Help explaining the hardware

[Sleepingtiger]

I am looking to purchase a new controller and I think the Reef Angel is what I need. I just have some questions regarding what hardware I need to purchase.

This is what I need my controller to do.

1. Do the basic like control my heater, ato and 2 dosing pumps.
2. I want to have 6 to 8 individual channels for my LED. I want program it for lightning, cloud cover and lunar cycle.
3. Control 3 jebao pumps that will vary the water movements. Match the water movement to the lighting. rough waters during lightning storms, calm waters at night and a feed mode.
4. control the 3 fans that cool the LEDs and 1 fan to cool the DT.
5. lots of expandability in the future for automatic water change, calcium reactor and maybe even more channels for LED.

So I just have several questions
Do I need the Reef Angel or the Reef Angel Plus?
what modules do i need?
is what I am asking the RA to do too much?

Thanks for all you help!!

[johniii]

Ra plus. And at least one dimming expansion. Ra has the power to fufill your needs

[Sleepingtiger]

Wih the led, should the power supply be plugged into the controlled outlets or just any plug?
I want to make sure if I need to buy an additional controlled power outlet

[lnevo]

It depends on your drivers. Most though do turn off at 15-0%

Also right mow you will only have 6+2 dimming channels. So unless you can combine some of your driver channels you may want to talk to Roberto about a custom dimming channel. I know he's working on a 16 channel but not sure if thats gonna be widely available or not.

RA+ for sure.

Sounds like you and RA will be a good fit. The ambition of your build tells me the compatibility and control you will have is perfect for you.

Good luck!

[Sleepingtiger]

It depends on your drivers. Most though do turn off at 15-0%

Also right mow you will only have 6+2 dimming channels. So unless you can combine some of your driver channels you may want to talk to Roberto about a custom dimming channel. I know he's working on a 16 channel but not sure if thats gonna be widely available or not.

RA+ for sure.

Sounds like you and RA will be a good fit. The ambition of your build tells me the compatibility and control you will have is perfect for you.

Good luck!

I am new to reefing and RA. I am not a programmer or an EE. The idea of me working and programming this stuff is scary, yet i know the reward will be tremendous if i get it working the way i want it to.

So for lighting, my DT has 3 rows of LED strips. Each strip has 18 LED. Each strip consist a combination of 6 x royal blue, 5 x blue, 2 x violet and 5 x neutral white. One LED strip will also contain a cool white LED dedicated to lightning and thunderstorm effects. How do you think I should configure my channels for the LED? forgot to mention, the LED will be driven by Meanwell PWM drivers and 2 power supplies.

Also, it looks like i will be purchasing the Jebao DC1200 to be controlled by the RA.

couldn't i just purchase the expansion hub and 2 dimming expansion modules?

[lnevo]

I'm not 100% sure. Possibly. Need Roberto to confirm.

[rimai]

Even though the hardware is capable of doing 2 dimming modules, the library doesn't support this yet.
This means you would still be able to control the channels just fine, but you would not have a way to see the channels in the portal or the apps.
Only the 1st dimming module shows up right now.

[Sleepingtiger]

Even though the hardware is capable of doing 2 dimming modules, the library doesn't support this yet.
This means you would still be able to control the channels just fine, but you would not have a way to see the channels in the portal or the apps.
Only the 1st dimming module shows up right now.

sorry, i am a complete noob. when you say portal and apps, do you mean the apps on the iphone or the RA status under Inevo posts?

So I wont see the channels, but I can still control them fine? As long as it works, i dont mind. How about that 16 channel dimming module Inevo was talking about? I don't mind being the guinea pig on this. I will be placing my order for the RA+ in a few days. I want to make sure I get everything I need.

So it looks like I will be getting the RA+ pwm, PWM dimming expansion module(unless Rimai has the 16 channel for me to use), 3 x Jebao cable and the wifi attachment. Do i need to buy the expansion hub if I am getting the wifi attachment?

[rimai]

Correct. You can control them individually through your code, but you won't be able to see at what % each channel is at. Only the 6 channels of one module are displayed.
The 16 channel module was a special order for another reefer.
The module was specifically made to work on 0-5VDC PWM signals, so you would need to use Meanwell LDD drivers.
Those modules also do not have integration with the Portal and smartphone apps.
If you plan on using these drivers, I can certainly make more of these for you too
No need for Hub on the list you posted above.

[Sleepingtiger]

Correct. You can control them individually through your code, but you won't be able to see at what % each channel is at. Only the 6 channels of one module are displayed.
The 16 channel module was a special order for another reefer.
The module was specifically made to work on 0-5VDC PWM signals, so you would need to use Meanwell LDD drivers.
Those modules also do not have integration with the Portal and smartphone apps.
If you plan on using these drivers, I can certainly make more of these for you too
No need for Hub on the list you posted above.

whoa, i was planning on buying the meanwell LDD drivers. are you saying that the dimming module on the this website is not compatible with the meanwell ldd drivers? how much would the 0-5vdc pwm dimming expansion module cost? will it be compatible with the jebao wp40 or the jebao dc1200 pump?

[rimai]

The modules sold are 0-10VDC PWM signal. If you need 0-5VDC PWM signals, you need to let me know before I ship the unit.
I can make the modification at no charge.
If you plan on using LDD drivers, you can use one of the 16ch modules mentioned before. They can be used on your LDD drivers and the Jebao cables can also be modded to use the same signal, so everything works on the 0-5VDC PWM signal.
Being a special module, there is no enclosure for it.
PM for more details, if you are interested.