Master Vortech/Wireless Controller on Aqua Controller, Slave on Battery Backup?

[Kengar]

I will be ordering a Vortech pump and will be getting the new EcoTech Marine wireless controller for wave-making purposes since using Aqua Controller to do so is contraindicated -- frequent on-off cycling apparently fries the controller code -- and the ETM controller will ramp flow up and down as opposed to simply turning it on and off. However, the ETM controller apparently does not have provision for shutting off or slowing down the pump for night mode. (It really would have been nice for it to be there.) Therefore, I want to use my Aqua Controller to turn the Vortech unit on an off in the morning and evening, e.g., when the actinics come on and shut off.

WILL CYCLING THE VORTECH UNIT ON AND OFF ONCE EACH DAY CAUSE CODE-FRYING PROBLEMS?

Additionally, as far as I can tell, running the unit through the Aqua Controller will prevent me from using the ETM battery backup. (I am assuming the battery backup plugs into power supply and the controller plugs into the battery backup, much like a computer BackUPS configuration; PLEASE CORRECT ME IF THIS ASSUMPTION IS INCORRECT.) Therefore, I was thinking about getting a second pump/wireless controller, slaving it off of the first one, and putting that second pump on battery backup for emergency "insurance." This raises a couple of questions for me, though.

FIRST, IN SUCH A SET-UP, HOW WOULD THE SLAVE OPERATE WHEN POWER TO THE MASTER IS CUT? DOES IT DEPEND ON WHETHER THE UNITS ARE IN SYNC MODE OR ANTI-SYNC MODE? (I would want the slave to shut down at night with the master, a la sync mode of operation, but I would want anti-sync mode when both are running.)

SECOND, IF SLAVE GOES OUT OF SLAVE MODE WHEN MASTER SHUTS DOWN, WHAT WOULD SLAVE DO WHEN MASTER COMES BACK UP?


Any other suggestions for how I might set things up to control Vortech pump for day/night operation while providing the security of battery backup TO JUST THE VORTECH PUMP, particulary in a manner that only requires a single pump?

Thanks for your input.

 

[EcoTech Marine]

Re: Master Vortech/Wireless Controller on Aqua Controller, Slave on Battery Backup?


WILL CYCLING THE VORTECH UNIT ON AND OFF ONCE EACH DAY CAUSE CODE-FRYING PROBLEMS?

No, that's fine.

Additionally, as far as I can tell, running the unit through the Aqua Controller will prevent me from using the ETM battery backup. (I am assuming the battery backup plugs into power supply and the controller plugs into the battery backup, much like a computer BackUPS configuration; PLEASE CORRECT ME IF THIS ASSUMPTION IS INCORRECT.)

The battery backup and power supply both plug into the VorTech Wireless Wave Driver. If you turn power off to the power supply, the pump will simply stay on in battery mode. If you want the pump to turn off at night, you cannot use a battery backup.


FIRST, IN SUCH A SET-UP, HOW WOULD THE SLAVE OPERATE WHEN POWER TO THE MASTER IS CUT? DOES IT DEPEND ON WHETHER THE UNITS ARE IN SYNC MODE OR ANTI-SYNC MODE?

When a master is turned off the slave will stay in slave mode (sync or anti-sync) however it will run at a constant speed, whatever speed the slave's potentiometer is set too. When the master comes back on the slave will again start acting as a slave in whatever mode it was in (sync or anti-sync).

SECOND, IF SLAVE GOES OUT OF SLAVE MODE WHEN MASTER SHUTS DOWN, WHAT WOULD SLAVE DO WHEN MASTER COMES BACK UP?

Exactly what it was doing before.

Any other suggestions for how I might set things up to control Vortech pump for day/night operation while providing the security of battery backup TO JUST THE VORTECH PUMP, particulary in a manner that only requires a single pump?

Really you're only options are to turn one pump off or turn both pumps off. If you're going to turn any pump off, I would turn the slave off so that the master stays on and pulses. Without the master the slave will only run at a constant speed. The battery backup should be used with whichever pump is not turned off at night.

-Tim