AC Jr in Basement

[arvin]

I currently have my AC Jr in my basement. Now that I have MH lights, I am thinking of moving DC8 by the display tank so I can connect the MH. I am planning to leave the controller in the basement and run the DC8 using the telephone cable from the basement to the display tank.

a) I want to be able to use the feed option in the controller from the display tank. Is there anyway I can trigger the feed option remotely? One another option is to move the controller also by the display tank. In which case, I have to hook up the PH controller and temperature controller from the display tank, which I would like to avoid.

b) To hook up the remaining components in the basement to the AC jr, either I have to get the X10 adapter or I have to get a DC4. Can someone help be decide which is better?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[jg2269jg]

Dont use the x10 boxes they are useless any interference and they dont work hard wire the dc4 to the basement is your best option

 

[Carlo]

Or you could pick up a DC4HD (heavy duty) 4 channel controller and put that near the tank for the lights and keep the 8 channel in the basement. I guess it really comes down to what you are presently using the DC8 for.

What do you currently have plugged into the DC8 in the basement?

Carlo

 

[billyr98]

i have the aqua III in my basement and the dc8s and dc4hd upstairs and dc8 downstairs.. for feeding i just goto my laptop and hit feed..

 

[arvin]

i have the aqua III in my basement and the dc8s and dc4hd upstairs and dc8 downstairs.. for feeding i just goto my laptop and hit feed..

Thats what I want to do ultimately. But not yet...

 

[JohnS_323]

I disagree with the X10 comment. I use a mixture of DC8's and X10's and have never had a problem with either of them. The X10's are good for different types of applications than the DC4/DC8. I use them to turn remote heaters on and off. For my CO2 Solenoid and cooling fans. They work well for things that are off on their own, where using a DC4/DC8 isn't convenient or efficient. I've never had a minutes trouble with them.

Keep in mind, though, they are no good for running MHs or Ice Cap type ballasts. Those need to go on DC4 Heavy Duty or DC8.

 

[billyr98]

but john, you do have a newer home and x10 does run on wires. some older homes can just never get it to work correctly.. i ran them fine for a while, till i changed from magnetic ballast to electronic ballast.. it just killed the entire circuit.. but if it works for your house, they are a great alternative!! i loved them!

 

[JohnS_323]

OK, point taken. I guess it would be a gamble for you Arvind.

 

[arvin]

What do you currently have plugged into the DC8 in the basement?

To tell you the truth, it is underutilized. I have the following

Line1: 2 MH lamps + 2 canopy fans (tank)
Line2: 1 vho acitinic (tank)
Line3: 4 powerheads (tank)
Line4: 2 heaters (basement)
Line5: 2 fans on the sump (basement)
Line6: 1 CA reactor (not hooked up yet - in the basement)
Line7: 1 fuge lamp (basement)

That is why I want to get an X10 so I can use up all of DC8.

 

[arvin]

it just killed the entire circuit..

Hm. I have an electronic ballast too.

 

[arvin]

but john, you do have a newer home and x10 does run on wires. some older homes can just never get it to work correctly.. i ran them fine for a while, till i changed from magnetic ballast to electronic ballast.. it just killed the entire circuit.. but if it works for your house, they are a great alternative!! i loved them!

Can you tell me what you meant by 'killing the entire circuit'? I am trying to think what could be at risk here.

I do use X10 at home. I have the basement pump hooked up in an X10 control module and use a keychain remote to switch the pump on/off from upstairs. Does this mean I wont have any problems using X10 at my home, or are you saying it may not be reliable enough?

 

[billyr98]

well i had x10 doing my downlights and outside flood lights.. but as soon as I added my metal halides is didn't let me control any other x10s under my tank.. my other x10 stuff still worked.. i have some parts if you wanna try it before wasting cash.. let me know i will look around and gather some up...

 

[arvin]

I have a bunch of control modules with me. I have the control interface that I bought years ago from x10.com. I am not sure if I can use that control interface with AC Jr. I will give it a shot and let you know.

 

[billyr98]

if its the module with the phone jack, it works perfect with the JR, i had it running.. till i went with the electronic ballast i had no problem with the icecap 660, only metal halide electronic ballast..

 

[PMolan]

Well I see it as.... The AC Jr stays in the basement. A new DC is at the tank. You need to run a wire anyway to connect the Jr to the DC. Use cat 5 cable (4 pair). 2 pair will be to connect the Jr to the DC. You can now wire the other 2 pair to an IO breakout box (I DIY'd mine). You can wire a 12volt toggle switch at the tank. You can address the switch as "If Switch1 CLOSED Then.......".