Splicing pump cable and adding a quick connector?

[tapio]

Hi Roger,

As the title says I would like to add a connector of some sort on the cable close to a Tunze pump, which one I am not sure of yet. The reason is the pump cable is routed through a 6 feet suspended light hood over my peninsula style tank. Rather than take off the end pieces of the hood it would be convenient to disconnect the cable before it enters the light hood to be able to service the pump. Is this possible?

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[rvitko]

It is very risky, I have seen this done and their are 5 very small wires in the cable, a connector that locks securely and is moisture resistant is needed. I have seen past efforts using Molex or DIN connectors that resulted in pump failure either because they came loose and arced or moisture caused a short. I would also worry about the longevity of the cable in the high heat in that fixture, typically special wiring with thick silicon insulation or a fiberglass sleeve is used in light fixtures to withstand this high heat.

 

[tapio]

Is Tunze making an extension cord for the pump cable?

 

[rvitko]

No, the cord lengths for the DC pumps are generally standardized at 5m for bigger pumps, 3m for smaller pumps. Longer than 5meters requires a signal amplifier and we offered custom versions in the past with longer cables, this was a common failure point and was discontinued.

 

[tapio]

What solution would you suggest to my situation. It can't be so unique. Maybe you have seen a similar tank with a smart solution. Routing cable through stand?

 

[rvitko]

The cable for the pump unplugs inside the controller (newest pumps since July 2015) and can be threaded through most things this way. On my home tank I have a conduit in the wall and just did that, it routes through the wall to the controller in the stand, for maintenance I have enough cable left to remove the pumps and clean them in a bucket by the tank. I would probably for this application find a discrete black wire molding that can go along the edge of the tank to bring it to the other end and make the pump more easily removable. I have seen people run the wires down through a bulkhead and stand pipe, with 1" pipe this is possible with the newer connector. At shows we have also buried the cable in the sand to come up the other side but this is very impractical and besides a weekend trade show, not a real solution in the longterm.

 

[tapio]

Thanks Roger. One more thing. I am now seriously considering the Stream3 to be put on both sides of the overflow. And mounted vertically with the flow deflector. I just have a hard time imagining them putting out such great flow and deflecting it horizontally.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[rvitko]

I am using 2 on one side of my 6ft long tank (215gallons), I have them turned sideways and my flow is an alternating gyre clockwise and counterclockwise. The flow is weak on the far end, but for my purposes it is ideal as half the tank will be SPS, half will be turtle grass and an anemone. They put out a very wide flow that really fills a tank, but of course the further from the pump the weaker it is.

 

[tapio]

You had previously suggested mounting them vertically on both sides of the overflow with the deflector. That is my concern if the horizontal flow will actually occur and not rip through vertically toward the surface. I understand that mounting them horizontally might make more sense but that way the magnets will be inside the overflow and submerged (you said that would be fine though).

 

[rvitko]

Yes, I recall that now. It will probably reduce the effectiveness a little because some of the energy will be lost to surface movement. How wide is the overflow box, can you give me the dimensions, it may be possible to mount them horizontally.

 

[tapio]

The box is 7 x 13.5, so in a horizontal position they would stick out about an inch. I would like to avoid that of course. How about a slightly tilted position? The deflector would still be needed I suppose. Of course I would hate to loose some pump power too...7 foot tank.

I know I could simply choose a traditional configuration pump but I am intrigued by the new technology in these.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[rvitko]

I would just have them stick out, I realize aesthetically it isn't as nice, but it will work better, the angle could work as well. If you could mount them on the side of the overflow horizontally and use the grid so they are basically two flow cannons, that would work incredibly well.

 

[tapio]

Thanks Roger!

 

[tapio]

Roger I sent you an email.