Special functions Aq3
- Thread starter reefkeeps
- Start date
Here some pics of the guts of the switch box. What Collins said is essentially how I wired the thing up. I also think Collins' idea is a great one. He has one switch that turns a number of things off when he does a water change. The possibilities are unlimted. You could program the aquacontroller to do all kinds of things just be detecting the status of the switch. That's why these aquacontrollers are so flexible. At any rate here is the first pic:
The picture shows the inside of the box with switch one on the right side since this is a reverse view from the front of the box.
I know the guts are a little messy, so here is a diagram of how to do the wiring.
The wiring disagram is also viewed from the reverse as you would see the inside of the box. The wire colors correspond to the wiring on the cable I bought from Neptune. If you use some other cable, the colors would likely be different.
As to parts, the Hobby Box came from Frys.
The toggle switches and the 1/8 inch jacks came from Radio Shack. You don't need the stereo type plugs, just get the mono version since they only have two connections which is all you need.
The picture shows the inside of the box with switch one on the right side since this is a reverse view from the front of the box.
I know the guts are a little messy, so here is a diagram of how to do the wiring.
The wiring disagram is also viewed from the reverse as you would see the inside of the box. The wire colors correspond to the wiring on the cable I bought from Neptune. If you use some other cable, the colors would likely be different.
As to parts, the Hobby Box came from Frys.
The toggle switches and the 1/8 inch jacks came from Radio Shack. You don't need the stereo type plugs, just get the mono version since they only have two connections which is all you need.
ReefMeister2
Premium Member
Kattner,
Is it possible to install a BCN connector to this home-made box so that you can then plug in a second pH probe? Will the ACIII Pro recognize the additional probe, and If so, where would the additional pH readout be displayed?
Is it possible to install a BCN connector to this home-made box so that you can then plug in a second pH probe? Will the ACIII Pro recognize the additional probe, and If so, where would the additional pH readout be displayed?
Not possible. The two concepts are not related. The "home made" box just connects to the digital signal lines for the switch inputs - it does not connect to the electronics for ph and orp probes. Neptune is coming out with an expansion box as noted on this forum, but I'm not sure how they will implement it. Suffice it to say, you will have to wait for their expansion box to add another probe. If I could connect a ph and orp probe to my home made box, I would be selling them on ebay. 
Ken
Ken
No, the ACII has the digital lines for the switch in the serial cable. You have to modify the serial cable to pull these wires off to attach them to switch. See appendix of the ACII manual for the wiring diagram. The ACIII has a separate plug dedicated to the digital inputs since there are more.
hth
hth
Neptune Dissolved Oxygen Probe Options?
Neptune Dissolved Oxygen Probe Options?
:smokin:
Kattner or anyone:
Have you come up with a more cost effective option for a dissolved oxygen probe for the Neptune AC Pro / AC3 Pro rather than the Neptune $400+ one offered by Neptune? There are always ebay auctions for DO meters with Probes from Orion, Hach, YSI, Milwaukee and others that are less expensive then the Neptune probe by itself.
Also - has anyone figured out the electrical characteristics of the pin-out for the DO probe for the Neptune system - with that we may be able to determine a suitable aftermarket probe substitute as was done with the PH and ORP probes (e.g. Milwaukee PH and ORP probes work with Neptune).
Any help would be appreciated by all who own the Neptune AC3 Pro and AC Pro and don't want to spend $400 for just a probe.
Thanks
ChrisColt
Neptune Dissolved Oxygen Probe Options?
:smokin:
Kattner or anyone:
Have you come up with a more cost effective option for a dissolved oxygen probe for the Neptune AC Pro / AC3 Pro rather than the Neptune $400+ one offered by Neptune? There are always ebay auctions for DO meters with Probes from Orion, Hach, YSI, Milwaukee and others that are less expensive then the Neptune probe by itself.
Also - has anyone figured out the electrical characteristics of the pin-out for the DO probe for the Neptune system - with that we may be able to determine a suitable aftermarket probe substitute as was done with the PH and ORP probes (e.g. Milwaukee PH and ORP probes work with Neptune).
Any help would be appreciated by all who own the Neptune AC3 Pro and AC Pro and don't want to spend $400 for just a probe.
Thanks
ChrisColt
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