controller input! who's got one

[haysanatar]

I was redoing my led's and realized my controller got some saltwater on it when my overflow clogged.. (sad day) I was using just a run of the mill rapid led pwm dimmer (which I loved).
Long story short I'm REALLY looking at getting myself a new reef tank controller. I'd like to hear what everyone out there is using.
Apex, reef angel, and reef keeper are the ones I'm really looking into. I'm particularly interested in the reef angel I've found their setup to be easy to understand, love the open source nature of it, and have been amazed with the 5 minute response time from their support staff.
SO WHO'S USING WHAT!

 

[pgr11]

I have an apex and love it. Still figuring out all it will do and boy does it do alot. I do not have it running my led's as I hear it'skinda of a pain to set up so im using the controller that they came with. Other then that i love it

 

[Reefer5060]

Apex all the way!!

 

[p woodard]

Reef Keeper Lite is what I have

 

[adhd_nerd]

Apex is great! Not sure if it can has pwm control though. The vdm ports are 1-10 v.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[andywe]

Reef keeper elite all the way

 

[pickupman66]

I like my reefkeeper elite. Pretty simple to program and is easy to expand.

sent from my Samsung Note.

 

[haysanatar]

apex is strictly analog.. you can get something to make it pwm from a third party though which is set back if you ask me..
anyone using diy led's with a reefkeeper?

 

[andywe]

I do. Works awesome.

 

[haysanatar]

Andy? What specific controller+ modules are you running? Are they pwm dimming? How many channels does your current setup use out of how many possible?

 

[pickupman66]

I also use DIY leds with mine. I have a single alc module. It controlled 4 inventronics and one meanwell driver.

Sent from my SCH-I905 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cigar Sherlock]

I'm seriously considering an Apex Jr...been researching them all for awhile.

 

[haysanatar]

I also use DIY leds with mine. I have a single alc module. It controlled 4 inventronics and one meanwell driver.

Sent from my SCH-I905 using Tapatalk 2

Is your meanwell driver pwm? or is it analog? I think the inventronics are analog.. your meanwell will either be a p or d model.. d is analog p is pwm.

 

[mixer911]

APEX. Can remotely access and program it from anywhere. Just one of many other reasons. I run 4 meanwell drivers with no issues.

 

[MBG75]

Apex lite here. Does everything the full apex does minus the dimming ports and 2nd ph probe.

Full access and can makes changes even if I'm not home.
Works incredible with iPhone
Here a live shot.

 

[haysanatar]

for the people with apex do you have the extra circuit to convert it to pwm or just running as is?
straight from apex I was told there was a 3rd party circuit I'd have to get to use pwm dimming.... and I already have 8 pwm drivers and I can't change course right now.

 

[andywe]

The ALC has 2 channels, 0-10v analog, and I use them on a JBJ D700 ballast. 0-10v. How many can be driven depends on the driver. Meanwells, for example, actually pull voltage so no more than 1 per channel is recommended. Some people have had luck with 2 per channel, but overall most controllers have issues with drivers that demand load to operate rather than signaling.

I use an RKE with an ALC for this purpose, however it works the same if you use an RKL as well. The ALC does have ports for the AI dimming, but AI is specific.
RKL/RKE can also do all the web stuff with a net module added, including controlling sockets and alarm notification via email, yadda yadda. Also has good iPhone and Android apps for supporting from your phone as well.

 

[mixer911]

for the people with apex do you have the extra circuit to convert it to pwm or just running as is?
straight from apex I was told there was a 3rd party circuit I'd have to get to use pwm dimming.... and I already have 8 pwm drivers and I can't change course right now.

I'm using meanwell D drivers. Haven't really researched using the meanwell pwm drivers with it. I think its possible, but not positive.

 

[haysanatar]

the more I look into it the more I think I'm going reef angel...
I emailed reef angel, reef keeper, and apex...
reef angel seems to fit what I need more... and the company president has responded to my e-mails with in 10 minutes almost every time which is outstanding...
not to mention the fact they offer both analog and pwm options...
unless someone can effectively talk me out of it I might the be the first here with a reef keeper unit it looks like.

 

[andywe]

I looked at the ref angel..
Now, objectively, here are concerns:

1) Each energy module has a max of 10 amps..thats kinda weak. Any given socket is only 5amp max. No mention of any mechanical relays at all (preferred for higher amperage items)
2) Pricing, when you start putting it all together, is pricey for what it seems
3) Unproven track record. I don;t care how you slice it, be prepared to be an early adopter and the additional risks of the unknown
4) their "open source" claims are marketing fluff. Sounds great, but does;t help or ensure any more stability than anything else.
5) When you have very little market, it is easy to respond to requests. Take a look at Kurt from Neptune. He was great, yet now he is grown enough that his customers are getting PO's at his service slack off. DA also had those growing pains and finally added more personnel.
6) Every module you add you seem to have to buy multiple things..the connector as well as the module. More points of failure.


Pro's:
1) Seems as though it could be very extensible..if your a developer. How much documentation is truly around their API? I didn't see much from their website
2) Does support many good features currently
3) entry price point is reasonable
4) It is something new that holds a promise of not having the current headaches each of the controllers has..so we may have a brand new set of headaches to figure out (inquiring minds want to know)

Just some thoughts...for whatever they are or are not worth. The power limitations bother me a lot...if you run a nano maybe not a big deal..but I run tanks that consume 12-14 amps at times, especially winter.

Good luck and if you get, we all want to see it and hear how it does!