Need help with channel ID's

[ZoeReef]

Just ordered ACIII with a DC8 and a DC4HD. My understanding is that they daisy chain together. Kewl.

While waiting for it to arrive, I downloaded the ACIII's owners manual. I want to control 12 devices with these two (DC8 & DC4HD). I have already setup a table for these 12 devices I want to control, balancing power between the two units and coming up with unique timer names for each device. Kewl.

While reading through the manual I got to Ch 5 on Programming the ACIII. Under 'Timer Names', #4 says,

"Input the communications ID letter and number next. These letters and numbers should match channel IDs set on the control module earlier."

Huh... I must have missed something. I didn't remember reading anything about matching channel IDs anywhere. (now the wife might say that's not surprising..)

So I did a PDF document search on "channel ID". It turns out that this is the first occurrence of this term in the document. Hmm.

So I did another search on the term "control module". It occurs 5 times before, and in none of those places is a "channel ID set on the control module".

Soooo... when it arrives on Tues and I daisy chain these two units together, how do I tell the ACIII controller that I want to control the chiller (CHLL) with the 3rd outlet on the DC4HD?

p.s., feedback from a newbie: Perhaps in future revisions of the manual, include a glossary including terms such as; Timer name, Channel ID, and Communication ID; so that statements like: "Make sure that the control module communications ID matches the ID that is associated with the Timer Name", are easier for us new guys to understand.

Many thanks!

 

[collins]

there are dip switches that you position to give you the IDs you are asking about. The simplest way is to use A1-4 and B1-8 then assign timer names to each LTK$-A01
LTA$-A02 etc

Assuming that you use A1-4 then your chiller timer can be assigned with CHLL-A03.

If you want a symbol to appear, you might want to use CHL%-A03

 

[ZoeReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7315659#post7315659 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by collins
there are dip switches that you position to give you the IDs you are asking about. A03

thanks collins. Ahhh the missing link. Do those instructions come with the units?

You also brought up an interesting point about naming. Does the $ or % symbol determine if it's displayed? For example, would CHL% display, but CHLL not display?

You can always tell when it was an engineer who wrote the instruction manual. Kind of reminds me of a joke I once heard.

Q: When two engineers are talking, how do you know which one's the extrovert?

A: He's the one looking at the other guy's shoes. :lolspin:

(full disclosure: my degree is in civil engineering)

 

[collins]

You're welcome

There are labels on the control units that detail the switch positions - very straight forward

There are differnent symbols you can assign to timers. They are described in the manual. If you do not add a symbol to the timer name, it will still function, but no symbol showing the on/off state will be displayed on the controller.

 

[collins]

ZoeReef, here is how my timers are named

LTM$ light ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ moon
LTR$ light ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ refugium
LTA$ light ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Giesemann T5 actinic (2-54W) (Giesemann 48" 230 Eco Plus Fixture)
LTK$ light - Giesemann megachrome marine 13k DE HQI MH (2-150W) (Giesemann 48" 230 Eco Plus Fixture)
HRX% heater ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ front and rear
FNX% fan ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ all (small fan on top of tank, large floor fan)
PPR# pump ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ return (Rio 32hf)
SRX# skimmer ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ all (ASM G1x)
CRX# pump ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ calcium reactor (eheim on Korallin c1502 + maxijet 1200 feed)
KRX# pump ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ kalk reactor (Maxijet 400 on PM KR620)
PPD# pump ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ dosing (LiterMeter 3)
PDX# power head ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ all (Maxijet 400 x 1)
SDC& solenoid ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ CO2 regulator
SH1& - i/o switch 1 ; water level above max operating height
SH2& - i/o switch 2 ; water level below minimum operating height ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ water leak likely
SH3& - i/o switch 3 ; skimmer ON/OFF ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ used for maintenance
SH4& - i/o switch 4 ; refugium devices ON/OFF - used for water change
ALX& alarm - all (email only for now ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ no module)


I then assigned the switches and alarm to E01-E05 even though I do not have a control module that runs on E. All timer names show up in the status of the Aqua-controller

Hope this helps

 

[ZoeReef]

thanks a million. I had thought the online manual would include this type of info, and perhaps I have missed something, but this has really helped me to understand. Great help. Andy

 

[ZoeReef]

One more thing, I notice you have 18 assigned timers. What are you running for DC modules?

I ordered the DC8 & DC4HD, and I realized when I made my list up that I was going to be short of timer stations. Your list confirms that. Because I'm going to be building a 600g with several (3?) feature tanks (20g ea... Seahorse, mated pair clowns, perhaps octopus) I know I'm going to need more timers, but possibly more probes as well.

CURT: Any suggestions here? I'm sure you have helped people with multi-tank setups, can they do that effectively with just three probes?

If I were to upgrade to the Pro version, could I use the additional two probe connections(DO and conductivity) for additional pH or temp readings?

I tend to overkill on this kind of thing so I'm open to ideas.

Many thanks... Andy

 

[ZoeReef]

I'm not actually trying to increase my post count, but by way of clarification, here is what I'm setting up this month and what I need to control right now

It's a learning tank.

the big system will be next year. This controller will move to the new system.

 

[collins]

I have 2 DC4HDs and 1 DC8.

5 of the timers (the 4 switches and ALX, which I use as alarm state) do not reside on a control module.

The switches are assigned timers so that the status shows up on the controller and in email notifications

some learning tank!

good luck

 

[ZoeReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7317016#post7317016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by collins

5 of the timers (the 4 switches and ALX, which I use as alarm state do not reside on a control module.

The switches are assigned timers so that the status shows up on the controller and in email notifications

What device tells you that the water is too low, or too high? How does that device communicate with the controller if it doesn't reside on a control module. (ever get the feeling your missing out on some type of important concept? )

And if I understand the other function of those switches without controls, are these kind of like presets you can punch in, and then all the refugium equip turns off..or other special circumstances you might entertain?

I'm really glad I got into this before I got the stuff. You have saved me hours here. Thanks

 

[collins]

there is a wiring diagram for the controller to the extrernal inputs. I just made up a box with toggle swtiches and connected float switches to two of the 4 inputs. The other two toggles are used for maintenance. If you do a search in this forum for post by kattner (sp), he provided a diagram for a box similar to one that I built.

 

[ZoeReef]

thanks. Thread accomplished.

 

[collins]

you're welcome

 

[collins]

One last thing ZoeReef,
I just checked and the AC3 has 2 external inputs compared to the 4 of the pro version. It's not a big deal because only two are required for the critical stuff anyways.

 

[ZoeReef]

Hmm, but that is good food for thought. thanks