New Page 2
Includes Serial Port Upgrade (serial cable sold
separate) & DC8
AquaController Jr base unit delivers the highest price performance ratio in
the industry and brings truly affordable aquarium monitoring and control to
tanks of all sizes. The AquaController Jr has the same great programming
configuration language of our higher end controllers as well as the temperature
and pH monitoring and control, lighting and pump/powerhead control. The
AquaController Jr is able to:
Monitor: pH, and Temperature
Control: pH, and Temperature
Timers
Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
Simulate a Moon Cycle
Control Powerheads/Pumps (Wavemaker)
Hardwired or X10 Control Options
Programming Language
Alarms
Perform Datalogging
Flash Memory for easy Firmware Upgrades
LCD Display
Display Lock with password protection
Battery Backed Real Time Clock
The AquaController Jr has an easy to use and intuitive three button user
interface. The buttons are used to navigate through the menus and to modify the
standard setup. All setup and program modifications are possible through the
buttons on the AquaController Jr - no external computer is required.
The base unit includes a comprehensive owner's manual, which contains
instructions and examples on how to best utilize your AquaController Jr. No
technical background is necessary to setup and operate the controller. The base
unit measures 2.75" x 4.60" x 1.00".
To help you perform the initial setup of the AquaController Jr, the base unit
comes pre-programmed with a default setup which requires little if any
modification to work with most aquarium setups.
The base unit includes software which is capable of monitoring pH,
temperature. The monitored data is continuously displayed on the large LCD
display and also logged into the internal RAM for later retrieval. All probes
support digital calibration. The AquaController Jr base unit comes standard with
a high quality temperature probe with a 10 foot cable (part number PRBTMPJR).
The AquaController Jr also contains the functionality to control the pH, and
temperature in your tank. The standard control functions for the monitored
parameters listed above are possible.
For pH control typically CO2 is injected into the aquarium when the pH rises
too high. The AquaController Jr continuously monitors the pH and can turn the
CO2 injection system on or off based upon the user defined high and low set
points. Because of the AquaController Jr's highly programmable nature, it is
possible to control pH in new and non-standard ways. For example, in reef tanks
with a calcium reactor it is desirable to stop injecting CO2 into the reaction
chamber if the pH of the tank falls too low. The AquaController Jr is currently
the only known controller on the market capable of this type of control. The CO2
injection system is not included with AquaController Jr.
Also the AquaController Jr can control both a heater and chiller to maintain
a stable temperature environment in the tank. The heater and/or chiller enable
and disable temperatures can be set independently. Given the tank has an
adequate heater and chiller, the temperature can be maintained within +-.3 °F.
Additionally, the AquaController Jr has many more features for temperature
control. For example, if the temperature of the tank exceeds a preset value, the
AquaController Jr can turn on a fan to cool the tank. If the temperature rises
higher, an additional fan or chiller can be enabled. If the temperature rises
even higher, lights can be shut off. There is really no limit to the number of
ways that the AquaController Jr can control the temperature.
Also, the AquaController Jr has a special temperature cycle which is used to
simulate seasonal temperature variations. All of the above mentioned features
for temperature control are available in this mode as well; only the target
temperature set point varies with the day of the year. This mode of operation is
most interesting to the serious aquarist trying to induce his corals and fish to
spawn.
The timer functionality included in the base unit is capable of turning
devices on and off at specific times of the day with one minute resolution. The
AquaController Jr can also turn the devices on or off multiple times per day not
just one time per day as with other controllers. The flexible timers allows for
the standard lighting control as well as for dosing of various elements. Up to
12 devices can be controlled by the AquaController Jr.
The AquaController Jr has a special type of timer which can be used to
simulate the varying lengths of days throughout the year. This feature is used
to make the length of daylight hours longer in the summer than in the winter.
This results in a more realistic simulation of natural lighting variations.
The AquaController Jr has another special type of timer which can be used to
simulate the moon cycle in your tank. A special lamp control module is used.
This control module is capable of varying the intensity of light emitted from an
incandescent bulb. The intensity variations are controlled by the AquaController
Jr which is preprogrammed with correct intensity values for each day of the moon
cycle. The AquaController Jr automatically updates the intensity value depending
upon the current setting of the AquaController Jr's clock. With this artificial
moon cycle, it is possible to induce corals and fish to spawn.
Each pump to be controlled can either have a random or fixed time period.
Both the on and off times are fully programmable and can range from 1 minute to
4 hours in 1 minute increments. Up to 12 pumps can be controlled by one base
unit. A variable length feed timer cycle can be initiated with the press of a
button and will disable some or all of the pumps in the system (programmed by
the user).
Like the entire AquaController product line, both X10 and/or hardwired
control options are available. For X10 control, the AquaController sends a
digital signal to the control interface (part number IM513) which places a small
RF signal onto the powerlines in your home. The control modules (typically part
number CM466) receive this X10 signal over the power lines, and if the code
matches the user settable address the module is turned on or off. Up to 12
control modules can be controlled with the AquaController Jr.
Up to 3 Direct Connect 4s (DC4) or Direct Connect 4 Heavy Dutys (DC4HD) can
be used with the AquaController Jr if a hardwired control solution is desired.
The DC4s connect directly to the AquaController through a standard 4 conductor
telephone cable. With 3 DC4HD connected 12 different devices can be controlled
independently, with a maximum total power dissappation of approximately 3 * 120
* 15 = 5400 Amps.
One of the AquaController Jr's most compelling features is its simple to use
yet very powerful programming language.
A simple example best illustrates the power and versatility of the
AquaController Jr. Suppose that you wish to simulate the sunrise and sunset in
your tank as well as having longer or shorter sunlight hours as based upon the
seasons. The following program achieves this effect:
If Sun 000/000
Then LT1 ON
If Sun 060/-045
Then LT2 ON
If Temp > 83.0
Then LT2 OFF
The first statement of the program turns light 1 ON at sunrise and OFF at
sunset. The second statement turns light 2 ON 60 minutes after sunrise and shuts
it off 45 minutes before sunset. This feature is not available in any other
controller. The keyword 'Sun' tells the AquaController Jr to use the
preprogrammed timer which calculates the sunrise and sunset times for the
current day of the year.
The programming flexibility does not stop here though, as illustrated by the
third program statement. This statement will shut off light 2 if the temperature
of the tank ever exceeds 83.0°F. With this type of feature, the temperature
stability of the tank can be more easily obtained on those hot summer days.
Additionally your tank is protected from overheating in the event of chiller/fan
failure.
Similar program statements are used to enable or disable all the different
control functions. The base unit comes pre-programmed with a default program
which contains the majority of the control functions required in the average
tank. Using this default program your tank will be up and running in very little
time.
The extensive owner's manual thoroughly describes the installation and
customization of the AquaController Jr for use in your tank. The manual also
contains many programming examples which illustrate many of its unique features.
With this system the control of your aquarium is limited only by your
imagination.
The AquaController Jr can be programmed to enable an audible alarm when a
monitored condition exceeds a preset value. The AquaController Jr will
immediately let you know when your tank needs attention.
The AquaController Jr has data logging for the aquarist that wants to keep an
accurate log of the conditions in his aquarium. Temperature, pH, and are sampled
and stored into RAM. The sample interval is user programmable and can be from 1
minute to four hours in 1 minute increments. The data log can either be viewed
on the LCD display.
Even in the event of a power failure the AquaController's clock maintains the
correct time. Since all of the controller's configuration settings are stored in
nonvoltile memory, no reprogramming/reconfiguration is necessary following a
power failure.
You never have worry about your controller becoming obsolete. The
AquaController Jr has flash memory which can be upgraded with new software as
new functionality is developed. To perform the firmware update an optional
serial cable is connected between the AquaController Jr's temperature connector
and an RS232 serial port of a Window's PC. The WIndow's PC runs a flash update
utility to replace the firmware.
The large and informative display on the AquaController Jr is capable of
displaying 16 characters by 2 lines of text/special characters. In the status
mode the display shows the either current conditions in the aquarium or the
date/time and the status of all the controlled devices.
To keep unauthorized users from accessing and modifying the AquaController
Jr's configuration, the display can be locked. To unlock the display a user
settable password must be entered.
