The Big Controller Comparison Chart.

[jdieck]

Robby:

Great Job!

A couple of suggestions.
You may want to add if the controller has circuitry self test capability.

On the feature of Power Bar Manual Override I ntoiced that the Neptune controllers are listed as NO but I do not know if this may count but they have the capability to turn each channel into AUTO or Manual ON, Manual OFF

Thanks for all the work.

 

[RobbyG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8787003#post8787003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
Robby:

Great Job!

A couple of suggestions.
You may want to add if the controller has circuitry self test capability.

On the feature of Power Bar Manual Override I ntoiced that the Neptune controllers are listed as NO but I do not know if this may count but they have the capability to turn each channel into AUTO or Manual ON, Manual OFF

Thanks for all the work.

Thank You, I am happy so many people like it.

The Self test Circuitry, I am not sure if I am following you, do you mean a startup diagnostic mode or an optiion in the Menu to do a hardware/software scan? Do any of the units I listed have this feature? Please let me know, I am very interested in reading more on this.

The Manual On/Off is suppose to be a button on the powerbar that will disconnect it from the controllers control and turn all plugs ON. Very useful if you controller dies and you need to temporarily have the PowerBar work like a regular power strip.

 

[kbecker]

What do you define service mode as?

 

[jdieck]

The Self Test feature of the AquaController performs a short diagnostic on the major internal components in
the base unit. If the Self Test is selected and the unit is operating correctly, a "passed" message is displayed on the
screen. The other information displayed indicates the date and revision of the AquaController III firmware as
well as the controller's serial number.

It also has a feature for Memory initialization, this will reset the calibration constants (for the probes) to the factory condition and to the original default basic program.

 

[RobbyG]

I will definitely look into this for an addition later on. Right now I am gathering new features so that I can combine them into a new questioner, once I have enough I will email the manufacturers for information and then add it. Thanks for the heads up on this feature.

 

[RobbyG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8787569#post8787569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kbecker
What do you define service mode as?

A ONE button press that can disable a set group of plugs for a defined period when your servicing the sump or tank.

 

[jimsflies]

The AC III has the "Feed Cycle" which can be programmed to turn any thing on/off for a defined period of time. Actually the latest firmware upgrade adds 3 additional programmable feed cycles, for a total of 4.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8788611#post8788611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobbyG
Thanks for the heads up on this feature.

On the contrary, thanks for your hard work on this! :thumbsup:

 

[RobbyG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8789447#post8789447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimsflies
The AC III has the "Feed Cycle" which can be programmed to turn any thing on/off for a defined period of time. Actually the latest firmware upgrade adds 3 additional programmable feed cycles, for a total of 4.

I included that the ACIII has a feedmode, and also the AC Junior has a feed mode.

 

[clp]

I think that jimflies was saying that the feed mode(s) on the AquaController can be configured to do exactly the same thing as the service mode definition, so the service mode feature should be checked for the AquaControllers.

Curt

 

[RobbyG]

Are you saying that you can assign up to four of the front panel buttons so that on a single press each one of them can disable a set group of plugs?

 

[Acroholic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8793180#post8793180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobbyG
Are you saying that you can assign up to four of the front panel buttons so that on a single press each one of them can disable a set group of plugs?

Yes

Great Job putting this together......:thumbsup:

 

[FuzzyLogic]

Great job :thumbsup:, thank you. Question, did you purposely omit warranty info?

 

[Lutefisk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8793180#post8793180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobbyG
Are you saying that you can assign up to four of the front panel buttons so that on a single press each one of them can disable a set group of plugs?

Using the LCD you can select mode A, B, C, or D that can each turn off any combination of outputs.

 

[RobbyG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8794266#post8794266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FuzzyLogic
Great job :thumbsup:, thank you. Question, did you purposely omit warranty info?

Oops never even thought about that :eek2: I will add it when I send out the next questioner. Thanks.

 

[RobbyG]

CLP, Acroholic and LuteFisk I will update that today. Thanks for getting me the info, I hope to have this 100% correct in the next couple of weeks.

 

[jdieck]

I would include also whatever feedback you get on service. Mine from Neptune has been super flawless and some upgrades charge free even after the warranty period.

 

[RobbyG]

Service might become a huge can of worms. I would have to setup some sort of Poll for each controller, that's way to much work and it would not be very accurate because some of the European made models, may have only 1 or 2 people on the whole of RC who own the units, If just one person says service is great or Bad, then that company would get a 100% or 0% approval. Kind of unfair to others companies that have 100's of users it they get 100% and unfair to them if it's 0%

 

[jdieck]

I think you are right regarding service. I wish there were a way to measure properly things like:
a) Service
b) Tech support
c) Serviceability
d) Market share/popularity
e) Risk of obsolecence/replacement
f) Value for the money
g) Desirable brand name

All those other things that can also make a diference. May be someone more focused on Marketing could give us some ideas.

 

[Acroholic]

Robby, this could be done actually.....if customer service approval rating is only displayed when X amount of users reply.