Confidence shaken - Digital Aquatics RKE SL2 error

beachsidereefer · Dec 31, 2015

HI Everyone,

Hoping you all can help me with this situation as I just had the whits scared out of me.

I have a RKE with power bars, SLX (PH and temp), SL2v2 (salinity and temp), Net, Hub (external power supply to power the network) and two dosers. I also have my heater and chiller controlled by two boxes that you used for high amp draw, sorry can't recall the model numbers. It uses the SLX temp probe to control when to turn on the heater vs. chiller. This summer I hooked up a laptop and applied all the software updates I could find for the various unit modules and units.

The entire system except the heater and chiller is on a battery back up that's over rated rated for the entire load of pumps and lights. The main purpose is to protect the system from power surges damaging the equipment.

For a year the entire system has worked well but this morning a near disaster occurred that has totally shaken my confidence.

I went to feed the fish and when I put my hand in the water I thought it felt colder then usual. I checked my chiller and sure enough it was running. I stuck a thermometer in the water and was shocked to see the thank was at 66 degrees F! The RKE is programmed to turn on the chiller once the temp exceeds 80 degrees with a historisis of .4 degrees and the heater is programmed to turn on if the temp drops below 77 with a historisis of .2.

I looked at the RKE head unit and the temp and PH probe for the SLX said ERROR. This explains why the chiller stayed on because the chiller and heater are programed to monitor the temp using the SLX probe. What has really shaken me is if the heater was on it would have nuked the entire tank! Luckily nothing has died from the low temperature and I'm slowly warming the water back up.

So in a attempt to fix the ERROR message I disconnected the network cable to the SLX unit so it powered off. Plugged it back in and presto, error codes disappeared and temp and PH is reporting values that are in line with what I expect. Because I don't know what happened and if it will occur again I've disconnected the heater and chiller.

So here are my questions and concerns and I'm hoping that you all can help me because I've really worried that if this happens again and it's my heater that stays on it will nuke the entire tank in a very short amount of time.

1. Can I program the RKE so if the SLX temp probe goes to a ERROR state the chiller and heater switches will automatically turn off?
2. Why would this module go to a ERROR status and then magically start working again after unplugging it and plugging it back in? The system has worked perfectly for over a year.
3. Any other thoughts or ideas greatly appreciated!

Thank you

Emisis · Dec 31, 2015

Go in to the set up for your heater and chiller and set the "default" to off. This I believe will do what your wanting to do, simple test would be disconnect the temp probe when the heater or chiller is operating. I have had that same error too, but my temperature control items are set to default to off. I also just unplugged and plugged back in and has been fine ever since, mine was also after the updates.

beachsidereefer · Dec 31, 2015

Emisis said:
Go in to the set up for your heater and chiller and set the "default" to off. This I believe will do what your wanting to do, simple test would be disconnect the temp probe when the heater or chiller is operating. I have had that same error too, but my temperature control items are set to default to off. I also just unplugged and plugged back in and has been fine ever since, mine was also after the updates.

I checked and both heater and chiller switches are set to a Default of OFF

I wonder if there's a way to use the secondary temp probe on the SL2v2 as a back up to override the other if the SLX module fails?

Emisis · Dec 31, 2015

That is a question beyond my knowledge. Have you looked in the DA forums for anything?

n2585722 · Dec 31, 2015

Yes you can set an alarm for over temp and one for under temp using the SL2V2 temp probe. Once you have the alarms setup then go into the heater and choose the over temp alarm. Then set it to off when active. Then goto your chiller outputs and select the under temp alarm. Then set it to off when active. Also set you heater thermostats to 2 degrees above the controller set point. If you have the NET Module you can have it send you an email if the alarms are active.

beachsidereefer · Jan 1, 2016

n2585722 said:
Yes you can set an alarm for over temp and one for under temp using the SL2V2 temp probe. Once you have the alarms setup then go into the heater and choose the over temp alarm. Then set it to off when active. Then goto your chiller outputs and select the under temp alarm. Then set it to off when active. Also set you heater thermostats to 2 degrees above the controller set point. If you have the NET Module you can have it send you an email if the alarms are active.

Thanks but I'm thinking I have bigger problems now. I thought that since the SLX module seems to be acting up I would switch my heater and chiller to use the SL2V2 temp probe. So I calibrated the SL2V2 temp probe against a thermometer I have and add it to the home screen. Looking at the home screen the temp is reading 35 degrees! So I calibrate it again and it starts to read the temp properly but it doesn't seem to read a consistent temp insteada it fluctuates up and down 2-3 degrees constantly. After about a hour it started to read 35 degrees and a few hours later the temp popped back up to my tank temp. of 79. I'm really puzzled as the SL2v2 module, temp and conductivity probes are less then 3 months old. I checked the temp probe and it appears clean with no marine growth.

So now I"m wondering if the issue with SLX module is related to the temp problems with the SL2v2? Still incredibly frustrating as now I've unplugged my heater and chiller because I no longer trust the system.

Any and all advice and thoughts are appreciated!

n2585722 · Jan 1, 2016

Have you tried reseating the probe connector. Check all the module connectors for corrosion. Also post the order the modules are connected. Such as RKE PC4 SLX PC4 SL2v2.

Harry_Y · Jan 2, 2016

Wait until you try to get support from the company; Talk about a confidence shaker.

I'm still waiting for them to replace my SL2 module that has Never worked right.

elmexotics · Jan 2, 2016

Feel free to reach out to us via support@digital aquatics.com of you can reach me directly at [email protected]. We want make sure this is working correctly for you. It may be a temp probe going out. There are a few tests we can do to confirm.

beachsidereefer · Jan 6, 2016

elmexotics said:
Feel free to reach out to us via support@digital aquatics.com of you can reach me directly at [email protected]. We want make sure this is working correctly for you. It may be a temp probe going out. There are a few tests we can do to confirm.

Thanks Eric, I think we've exchanged emails in past and you've been a great help in troubleshooting some of my other issues. Could I give you a call on Friday? I think trying to figure this out via email is going to be pretty difficult and I seem to be having some another issue as well. Maybe it's related but can't tell at the moment.

Thanks

elmexotics · Jan 6, 2016

beachsidereefer said:
Thanks Eric, I think we've exchanged emails in past and you've been a great help in troubleshooting some of my other issues. Could I give you a call on Friday? I think trying to figure this out via email is going to be pretty difficult and I seem to be having some another issue as well. Maybe it's related but can't tell at the moment.

Thanks

please feel free to call, or shoot me an email when your available and I can call you.