Is the ReefAngel the right controler for me ?

[Reef4Free]

Hey

Im in the market for my first controler , but is the Reefangel the right controler for my needs ?

and please try not to answer with abbreviations or acronyms... know what i mean..


So this is the list of what my controler will have to do (OUT OF THE BOX) and i really mean out of the box...!!!
In other words, if i order a unit kit, that unit kit should have all the necessary parts included.

1- the controller must be able to turn off and on the Heater according to the water Temp ! especially in case the heater get stuck On.

2- The controller has to be able to send an email, or a phonetext in case something goes wrong.

3- An access to the controler wired or wirelessly via a computer or iphone or galaxy ,,,

4-In case of a poweroutage!!! , the controller has to inform me in real-time real quick!.

5-My Ato is a tunze, so if the RODI pump get stuck, it has to stop the rodi pump

6- Not a must, but my powerhead is a Jebao Wp25, if someday i get rich ill get a vortech.. so the controler has to be able to simulate waves or to manually shut down powerhead for feeding within a single click.. on both Jebao and vortech.

7- Lighting : I heard that Evergrow LED (AKa reefbreeders) can not be controlled by any controller unless modified...
Since i don't intend to modify my LEDs... i need a controller that can control a wide range of LED especially the cheap china LEDs. By controlling i mean DIMMING and simulate cloudy, storms, raining, sunset, dawn conditions..

8- Has to be able to detect PH,

9- Has to be able to detect water leak or flooding on the floor and send (email me) if that happens.

10- some form of compatibility with the upcoming mindstream water test analysis.


So is the Reef Angel the right controller out the box ? if not, which module do i need ?

LAstly, it is difficult to determine which ReefAngel unit you need. Because the Digital dimming and analog are two distinct unit, so what happen if you need the analog and then upgrade something which require the Digital ? or worst, what if you are using both analog and digital lighting ?


Remember,,,,, no abreviation or acronyms...thanx!

[lnevo]

Yes to all with the following notes:

4) if you have a power outage, you are dependent on other infra to notify so getting alerts is dependent on your internet connection being up, etc. I am doing this today, but if my whole house loses power, I don't have ups on my internet at the moment.

7) not without hacking. More and more manufacturers are implementing their own controllers and less are offering compatibility, so without hacking this will not be possible. Otherwise you are looking at a building your own, making some modification or buying APEX ready type of fixture.

10) this is too new at the moment to know, but there is a lot of interest in this device. If we can do something we will. Right now mind stream is advertising that you will need to use their radio chip in order to interface directly so you might need hardware down the line for it to work. We don't really know enough yet...

And for your lastly question, the latest dimming module, you can select analog or pwm (pulse width modulation / digital dimming...sorry for the acronym) for each channel and you can select the voltage (0-5v or 0-10v) for each channel as well. So if your needs change you have options.

I think the most important question is how comfortable you can be with the coding. We have lots of help available and the wizard does 99% of what you'll need, but you may feel lost and helpless if you can't follow what is going on. The reef angel uses standard C programming language which means its a standard so Google is your friend, or anyone that knows C would be able to assist. My recommendation is to download the wizard and run through it and design your code now. Look through it, it will look like gibberish but once you see how the functions work it may make a little more sense. Ask us questions if your not sure on anything. The forum is usually very quick to respond and customer service from Roberto is great.

In all honestly, all the things you asked for are out of the box features, but you'd be hard pressed to do them all and the custom things you want with any other controller. From a functionality space, your in the right place. If you have any more questions, please keep them coming and good luck however you decided to go.

[Reef4Free]

a have an IT background... back in college i did oriented object programming.. but that was 12 years ago.. and i havent coded anything after college.. i did mainly IT computer park/labs maintenance and a little network for 8 years (full time job at my local university IT dept...) until i a became an educator officer to help kids with special needs. Yea i have two degrees..

I've learned basic algorithm concept, some cpu coding, Turbo Pascal, C and C++, Cobol, and SQL... (3 years college in IT) plus 3 more years in education.

So i do understand some coding lines altough i do not consider myself as an engineer... and for coding im very rusty..

[lnevo]

You should have no problem then. We're not doing anything complicated.... A lot of if / then statements...some modulo math for custom timings

With your last post, I would say 100% the right controller for you.

[Reef4Free]

cool then..

but on the Order page... im still uncertain about analog vs PWM..

Should i get the PWM ? its $20 less.. whats the cons and + on each ?

I'm using both Jebao wavemaker powerhead and Korelia powerhead at the moment.

I just want to make sure i get the right one..

And thnx your info...

[lnevo]

I'll let Roberto give the details...I believe the store is not updated as they are the same module now...unless he plans on keeping both sku since the analog will require the jumpers added... If your talking about the relay box model then go with pwm. The Jaebo can be controlled by either type. And LED seems you won't be able to control off the bat so it doesn't matter.

As far as Jaebo if you want to control the % you'll need the Jaebo cable. The koralia you can only do power on/off but we can make that random, etc (just use port 5 or 6 on the relay box)

[rimai]

If you are talking the dimming expansion module, it should become one module in the very near future.
I just need to find time to update the manual.
The base system has to be chosen at the time of purchase, so if you want the signal that is most used, go with the Analog.
The PWM is more geared towards DIY fixtures.

[Reef4Free]

ok, i'll be honest, the "order page" is slightly confusing. It is to me, unclear which parts that is included or not included when you buy the kit... I presume it is a kit and not parts..

So, what do i have to add in the Shopping cart to do all the stuff that i listed in my previous post ?

- Internet access,
- Email sending when necessary.
- On / Off powerhead
- On / Off heater when temp reach X
- On / Off powerhead when feeding
- On / off / dimming wide range of LED fixtures . especially China LED or DIY LED
- On / Off Tunze ATO
- On / Off GFO/Reactor/Kalk/Calc or whatever device
- Flood /water leak detector
- Most importantly email warning when power outage. (my internet router and ISP modem are on UPS pack already, i have atleast 2 hours, internet acess and phone communication during poweroutage )
(my main computer also has its own UPS (but only for 30 min or so)
So i need the Reefangel to send me an email, or a phone text or something during poweroutage.

So what do i need to add in the shopping cart ? just the main unit ($289 ?) thats it ? (basic probes, and powerbar are included ?)

[Reef4Free]

btw, to help decide, this is what i'm using:

- Jebao Wavemaker WP25 (got two)
- Devil Return pumps with speed controller... i think its a DC pumps. like the Jebao.
- 2 heaters..
- LED fixtures are no name china brand.. unknown dimming capability.... I also have Evergrow IT20x0 on other tanks.
- a few Korelia Powerhead

[rimai]

You can check the package contents here:
http://www.reefangel.com/product_raplus.aspx
What is exactly your thinking when you say "out of the box"?
If you expect to take it out of the box and without any programming, it does everything you want it to do, I'm afraid it won't.
It can if you program it.
According to what you wish, I think this is what you need:
Reef Angel Plus w/ Analog dimming
Wifi Attachment
Relay expansion module
Rope Leak Detector Expansion Module
Expansion Hub

If you are the DIY type, you can get a simple power supply and a relay to sense the power outage instead.
If you do that, you can remove the Relay expansion and the expansion hub from the list above.

[Reef4Free]

about power outage detection... can you just monitor something (non-reef related) that is plugged into regular home outlet? something that doesnt pull too much current/amp... when your house lose power, that device should turn off... no? RA should be able to detect that event and send you an email...in theory. And yea, i plan to put the controller on a battery backup (UPS).

Out of the box, means, i do not have to buy missing peaces... (say a cable, a unit, expansion module. etc..)
programming the lines shouldn't be a problem...if everything i have is compatible with RA ofcourse.

[lnevo]

about power outage detection... can you just monitor something (non-reef related) that is plugged into regular home outlet? something that doesnt pull too much current/amp... when your house lose power, that device should turn off... no? RA should be able to detect that event and send you an email...in theory. And yea, i plan to put the controller on a battery backup (UPS).

Out of the box, means, i do not have to buy missing peaces... (say a cable, a unit, expansion module. etc..)
programming the lines shouldn't be a problem...if everything i have is compatible with RA ofcourse.

For power detection you have two choices... Monitor a second relay expansion (easiest) or like you said monitor something plugged to a non backed up port... The way you would do this is to get a 12v doc adapter and plug it into a 12v relay. The switch side of the relay would get plugged into one of the float switch ports. This takes a bit of soldering and wiring and uses up a float switch port. You'll need at least one float switch port to back up your tunze ato so you should be ok. I like monitoring the relay expansion because you get 8 more relays

[Reef4Free]

no soldering, i don't want to solder anything... to fix electronic devices ie computer screen, tv, i wouldnt mind... but near the aquarium no... simply because i really want to make things easy around the aquarium.

If i want to ask my wife to do something (turn on of, remove, unplug, feed etc..), she has to be able to do it without me on the phone to guide her...

So i really need something extremely friendly to hook, setup, and use.

Maybe someone should draw some sort of illustration to show all the devices hooked together... A connect to B connect to C.

The more im reading, the more i get confused... To me a relay is the electronic relay found in most electronic devices like an Amplifier to trigger say a speaker. And when i search for RA relay , it comes up with a box with a tiny hole in the front,,, and then we're talking about 8 more relays,,, but then i see a large black powerbar.
Its a little bit confusing honestly.

The website may need more pictures illustrating everything hooked up.

For power outage detection. I'm looking for a non soldering solution if possible.

Return pump, 1 powerhead, (1 heater) should be up and running in case of a poweroutage.. and ofcourse an email or sms warning...
Can it be done on the RA without soldering or thinkering cables ?

Lastly, im comparing the cost right now.
It looks like RA gives you more for the money than Apex or Reefkeeper... however, if i choose RA, i get almost everything the bigger Apex or RK is offering. My understanding is that there is no RA entry level (RA Jr or RA lite)
Buying all the RA modules comes to nearly $700
The main unit 289 + Wifi 109 + relay expansion 119 + hub 49 + rope leak 119 = 685 !!! ouch.

To cut down on price, i have to remove some...
i can live without the water leak but that still come up to 566 which is higher than i was expecting..

I really need to get the price down a little or my wife will kill me...

anyway, tnx for all the info... u guys are very helpful

[johniii]

Do you need 16 relays??

[rimai]

The manual has a diagram with the connections.
Take a look at that.
Yes, a relay is a tiny thing found on electronic devices.
The RA relay box has 8 relays inside and that's why it is called relay box.
Each relay box can handle 8 individually controller outlet ports.
In the math you did above, you are adding a second relay box for a total of 16 ports. The reason we mention that is that RA can easily detect the second relay box power failure and alert you in case of power failure.
If you don't need the leak detector, you also don't need the expansion hub. The hub is only required when connecting more than one expansion module to your system.
If you also don't need 16 controllable outlet ports, you can also remove the relay expansion, but that would also remove the power failure detection that you wished to have.
If you strip those, all you need is the RA+ package and the wifi attachment.

[Reef4Free]

289+109 is more reasonable indeed.. but is there any chance to add poweroutage detection in a near future without buying Hubs and Relay expansion ?

Because if not, like i said, maybe i can monitor something that can trigger an sms/email event...

IE:
Set a temp probe near a small LED light that is plugged to a normal home outlet... if there's a power outage, that small LED should turn it self off thus cool down and then trigger an SMS or email...

The rest of the equipment should run on UPS.... but can you plug the whole RA including the 8 relays to the UPS ?

[rimai]

IE:
Set a temp probe near a small LED light that is plugged to a normal home outlet... if there's a power outage, that small LED should turn it self off thus cool down and then trigger an SMS or email...

Damn, man!!!
That's genius!!! LOL
That would definitely work

[lnevo]

IE:
Set a temp probe near a small LED light that is plugged to a normal home outlet... if there's a power outage, that small LED should turn it self off thus cool down and then trigger an SMS or email...

Damn, man!!!
That's genius!!! LOL
That would definitely work

It is except on a hot sunmer day when the temp may fluctuate...i wouldn't go that route...

The soldering is a one time thing...the apex power detection uses the same method. Its really not that bad...its the same method we use to do the autofeeder modification...

If you dont need the 16 ports i would definitely recommend trying it...

Maybe roberto can build you something for a fee

Don't get too confused it's really not that bad...

[johniii]

OK what about this for power detection. Use a ups on your reef angel. Wire a relay to make/break the high ato pin. Said relay would need to be plugged into normal non ups power. Then just set a highato flag in the app.

[johniii]

If highato is closed no power send alert. If high ato is open power is good