Controller to control 4 separate heaters

[goldfish69]

Hi Forum.

I've purchased the following controller:

http://www.goreef.com/Digital-Aquati...ontroller.html

For now, I have a plan to control 4 different heaters:

- 2 heaters in sump
- 1 heater for my QT
- 1 heater for my water refill tank

This way, I can set the controller to a specfic temperature for all of them. The only thing is that the temp probe will be sitting in my sump and that will the only way to tell the controller to turn all 4 heaters on/off.

Is there any danger of doing that? I'm trying to get the temperature consistent between the sump, QT and refill tank.

Any other way to do this?

Thanks.

[ryeguyy84]

Add another temp probe. when you say refill container is that your ato container? If so I wouldn't worry about warming that. A good ato won't add enough water at one time to cause any large temp swings.

[goldfish69]

refill container would be for water changes.

I didn't realize that you could add a second temp probe to the controller.

[ryeguyy84]

Pretty sure you can, I know my apex allows it.

You might need the sl1 module to do that though?

[cordell]

You would probably need temp probes for each tank. You wouldn't want the heater in your QT to turn on because the temp in your main tank is low. The QT might heat up faster and get too hot. That's not controlled at all. If you can get two temp probes, one for each tank, that would probably work.

Also, on the water change container... I wouldn't use up even more resources(plugs) on your controller to control that temp since it isn't crucial to the life in your tank. Just set the temp on the heater. Check the temp in the water before you do a water change to make sure it's close. Actually, you're using excess power by heating your water change water all the time. You could just plug in the heater a little while before you do a water change. Just some things to think about...

[bnumair]

i have RKE and i have 2 temp probes and 4 x 300watt titanium heaters. i also have 5 pc4. each heater has to be on its own pc4. each pc4 only ch1 and 4 can handle a heater.

[Dustin1300]

Why would you need 4 different PC4s? 300 watt heater at 120 volts each would pull 2.5 Amps each and a PC4 can handle 15 Amps total or 8 Amps on two channels and 3 Amps on the other channels. That'd mean one PC4 could handle all four heaters...

[bnumair]

i have a 300 gal system. ch1 and 4 are relayed and ch2 and 3 are switch. deviced like heater that like to stick should be put on ch1 or 4. i have 4 pc4 coz i am running a whole lot of equipment. list of few is in my signature. but anyhow. all my pc4 are on their own breaker so even if one throws a breaker for any reason i still have 3 more. just a fail safe system. i had a setup before this that a heater cracked the titanium rod and pulled the breaker off. with that some of the pumps went and heat off and u can imagine what happened after that when i returned 9 hrs later.

Note: if u have all 4 heaters on 1 pc4 and if that pc4 blow the fuse or trip the GFO/breaker ur tank is cold.