More problems with Apex. It keeps adding more outlets

gatorrx98

gatorrx98

New member
Why would my Apex keep adding outlets. It first happened yesterday and now I re-initiated the AquaBus last night which fixed it. Today it added a 2nd set of outlets that I reconfigured to my initial setup to fix it due to my need to leave the house for youth soccer. Tonight, while my Gators are getting crushed, I come downstairs to my system being completely shutdown except the skimmer and 1 Vortech. This is extremely frustrating. Should I attempt to get a refund and go to a different controller, or is there a setting that will stop the Apex from adding phantom outlets.

Very frustrating, and potentially very costly should I lose my livestock. I really thought that the Apex was the best product, but now I'm not sure.
 
In reading the Unofficial Guide, which is amazing work by the way, I realize that I should update my firmware. It seems a little cumbersome, but I'm sure I can get it done if I can get some time away from my 2 and 4 yo girls. Regardless, is it likely to correct the problem with the ghost outlets? I went through and deleted the extra modules yesterday, but it readded them very soon after doing so.

Any help would be greatly apprecaited!!!
 
gatorrx98 said:
In reading the Unofficial Guide, which is amazing work by the way, I realize that I should update my firmware. It seems a little cumbersome, but I'm sure I can get it done if I can get some time away from my 2 and 4 yo girls. Regardless, is it likely to correct the problem with the ghost outlets? I went through and deleted the extra modules yesterday, but it readded them very soon after doing so.

Any help would be greatly apprecaited!!!
Click to expand...

I have a 50' LAN cable you can borrow for the update if needed.

Mark
 
Call Neptune and complain about it.. This should not happen. Were you unpluging the power to the power bar either intentionally or accidentaly? I had the same problem after a base unit failed. Yes, After I got a base unit repaired, I then had that problem. I am going to leave my reply short because I may get into a rant that may be considered a flame. Call Neptune and tell them that you dont feel comfortable about possibly loosing all of your livestock.
 
I wasn't unplugging anything. The first time it did it, we'd had no power outages and I hadn't touched it since setting it up. I really have no idea why it started. I thought that I'd fixed it again last Wednesday, but now it is seeing 6 EB8's. Should I just switch to the DA RK or is this just a defective unit? I thought that this was a Neptune Systems forum, but I haven't heard from anyone from Neptune. I guess I shoul contact support. This is EXTREMELY disappointing to say the least.
 
I have had the same problem, twice. Update your firmware, then delete the ghost outlets,(configuration-module set up page). Email Curt, the last time I had this problem he got back to me in less than 2 minutes.
 
my biggest issue is finding time to upgrade the firmware. If that will fix the issue, I need to find the time. Unfortunately, my tank is just outside my little girls rooms. Night is the best time, but I don't want to wake them up. How long did it take you to update the firmware. If it was only as easy updating the AI Firmware. I do realize the the Apex is a much more sophisticated piece of equipment.
 
gatorrx98 said:
I thought that this was a Neptune Systems forum, but I haven't heard from anyone from Neptune. I guess I should contact support.
Click to expand...
This forum is sponsored by Neptune, but it's just us users/owners in here, helping one another. Curt from Neptune only stops by on occasion, usually to post about beta firmware. If you want to talk with Neptune, call or email support@neptunesys.com.

Since this issue seems to be happening more than it used to, I think people who are experiencing this should be calling Neptune.... you know the old saying about the squeaky wheel... in this case, the squeaky wheelS
 
Running the Ethernet cable, doing the update and deleting the modules was less than 15 minutes. The first time this happened I was on vacation and it was confusing because there were amps on all the ghost outlets. If Curt knows this is happening more often he may find a solution more quickly.
 
I wasn't unplugging anything.
Click to expand...

Is your controller rebooting by any chance? Does the 'last power fail' date seem to be more recent than a date where you actually lost power? Is the 'power restored' date blank?
 
I had this problem a while back. Nothing Neptune and I did over the phone fixed it. Neptune would Telnet in and delete the modules, update firmware, etc, etc. Within 24 hrs, ghost outlets would come back.

My problem would up being a faulty EB8.
 
aquamanic said:
Is your controller rebooting by any chance? Does the 'last power fail' date seem to be more recent than a date where you actually lost power? Is the 'power restored' date blank?
Click to expand...

I didn't have any power failures. That is why I was so surprised for this to suddenly start happening. Nothing seems to have triggered it. I really wonder if the EB8 may have failed. Here is the log. It does seem that the last power fail date is more recent that when I attepmted to reset it on the 12th. Keep in mind that I only have 1 EB8.

Power Failed: Oct 12 2011 07:02:37
Power Restored: Oct 12 2011 07:03:24
Power Fail: EB8_1 (6 Days 15:02)
Power Fail: EB8_2 (4 Days 20:34)
Power Fail: EB8_3 (4 Days 15:45)
Power Fail: EB8_5 (4 Days 16:16)
Power OK: EB8_6 (0 Days 02:28 - 0.0 Amps)
Power Fail: EB8_10 (6 Days 16:02)
 
I think you have a couple of problems. You didn't mention what your firmware version is but this feels like a firmware problem. I think you're having reboots of your controller. There were some problems in old firmware versions that manifested themselves with the controller rebooting.

I'd start with loading at least 4.10 if you're not on that already. Make sure you load the firmware & web pages then look at the module status screen to see if your modules all say OK and not OLD. Instructions in the User Guide on what to do if they need updating as well.

Then see if that changes things at all.
 
Finally able to get the firmware updated, thanks to help from Neptune's outstanding tech support that answered the phone after 2 rings and spent about 30 minutes helping me with a couple of issues that I was having. Only time will tell if I will have further issues with Ghost outlets, but at least I can say that I've done everything that was recommended.

I appreciate everyone's input!

Thanks,
Sean
 
Unfortunately I'm still having issues. Now when I go to status on my laptop, change the status to manual on, it still shows as being off. This is happening on my vortechs, media reactor and skimmer. I've reverted back to plugging them into a power strip, since I run them continuously. I'm wondering if the new firmware may not like how I have them set up previously.

I'm a bit puzzled now. Can anyone post the best way to set up on outlet that a return pump is plugged into? I'd like a 5 minute feed mode to be available.
 
gatorrx98 said:
Unfortunately I'm still having issues. Now when I go to status on my laptop, change the status to manual on, it still shows as being off. This is happening on my vortechs, media reactor and skimmer.
Click to expand...
Is it just those outlets only? When using the browser to change the state of an outlet, you have to click the update button (or enter key) twice. Once to make the change and again to refresh the page.

Todd
 
aquamanic said:
I think you have a couple of problems. You didn't mention what your firmware version is but this feels like a firmware problem. I think you're having reboots of your controller. There were some problems in old firmware versions that manifested themselves with the controller rebooting.

I'd start with loading at least 4.10 if you're not on that already. Make sure you load the firmware & web pages then look at the module status screen to see if your modules all say OK and not OLD. Instructions in the User Guide on what to do if they need updating as well.

Then see if that changes things at all.
Click to expand...

I have had this issue on the last three versions of the firmware, you can update it until cows come home and it will still crop up. How many DB8s do you have?
 
RussM said:
This can happen if you have duplicate outlet names. All outlet (and profile) names MUST be unique.
Click to expand...

That might be true, see below, I assure you I didn't add the outlets.....


ScreenShot2011-10-21at80422PM.png
 
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