Issue with connecting Coralbox via VDM

Yates273 · Jan 25, 2021

So I am still having issues connecting my Coralbox DCA 4000 to my Neptune via VDM. So far I have Everything hooked up utilizing the Kessil cable which plugs into my vdm amd pump controller. On my Fusion dashboard the return pump does show a percentage that corresponds to the graph I chose for my pump. The problem is, that’s all not does, shows a percentage. At no time does my pump fluctuate with its flow shown. I even go to a point on the graph amd view but nothing happens. What am I missing here. I have set my pump to on amd auto amd nothing happens. Pump continues to flow at max speed 435 gph.

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

Bump anyone have a solution here at Reefbreeders

bcarm · Jan 27, 2021

Hi Jason,

I had asked Logan about this a while back, this is the instruction that he gave me:

"To put it in apex mode, plug it into the VDM with our VDM adapter cable and press+hold the down arrow key"

Hope that helps.

Brad

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

Tnx I’ll give that a shot. Ok so the Kessil cable I purchased eventhough it’s allows me to pull up graph and hooks into both pieces is not compatible?

bcarm · Jan 27, 2021

I am unsure, I can take a picture of what the RB cable looks like for you if you'd like. I never ended up hooking it up, you did the second part of holding down the the down button on the CoralBox controller to put it in Apex mode right?

bcarm · Jan 27, 2021

The RB cable has 2 mini jacks coming out of it.

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

The Kessil one is the same set up but only has mini Jack. And no I did not do that so I will do that when I get home from work that may be the issue why it’s not working.

Reef Breeders · Jan 27, 2021

Jason Yahr said:
The Kessil one is the same set up but only has mini Jack. And no I did not do that so I will do that when I get home from work that may be the issue why it’s not working.

Hmm. If it only has one jack, I am not sure if it's the right one. You definitely need to prompt the pump to go into 0-10v control mode as mentioned above.

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

One side plugs into dca 4000 controller (Headphone Jack)other end plugs into my VDM module. (Ethernet plug)

bcarm · Jan 27, 2021

This is the one I think you’ll need.

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

Now where does both headphone jacks plug into? I know one of them goes into DCA control box where does the other go

bcarm · Jan 27, 2021

Each cable can control 2 pumps, each vdm plug is 2 ports. The Kessil cable must be using them both or wired differently from the plug to the mini jack.

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

Ok I plugged into vdm and made sure the port was on the proper number. It may be the plug but I still have to try and put into 0-10v by holding down arrow briefly. Like I said it shows a percentage on my dashboard but the pump does nothing. Could be because I didn’t put pump in the proper mode. If this doesn’t work then I may buy the other plug amd see what happens.

Yates273 · Jan 27, 2021

Ok so it looks like I never put the control box into 0-10v mode which explains why it wasn’t communicating. Will have to fiddle around with it when I have time and hopefully that will fix it.

bcarm · Jan 27, 2021

Good luck!

Yates273 · Jan 30, 2021

Success!! So after turning on 0-10v and finding out which port I was using on VDM I am now able to control my pump via VDM. I want to thank everyone here without you guys I would not have figured this out. Now it’s time to fiddle with pump speeds to prevent back siphon.

bcarm · Jan 30, 2021

Awesome, congrats!

bcarm · Jan 30, 2021

Thats also interesting that the Kessil cable takes up a full 2 vdm port, but only offers control for one of them.

PFas52 · Feb 4, 2021

Jason Yahr said:
Success!! So after turning on 0-10v and finding out which port I was using on VDM I am now able to control my pump via VDM. I want to thank everyone here without you guys I would not have figured this out. Now it’s time to fiddle with pump speeds to prevent back siphon.

I just spent about 3hrs trying to figure out the same thing with my two DCA9’s and luckily came across this thread. So now that they are hooked up does anyone know how to ramp them down to say 10% during a feed mode and then slowly back to the original levels?