Thinking of getting a Reef Angel

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:13 am

I'm looking into getting a controller and am leaning towards the RA.
It seems that the Reef Angel Plus Controller is the better choice over the base Reef Angel because of the expanded memory.

I think my main question right now is that I don't really know if I need the PWM or analog version.

The LED Lights I'm looking at building are going to use MeanWell LPF drivers which can control via 1~10Vdc or PWM signal or resistance.

But I also will want to control my Jebao WP40 wavemaker, so is the PWM version the better option for me?

Also how many PWM devices (or channels I guess) can the main unit control?

I'm going to have 6 channels on my LED lights (whenever I get to building them).

johniii · Post by **johniii** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:26 am

Pwm is what you want. The main unit has two expansion . You will need the dimming expansion if you need more channels.
If you want flexibility get the ra+ analog and a pwm expansion module.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:54 am

Thanks.
Thant what I was thinking.
The RA + Analog.
Then get 4 more Analog modules for the rest of the 6 channel lighting and a PWM module and cable for the WP40.

Thanks. I just like to double check my thoughts sometime rather then by the wrong thing.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:41 am

The dimming module has 6 ports. The wp40 can be controlled as pwm or analog...

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:43 am

From your specs i would say ra+ pwm and analog dimming channel. Then all lighting is on the module and wp40s on main unit.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:44 am

I understand now.
The dimming model has 6 channels to it.
That way all 6 channels from the lights can be connected to the analog dimming module.
The WP40 can be connected to one of the 2 PWN channels on the main unit.

lnevo you said the WP40 can be controlled PWM or analog.
There is talk that controlling it analog can shorten the life of the unit.
I currently have one of those LED dimmers connected to it and it has been working fine for about 3 weeks, but if it does shorten the life I figure it will be over a period of time, not 3 weeks.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:25 pm

Roberto can answer that better...but the idea is that the pwm head unit is also cheaper and it didn't sound like you needed 6 channels of it...

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:18 pm

Sacohen wrote:I understand now.
The dimming model has 6 channels to it.
That way all 6 channels from the lights can be connected to the analog dimming module.
The WP40 can be connected to one of the 2 PWN channels on the main unit.

lnevo you said the WP40 can be controlled PWM or analog.
There is talk that controlling it analog can shorten the life of the unit.
I currently have one of those LED dimmers connected to it and it has been working fine for about 3 weeks, but if it does shorten the life I figure it will be over a period of time, not 3 weeks.

I understood that the pump control works on 5 VDC analog? I think even the RA Jebao cable uses a low pass filter to smooth out the PWM signal.

--Colin

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:21 pm

And FWIW, all of the PWM RA stuff is cheaper than the analog version. If it's all the same, I'd go PWM just to save the $$.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:50 pm

Sacohen wrote:There is talk that controlling it analog can shorten the life of the unit.

The "analog" control you are saying is not controlling signal.
There is a big difference on doing what you doing, which is altering the operating the voltage by using whatever you are using and controlling it with analog or PWM signal.
Reducing the operating voltage of a pump, makes it run hotter, less efficiently and reduces its lifetime as opposed to running it on the correct operating voltage and controlling it with an external signal. The Jebao pump uses analog control signal, but the Jebao cable sold at the webstore accepts both analog and PWM and will convert it to the correct voltage and signal that the pump needs.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:35 pm

Thanks everyone.
Roberto, your explanation makes a lot of sense and I assume Jebao is going to be controlling the signal when they add "the function to the controller which can adjust the speed" and that's what they adjust for the night mode, which runs at 1/3rd power.

Although they do offer a variable voltage power supply on their web site now.

Thanks for the answers and Roberto it was your hands on and helpfulness and the speed in which you jumped on figuring how to control the WP40 when it came out that led to my decision for a Reef Angel as opposed to the others.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 5:27 pm

One more question.

Does the RA+ have a RJ45 jack for network connectivity without WIFI.
My router is right next to my tank.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 5:50 pm

No. Only wifi

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:02 pm

Thanks.

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:26 am

Hey Roberto,

While we're on the subject, how does the pump adjust speed? Does the control signal affect duty cycle?

--Colin

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:32 am

No. The controller changes duty cycle on the PWM signal, which is then converted to analog with a low pass filter and applied to the control signal of the pump.

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:34 am

Yes, but how does the pump physically change speeds, at the pump level? I'm not sure how to explain myself.

--C

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:40 am

I don't know internally how the pump does... The pump is sealed and I don't want to crack one open

You can inquiry with the manufacturer.
They provide a +24V, GND and control signal wire. That's what we use.

cosmith71 · Post by **cosmith71** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:28 pm

rimai wrote:I don't know internally how the pump does... The pump is sealed and I don't want to crack one open
You can inquiry with the manufacturer.
They provide a +24V, GND and control signal wire. That's what we use.

I sent them an email. After seeing the translation of the instruction manual, I'm looking forward to their response.

--Colin

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