Was It Right Of Neptune?

[ca1ore]

Most folks would've upgraded to the 832 bar.

Don't know if that's necessarily true, but I do know that I have appreciated the things that the EB832 does that are better than the EB8. Power indicators, power monitoring, all outlets can handle small or large loads .... etc.

 

[StingrayNYC]

I wouldn't sell the main head unit separately if I were Neptune. Like others said above all the time/money invested in this complete package product.

If you don't have an apex get one it will change your reefing experience and this is coming from someone who never owned a controller before.

 

[Forsaken77]

Don't know if that's necessarily true, but I do know that I have appreciated the things that the EB832 does that are better than the EB8. Power indicators, power monitoring, all outlets can handle small or large loads .... etc.

Don't know if that's necessarily true, but I do know that I have appreciated the things that the EB832 does that are better than the EB8. Power indicators, power monitoring, all outlets can handle small or large loads .... etc.

Doesn't the 832 basically offer more connectivity options that the eb8? So you would need less actual plugs because they support more of the other connection types? Or is that the head unit?

In essence, it somebody needed two eb8's, because of lack of plugs, wouldn't they have a better chance of just using one 832? Not to mention the monitoring it does.

I've noticed most Apex users, on forums anyway, will usually buy most upgraded products from Neptune anyway. To clarify, not new products, but upgrades to products. That's why I felt most would've upgraded to the bar anyway, and also the head unit. To save space on having an extra power bar (if possible), plus the additional features you mentioned.

 

[Forsaken77]

You've convinced me - I probably will just get everything US and run it off the 832 assuming it is compatible with the classic head unit. The 832 is much better (and will work out the same or cheaper) and it future proofs me as I know Neptune will continue to develop for the US market.

Thanks

I think you convinced yourself, lol.
But someone else said the 832 bar needs the newer head unit and won't work with the older one.

 

[ca1ore]

Doesn't the 832 basically offer more connectivity options that the eb8? So you would need less actual plugs because they support more of the other connection types?

Yes, you are absolutely right; forgot about those. Allows one to connect stuff like DoS, WAV pumps or some of the other Neptune accessories - 5 additional ports if memory serves. Worth the upgrade in my view; though I appreciate others might not make the same calculation.

 

[ca1ore]

The only things that are not backwards compatible with the older apex are the EB832 power bars and the forthcoming trident. I imagine there will be others down the road.

 

[Sleepydoc]

Neptune said they couldn't sell head units because of demand for the whole enchilada was too high and they needed production to sell the new system. I take them at their word that as a business they sold them as stand alone as soon as they were able to.

This. I know people have questioned whether they really couldn't fill demand, or if they were simply trying to game the market and force people to buy the new system, but in all honesty, they likely would have made more money selling separate head units if they could, so I'm inclined to believe them.

Doesn't the 832 basically offer more connectivity options that the eb8? So you would need less actual plugs because they support more of the other connection types? Or is that the head unit?

In essence, it somebody needed two eb8's, because of lack of plugs, wouldn't they have a better chance of just using one 832? Not to mention the monitoring it does.

I've noticed most Apex users, on forums anyway, will usually buy most upgraded products from Neptune anyway. To clarify, not new products, but upgrades to products. That's why I felt most would've upgraded to the bar anyway, and also the head unit. To save space on having an extra power bar (if possible), plus the additional features you mentioned.

The 832 has many advantages over the EB8. All the outlets are relays, so no issues related to SSRs. It allows individual outlet power/current monitoring, and it has 3 One-link outlets and 2 controllable DC24 outlets. I hooked up a couple of 24V computer fans to one of the DC24 outlets, and my ATO pump to the other, so I can get by with only a single EB832 instead of needing to buy a second EB8.

 

[Joe Batt]

I understand the business model, and the initial demand precluding selling the 2016 head unit separately at first. I do think they are unfair in not offering the new power bar at 240v. There are many countries outside America, and they sell goods internationally. The R&D in a 240V power bar would have been minimal and brought more profit to them.

 

[griff500]

They couldn't sell the head unit on it's own in the US but they could in the UK, where they are still not providing an 832 after, according to an earlier post, having this on the market for two years.

Everything takes forever and a day to come to the UK. That and the lack of backward compatibility means that I would be looking at GHL if I were looking for a controller now. Whilst I am happy with what my older Apex does I do wish I had gone the GHL route when I consider the options and the availability of those options provided by GHL in the UK.

 

[Handegard]

Just to give everyone a wholesale customers view, I absolutely believe that demand has kept up with production. When I place orders, they don’t ship immediately. I have to plan ahead. Sometimes everything ships in a week, sometimes it’s backordered. I got a delivery today, and I need to place another order already. I don’t believe they are sitting on a surplus of unsold inventory.

 

[Jamie7907]

Poor business management on their part. The 2016 apex isn’t that complicated or expensive to produce and in no way is demand high enough that they can’t keep up. Apple barely has any issues with supply at launch of new products despite dealing with a much larger volume. Also wholesale, depending on who you are to Neptune depends on how long you wait but that’s business 101, important customers get moved to the front of the line others get moved back. I don’t fault them for this it’s just the way business is run.

 

[tastyfish]

Neptune understandably released the new 2016 system as a package as it contained a significant upgrade in the EB832. And to be honest, why would they split immediately? They need as many customers as possible on the new platform.

Outside of the US/Canada, they did seem to offer the 2016 brain separately (although this may be more to do this the local distributors than anything), however this was very much needed given the almost crippled version that we have with the old EB6 power bar (which still has no current sensing and no 1LINK). Outside of getting more probes, there's a much reduced value in the 2016 to customers outside of the US/Canada, which belies the inflated price tag over the US pricing.

 

[Forsaken77]

I wonder what's up with not supplying an updated power bar outside N. America? It seems counter intuitive to provide a head unit without offering the bar, which is arguably the biggest improvement.

And not only not offering the 832, but even an updated version of that eb6, which sounds just short of a surge protector (exaggeration).

But they have the sales data. So maybe they don't think it's profitable to offer them in select markets.

Can't people in the UK just use an American version? Save some money and just use converters?

 

[Handegard]

I wonder what's up with not supplying an updated power bar outside N. America? It seems counter intuitive to provide a head unit without offering the bar, which is arguably the biggest improvement.

And not only not offering the 832, but even an updated version of that eb6, which sounds just short of a surge protector (exaggeration).

But they have the sales data. So maybe they don't think it's profitable to offer them in select markets.

Can't people in the UK just use an American version? Save some money and just use converters?

I believe I’ve read there are significant regulatory hurdles to developing a new power bar for the EU...

 

[tastyfish]

I wonder what's up with not supplying an updated power bar outside N. America? It seems counter intuitive to provide a head unit without offering the bar, which is arguably the biggest improvement.

And not only not offering the 832, but even an updated version of that eb6, which sounds just short of a surge protector (exaggeration).

But they have the sales data. So maybe they don't think it's profitable to offer them in select markets.

Can't people in the UK just use an American version? Save some money and just use converters?

I believe they developed the EB832 from the ground up to be 110v. Therefore creating a 50hz 220-240v would mean a complete redesign (or that was the story at the time - it seems to change). It seems rather short sighted as vendors such as GHL made a 220v plug bar that works in all markets straight away... Even eKoral seem to have this covered with a 220v version of their plug bar (both GHL and eKoral have identical functionality on 110v or 220v versions)

I believe I’ve read there are significant regulatory hurdles to developing a new power bar for the EU...

I'm reliably informed by several electronic engineers that that's a smoke screen. To certify in Europe, for example, they would need to gain a CE mark and RoHS & WEEE compliance. This gives access to the whole of the European Economic Area (EEA). The cost of CE certification is circa £2,500 ($3373).

Many folk may wonder how Jebao would get CE, RoHS and WEEE, but Neptune struggles. Which would suggest to me that it's more about product development.

You could theoretically run an inverter transformer, but then all your other equipment would need to be US plugs and happy on 110v 60hz. Neptune have said they wouldn't honour warranty in region and you'd probably face the same issues with all the other kit.

 

[Joe Batt]

Can't people in the UK just use an American version? Save some money and just use converters?

There are many other countries around the world other than the UK that use 240V. I think it is a little shortsighted somewhere along the Neptune R&D/ management line to limit their product when there is such demand. Not to mention that it pushes loyal customers into their competitor's hands. It's very rare to regain a customer once you have lost them.

 

[Joe Batt]

I believe I’ve read there are significant regulatory hurdles to developing a new power bar for the EU...

Many many other companies manage it. Even the cheapo copies from China do it. Neptune managed it with the first generation so why not the new one? You would have thought it would have been more streamlined the second time.

 

[gjefcoat]

The many new features of the EB832 and the new head unit make it worth every penny. Power monitoring, 8 relay outlets, 3 One-link outlets, 2 controllable DC24 outlets, just to name a few. We use Apex controllers on all of the systems we take care of. They have saved us thousands of dollars the past 10 years.

 

[evolved]

I am not sure what amazes me more in these threads; the conspiracy theories or the number of sudden manufacturing "experts".

 

[Handegard]

I am not sure what amazes me more in these threads; the conspiracy theories or the number of sudden manufacturing "experts".

I didn’t mean to come across as a “expert”. I was just repeating what I heard, didn’t mean to make it sound like I knew it to be a fact.