Heater Stuck on, ACjr controller SAVED my Tank!

Tyrenlds · 02/02/2009, 01:42 PM

Noticed yesterday that my heater was switched on when it shouldn't have been. It's internal thermostat is set at 78Â° and it was still switched on at 79.9!

I've got the ACJr set to shut the thing off if the tank temp reaches 80.0 and to energize it at 79.0. Did a test and sure enough the heater was stuck on... the ACjr saved the tank!

I just wanted to share this in case any of you have both a heater and controller; MAKE SURE TO PROGRAM FOR REDUNDANCY! if it wasn't for that I could have come home to 99.9Â° and dead live stock.

Ehaze · 02/02/2009, 01:47 PM

I keep my ebo heaters cranked all the way up, the ac jr take care of the rest, the temp is very accurate. with in .2 F

an411 · 02/02/2009, 02:07 PM

That is pretty sweet another reason i can put on the list for getting a controller

THE ROOK · 02/02/2009, 02:49 PM

Ehaze - Just a thought. If you were to keep your heaters just a few degrees above your tank temp & your ACjr probe failed, you could probably catch it in time also.

chimmike · 02/02/2009, 02:54 PM

more likely that the heaters will go long before the probe fails. That's why the acjr is such a good backup.

Tyrenlds · 02/02/2009, 03:00 PM

chimmike, agreed.

Ehaze, you might rethink your program for the heater... i've read that the ACJr can fail if you don't have the heater plugged into one of the two low-draw sockets. You're perfectly set up for redundancy, why not use it?

damonbrodie · 02/02/2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ehaze
I keep my ebo heaters cranked all the way up, the ac jr take care of the rest, the temp is very accurate. with in .2 F

I must say, I don't understand the logic in this. Planning for double redundancy is warranted, no? Why not set the temp on the heater for a degree or two above the programmed temperature.

I just read on another forum where the Neptune temp probe failed, and the tank started to heat up. Luckily the owner caught it in time.

02/02/2009, 01:42 PM	#1
Tyrenlds Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: CA Posts: 332	Heater Stuck on, ACjr controller SAVED my Tank! Noticed yesterday that my heater was switched on when it shouldn't have been. It's internal thermostat is set at 78Â° and it was still switched on at 79.9! I've got the ACJr set to shut the thing off if the tank temp reaches 80.0 and to energize it at 79.0. Did a test and sure enough the heater was stuck on... the ACjr saved the tank! I just wanted to share this in case any of you have both a heater and controller; MAKE SURE TO PROGRAM FOR REDUNDANCY! if it wasn't for that I could have come home to 99.9Â° and dead live stock.

02/02/2009, 01:47 PM	#2
Ehaze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,259	I keep my ebo heaters cranked all the way up, the ac jr take care of the rest, the temp is very accurate. with in .2 F __________________ 75g SPS tank, 30gal sump/refuge. Melev RO/DI, Coravue duel calc reactor, MSP 200 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40, Mag drive 9.5 return, autotopoff.com ATO, 2 CoralVue 250W SE finished pendants(with 20k Radium bulbs), powered by 2x Icecap ballasts, controlled by a ACJR.

02/02/2009, 02:54 PM	#5
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	more likely that the heaters will go long before the probe fails. That's why the acjr is such a good backup. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

02/02/2009, 02:07 PM	#3
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	That is pretty sweet another reason i can put on the list for getting a controller

02/02/2009, 02:49 PM	#4
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Ehaze - Just a thought. If you were to keep your heaters just a few degrees above your tank temp & your ACjr probe failed, you could probably catch it in time also.

02/02/2009, 03:00 PM	#6
Tyrenlds Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: CA Posts: 332	chimmike, agreed. Ehaze, you might rethink your program for the heater... i've read that the ACJr can fail if you don't have the heater plugged into one of the two low-draw sockets. You're perfectly set up for redundancy, why not use it?