Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Request new hardware or ideas for the controller
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hippiesmell
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:48 pm

Re: Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Post by hippiesmell »

pandimus wrote:http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?p=23565#p23565

A few pics of my relay box on that thread.mine is version 1.7 I think it's pretty decently made. Also if you've used the product for this long hasn't it proven itself?
Thanks for the pics.

Has it proven itself? It hasn't burst into flames yet, if you consider that being proven. I've had problems with it, heat related problems, failing power bricks, outlets that don't allow the plug to insert all the way, and relays sticking on. I don't know if you've seen the 1st gen boxes, but they're flat out scary inside. I was sent a replacement power brick, and when I replaced it and put it back together it promptly shorted into a puff of smoke. Thankfully, Roberto sent two bricks. The pics you posted are wayyyy different. I'd like to see the other side if you know where.

Anyway, I'm not trying to rag on it too much. I knew it was a very new product when I got it. I just hope things have improved.
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Post by rimai »

You can see that the power supply is encased and PCB mounted now.
If you go next page on that thread, you will see the other side.
The tabs are where the sockets are mounted.
The sockets used are these:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/e ... ND/1164209
They are mounted flush to the PCB board.
Roberto.
hippiesmell
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:48 pm

Re: Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Post by hippiesmell »

cosmith71 wrote:The wires you see in pandimus' picture are the only ones in the box. The outlets are mounted on the PCB. I can't imagine it being any safer as far as construction goes.

--Colin
It could be inside a metal box, for one. A circuit breaker would be nice. Maybe the new ones have a breaker, mine has a fuse. I have mixed feelings about surge suppression because MOV's can catch fire, but there are alternatives. Inside a metal box MOV's shouldn't be a problem. Built in GFCI would be awesome considering this is designed for saltwater, but I have those already.

That's just stuff I'm aware of. I'm sure there are other things that could be done by people more knowledgeable than I.
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Post by rimai »

It's got a 10A resetable breaker. No more fuse.
Those are not MOVs. They are inductive suppressor and don't heat up. They only become active when there is a inductive pump that is turned off. It suppresses the inductive spike generated by motors.
The box is made of flame retardant ABS and you need an excessive amount of heat for a long period of time for them to even start to produce any amount of risk to catch on fire.
Like I said, the relay box has gone very far from when it was originally introduced on gen1 RAs.
Everything is different.
Roberto.
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Post by rimai »

Just for your reference, the relay boxes are made of Underwriter Laboratories UL94-5VA approved material, which means the material cannot melt to a point that it drips and cannot produce any hole within the walls.
Also, 5VA material are put through severe tests that are 5 times greater than any other flammable retardant material.
Roberto.
hippiesmell
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:48 pm

Re: Concerns with relay box. Possible alternative?

Post by hippiesmell »

It sounds like you've made some good improvements. Much better than mine.
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