EB832 Death Screen?

Neptune
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Hi @HuneyBear, No worries, I didn't think you were being harsh.
Hi @Waters, Thank you for the info.
So does anyone have any ideas about how we, the hobbyist, can help the manufacturers (not just Neptune) improve on their designs?
 
Tidal Gardens
Reefer Reboot said:
Hi @HuneyBear, No worries, I didn't think you were being harsh.
Hi @Waters, Thank you for the info.
So does anyone have any ideas about how we, the hobbyist, can help the manufacturers (not just Neptune) improve on their designs?
Click to expand...

Sure, provide them feedback. Use contact us or if you frequent the reef shows/events talk to them in person. If something crosses your mind when using a piece of equipment make a note and send it off.

I can't say one way or another if it will change anything but we as a community did provide feedback. I think that is a start. Also it can be both good and bad as long as the delivery is with good intent.

There are also vendor forums on many of the boards we frequent. That can also be a good place to do so. I've done it a few times.
 
Alright so I have 2 eb832's in similar symptoms I believe. In fusion can you switch on/off the sockets? If it allows you to do that, and the indicator lights change states, then it is likely the same problem I have. I think the issue is the 12v power supply above the Fan. It is receiving AC power, but is not outputting 12vdc. I am PLEASED to know that even a single drop of water hitting the small fan on the side will likely short this supply and disable all of the sockets. It is this part:
IMG_20201205_201439.jpg


Spoiler: Neptune bought the cheapest possible power supply (2$)-

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I have one on the way to see if this is the core issue, but If this psu was shorting out, it is possible it was powering up, overheating/drawing, then shutting off and repeating that. Each time it powered on it would enable some relays then disable them when it died. That was likely the uncontrolled ticking you were hearing. If this solves the issue I will be making a DIY repair post, because it should be quite easy with any soldering experience. Whatever the case don't throw out any eb832's for a few weeks haha. If Neptune is offering a "discount to replace" for the low cost of 200$, because of a component that is literally 2$, then that is straight up criminal.
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
To answer the question of how can this be improved: find the issue, find out how it could have been avoided, and then chastise the company for not predicting the issue/supporting an issue ridden product.
I think it could go 2 ways : either the company admits that they sold a very cheap and low quality product for $250; or they admit that this component was a planned failure point on an otherwise bulletproof product. That might be a false dichotomy, but I don't think I see any other options.
Either way the result is the same, the product broke under normal use in the expected environment, and for the price paid, a user should expect support that lasts outside of the warranty. That support shouldn't just jump to "here's a discount to buy a new one"


All that rant, but I cant say for sure this is the only issue until I try replacing the PSU
 
Yeah you may want to search "conformal coating" it is typically used on delicate electronics that are occasionally exposed to water. You just paint it on and it will protect a bit. I will certainly be doing it to at least the back side of the main board, in hopes that it prevents a burn out like the one you had.... Why a product that is sold to protect your entire investment doesn't even have the barest amount of protection is beyond me.
 
"Yeah you may want to search "conformal coating" it is typically used on delicate electronics that are occasionally exposed to water. You just paint it on and it will protect a bit. I will certainly be doing it to at least the back side of the main board, in hopes that it prevents a burn out like the one you had.... Why a product that is sold to protect your entire investment doesn't even have the barest amount of protection is beyond me."

Because some people think 250 is expensive
 
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Thales said:
Yeah you may want to search "conformal coating" it is typically used on delicate electronics that are occasionally exposed to water. You just paint it on and it will protect a bit. I will certainly be doing it to at least the back side of the main board, in hopes that it prevents a burn out like the one you had.... Why a product that is sold to protect your entire investment doesn't even have the barest amount of protection is beyond me.

Because some people think 250 is expensive
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True, but it starts to become expensive when you have to multiply. :p
 
Tidal Gardens
Thales said:
Yeah you may want to search "conformal coating" it is typically used on delicate electronics that are occasionally exposed to water. You just paint it on and it will protect a bit. I will certainly be doing it to at least the back side of the main board, in hopes that it prevents a burn out like the one you had.... Why a product that is sold to protect your entire investment doesn't even have the barest amount of protection is beyond me.

Because some people think 250 is expensive
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No it has nothing to do with $250 being expensive. It's the markups Neptune puts on their products and they are insanely high. It's like a double win for them. They make more money and they appeal to the people who would probably have second thoughts about trusting the power bar if it was sold for $70

The GHL powerbar is only $230 but admittedly it's not 8 plugs only 6 but the Aquatronica one is $250 and it is 8 plugs. I have seen the insides of the Neptune Power bar and it's a $2 (12V supply) a $9 (24V supply) and the list goes on. And BTW that is retail parts price, not if you buy the parts in bulk. You look at the other companies and they are using critical parts that cost five times as much money and yet they can deliver the finished product at basically the same price.
 
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www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Thales said:
"Yeah you may want to search "conformal coating" it is typically used on delicate electronics that are occasionally exposed to water. You just paint it on and it will protect a bit. I will certainly be doing it to at least the back side of the main board, in hopes that it prevents a burn out like the one you had.... Why a product that is sold to protect your entire investment doesn't even have the barest amount of protection is beyond me."

Because some people think 250 is expensive
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What is expensive to you?

It seems like your preferred method to mitigate problems with the EB832 is to buy more of them. It's odd when a post on this forum brings up the price of equipment being too high, there is no shortage of people that say "I will pay more for something that lasts longer instead of buying a new thing every year when the cheaper one wears out."

So, which is it? Is Neptune sitting with Jebao pumps with the EB832? Some people love it and have no problems, but a lot of people have to replace them every year. Or, is Neptune a premium brand that gets a premium for the quality?
 
Thales said:
You took that as condescending?
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Yes. It was condescending. You implied that 250 ischeap. What about the people who have saved up for months to buy the EB832? It was very expensive to them and they expect it to last. Or a grandparent living on limited income that decided to save up to get that expensive thing for their grandkid that has been asking for it? Should they buy multiple?
 
Deltec
If we buy something from Apple and it craps out, should the response be "well you should have bought more than one. You knew you would be relying on that phone for safety."
 
joshwaggs said:
Yes. It was condescending. You implied that 250 ischeap. What about the people who have saved up for months to buy the EB832? It was very expensive to them and they expect it to last.
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It is inexpensive, especially compared to non hobby versions of this kind of control - that doesn't mean that everyone can afford it. When making products inexpensive, confessions have to be made which is why some things people want are not included in inexpensive products.
 
joshwaggs said:
If we buy something from Apple and it craps out, should the response be "well you should have bought more than one. You knew you would be relying on that phone for safety."
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Neptune Systems is nowhere near the scale of Apple - no aquarium hobby company is. If the EB832 cost over a grand, I would agree with you.
 
BRS
Thales said:
You took that as condescending?
Click to expand...
No, not really but for others I can see how it can be construed as such. $250 is a lot of money for a lot of people, even when you compare it to other purchases in the hobby.

However, I think the theme of the thread is not so much the price but the quality of the product.

When I started reading this thread, I viewed it from the lens that most posters aren't being honest with community and the themselves by not admitting that they allowed the energy bar to get wet [in some way some how]. That's simply because my experience was such that the only EB832 that ever gave me problems was the one that got dripped on.

I repaired mine and since having looked inside, I can relate to what the latest posters are saying about quality, I'm not in tune with industry practice when it comes to selecting or designing electronic components. But I would think that there is plenty of meat still on the bone to make these a bit more reliable within the conditions they're being used.
 
Thales said:
It is inexpensive, especially compared to non hobby versions of this kind of control - that doesn't mean that everyone can afford it. When making products inexpensive, confessions have to be made which is why some things people want are not included in inexpensive products.
Click to expand...
It is a power bar with power monitoring and some extra connections. There are tons of them on the market and they arent as expensive, at all. You can get the same thing with a battery back up, and it still isnt as expensive.
 
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