Under-currenting a powerhead?

[Schulks]

I bought a powerhead that is too big for my tiny aquarium. (hygger 2600gph) If the controller was better I could set it low enough but the setting ramps up too high. I found the same powerhead but smaller from another company with a better controller so I ordered it. (ZKSJ Mini Wave Maker 1600 gph) It's here now so I could just replace the hygger and be happy or....

Replace the controller/power adaptor for the hygger, 24v - 2.0 Amps, with the ZKSJ controller/power adaptor, 12v - 1.25 Amps.

Cords are the same and the jack for the powerheads are the same.

 

[Dan_P]

I bought a powerhead that is too big for my tiny aquarium. (hygger 2600gph) If the controller was better I could set it low enough but the setting ramps up too high. I found the same powerhead but smaller from another company with a better controller so I ordered it. (ZKSJ Mini Wave Maker 1600 gph) It's here now so I could just replace the hygger and be happy or....

Replace the controller/power adaptor for the hygger, 24v - 2.0 Amps, with the ZKSJ controller/power adaptor, 12v - 1.25 Amps.

Cords are the same and the jack for the powerheads are the same.

Since you have both, give it a try and satisfy yourself. The mismatch in voltage might not be a problem but the current mismatch might destroy the electronics of the controller at higher speeds.

I would use the correctly sized pump, sell or put aside the wrong one and focus on the aquarium

 

[KrisReef]

Since you have both, give it a try and satisfy yourself. The mismatch in voltage might not be a problem but the current mismatch might destroy the electronics of the controller at higher speeds.

I would use the correctly sized pump, sell or put aside the wrong one and focus on the aquarium

Electricity. I could never grasp the intricacies and am terrified of a fire myself. Try the experiment and put a camera on it incase it catches fire, explodes, or just burns up the windings and controller so that I can enjoy the pyrotechnics and not be harmed myself. Do it for the Board!

The views of this post in no way mean I am accepting any liability for the results but are purely for intertainment purposes and not the true views or opinions of the Reef2Reef board (and whatever else I might need to write to indemnify myself from any bad results that occur on account of my post).

 

[DanyL]

I actually did this with the Jebaos, and it worked perfectly fine.

However, not all pumps are controlled in the same way, thus I wouldn’t try to connect a controller from one brand to another, but rather stay within the same ecosystem and even within the same line of pumps.