jduck
Member
VarioS
Vectra/Apex confirmation
- Thread starter jcs11236
- Start date
VarioS
Elricsfate
New member
So I have a Vectra L1, and an Apex. I'm not entirely sure what I would want to "control". The Vectra has a feed mode and/or I can plug it into an outlet on the Apex with a feed mode. What else do I need to do with a pump that should be running pretty much 24/7 except for feeding or maintenance??
Plug it in to the Apex power bar, set a feed mode on that outlet through the Apex, turn it on, turn it up...go on with life. What's the big deal about controllability? This isn't a wave pump, or a light...
Plug it in to the Apex power bar, set a feed mode on that outlet through the Apex, turn it on, turn it up...go on with life. What's the big deal about controllability? This isn't a wave pump, or a light...
Vectra M1 Apex Feed mode integration
Vectra M1 Apex Feed mode integration
Here's an easy and inexpensive (~$25) way to get your Apex to trigger "feed mode" on the Vectra pump. It does involve use of a soldering iron but it's not as scary as it may sound. I had heard that the Vectra doesn't take kindly to a lot of power cycling so I wanted to avoid simply killing the power to it via the EB8 during the feed cycle.
At the beginning of my feed cycle I am using a 3 second pulse on the 0-10V output to simulate a button press on the "mode" button of the Vectra driver which triggers feed mode.
I am connecting the VarSpd1_I1 (0-10V) output to an opto-relay (~$14) with the output connected to the "mode" button on the Vectra driver. The relay module is in a small plastic project box (<$10). The output of the relay is normally in the "open" position, when the 10V signal is applied to the input the output switches to 0 ohms and since it is connected to the terminals on the Vectra "mode" button it closes the switch just as if you had pressed the button.
To connect to the "mode" button you simply remove the back cover of the Vectra driver module and tack two wires on the back side of the "mode" button (see photo).
I found in practice that in your programming on the Apex VarSpd1_I1 output you need to set the output on for 5 seconds to get a 3 second output.
Works great for me!
Vectra M1 Apex Feed mode integration
Here's an easy and inexpensive (~$25) way to get your Apex to trigger "feed mode" on the Vectra pump. It does involve use of a soldering iron but it's not as scary as it may sound. I had heard that the Vectra doesn't take kindly to a lot of power cycling so I wanted to avoid simply killing the power to it via the EB8 during the feed cycle.
At the beginning of my feed cycle I am using a 3 second pulse on the 0-10V output to simulate a button press on the "mode" button of the Vectra driver which triggers feed mode.
I am connecting the VarSpd1_I1 (0-10V) output to an opto-relay (~$14) with the output connected to the "mode" button on the Vectra driver. The relay module is in a small plastic project box (<$10). The output of the relay is normally in the "open" position, when the 10V signal is applied to the input the output switches to 0 ohms and since it is connected to the terminals on the Vectra "mode" button it closes the switch just as if you had pressed the button.
To connect to the "mode" button you simply remove the back cover of the Vectra driver module and tack two wires on the back side of the "mode" button (see photo).
I found in practice that in your programming on the Apex VarSpd1_I1 output you need to set the output on for 5 seconds to get a 3 second output.
Works great for me!
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Rick's Reef
New member
Nice, Ray, thank you for sharing!
I think I will copy shamelessly and implement mine the same way so thanks also for sharing the link to the relay.
Another challenge I have is that I have 2 Vectra return pumps. I would love it if I could alternate between the two of them so that when one is at 50% power, the other was at 10% and vice versa to create some alternating current effects in my tank. If ETM would work with Apex, this would be trivial...but since they won't now I am trying to figure out how to accomplish the same effect.
I have not found any documentation showing a master/slave relationship between 2 Vectras though. Does anyone know if such a capability exists?
I think I will copy shamelessly and implement mine the same way so thanks also for sharing the link to the relay.
Another challenge I have is that I have 2 Vectra return pumps. I would love it if I could alternate between the two of them so that when one is at 50% power, the other was at 10% and vice versa to create some alternating current effects in my tank. If ETM would work with Apex, this would be trivial...but since they won't now I am trying to figure out how to accomplish the same effect.
I have not found any documentation showing a master/slave relationship between 2 Vectras though. Does anyone know if such a capability exists?
Something has struck me as odd ...
Vectra still not Apex controllable, and I guess at this point probably won't be. So I assume (yeah, I know ...) that we're done with any further ETM integration to Apex. Not so fast buckaroo .... the brandy new Gen4 radions are compatible, and that required new firmware for the WXM. So what's the deal? Yeah, I get that Neptune is not a lighting competitor, but COR is still vapor-pump, so ..... Does Vectra compatibility really mean less sold ... odd
Vectra still not Apex controllable, and I guess at this point probably won't be. So I assume (yeah, I know ...) that we're done with any further ETM integration to Apex. Not so fast buckaroo .... the brandy new Gen4 radions are compatible, and that required new firmware for the WXM. So what's the deal? Yeah, I get that Neptune is not a lighting competitor, but COR is still vapor-pump, so ..... Does Vectra compatibility really mean less sold ... odd
luvreefs23
New member
Or....you can program the vectras outlet to turn off during feed mode while vectra is connected to battery back up allowing pump to run at a set reduced % so there's no bubbles with restart.
That is how I had mine set up before I switched to Red Dragon Speedy Speedy pump. It worked great.
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