8 - 1, left to right, tab down.

Just keep in mind the pin numbering is 100% dependent on the orientation of the connector. Never use one without knowing the other.

 

[cthedaytrader]

I'd like to clarify the pinout statement above for future readers:

The female RJ45 receptacle on the Apex controller when you look at it, has the tab UP. When oriented this way, Neptune's pinout of 3/4 and 7/8 is correct if you count from left to right, 1 - 8. However, this is not the industry accepted numbering of an RJ45 plug or receptacle. This has created a lot of confusion in the past.

Industry norm always has the plug or receptacle with the tab DOWN. That's the orientation you'll see in the User Guide and on any pictures of RJ45 pinouts. When you look at it that way, then the pinout is 1/2 and 5/6. The pin count for the receptacle goes 1 - 8, left to right, tab down. For the male RJ45 plug, it's 8 - 1, left to right, tab down.

Just keep in mind the pin numbering is 100% dependent on the orientation of the connector. Never use one without knowing the other.

I had seen an older post explaining this as well,

What I did was just create a reverse mapping of the pins and the configurations so I wouldnt be confused.

Is there any reason why I would be having the problem with the VS1 and VS 3 that you are aware of?

Both of them read ~14V when plugged in regardless of whether the VS port is on or off in the manual control.

It would seem that not that I have VS2 pins configured (1/2, or 7/8 however you are looking at it) then it would seem that I have the correct wires and pins now, or so I thought.

 

[aquamanic]

If you turn off ALL 4 VS ports (1,2,3,4) by doing a MANUAL OFF for each on the web page, do you still get voltage on 1/3?

 

[cthedaytrader]

I havent been controlling it via the web page just through the display, I havent hooked it up to the cpu yet would that make a difference in controlling it?

I will have to double check when I get home, but I am pretty sure that I had all 4 ports turned off while I was testing it, and as soon as I plugged in the cable it would jump up, and stay at that number regardless of whether the ports were on or off.

 

[aquamanic]

but I am pretty sure that I had all 4 ports turned off while I was testing it, and as soon as I plugged in the cable it would jump up, and stay at that number regardless of whether the ports were on or off.

If true, you've got something really wrong with your controller. You can set all the ports to OFF via the display module or the web pages, doesn't matter. My bet is, they're not turned OFF like you think they are.

 

[cthedaytrader]

Thanks for all the help Alan,

I think when I get home I will reset the Apex to the default settings and start from scratch and maybe take some pics of the cord, maybe that will make everything a little more clear, and perhaps help future people from making any of the same mistakes I made lol.

And Hopefully everything the final two ports will work lol.

 

[cthedaytrader]

Ok this is getting exhausting my last effort to sort this out lol.

I unplugged everything from the APEX and initalized all to set it back to the factory settings.

Then I manually turned off every outlet.

I then mapped all the wires again to make sure I had them in the correct order. I also retested VS2 which still works fine.

Here is a picture of the network cable I purchased from Home Depot

If you can't tell by now if I have given this my all the next picture should clear that up lol.

Here are the wires tested and labeled.

Looking at the RJ-45 Jack tab down, from left to right I labeled them from left to right 8-1

Pin 8: Orange/white Wire (confirmed 0-10 VDC)
Pin 7: Orange wire (confirmed ground)
Pin 6: Green/White Wire
Pin 5: Blue Wire
Pin 4: Blue/White Wire
Pin 3: Green Wire
Pin 2: Red White Wire
Pin 1: Red Wire

 

[cthedaytrader]

I tested 8 and 7 VS2 and they worked great.

I then moved on and tested 4,3, or 5, 6 depending on which terminology is used, or the Blue/white wire, and the green wire.

Not sure if you can see in the pics, but as soon as the wire is plugged in it begins to read, and does not change when the VS1 is turned on.

Then I turn the VS1 port on

Its hard to see in the photo, as the flash washes it away but the green light is on in the secon pic on VS1



It seems to me unless I am just missing something, that the VS1 and VS3 are stuck in the on positon.

 

[Richreef]

Did you solve this issue ?

I got a similar problem but in my case the output remain all the time in 0.3 volt or almost Cero

 

[cthedaytrader]

I had to send it back and they repaired/replaced it I think they repaired it.

 

[Richreef]

I had to send it back and they repaired/replaced it I think they repaired it.

Thanks Chris !!!

 

[cthedaytrader]

No, I would contact them rathern than spend days like I did trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, I also purchased there wires to eliminate that variable. Once I received it back I havent had any problems with it.

 

[swearint]

I am having the same issue. I have a constant voltage on all four ports whether the port is turned ON or OFF. The indicator light does function properly. I have not contacted Neptune yet.

Todd