Replace ACJR with RKL level 3?

kirtdog · 03/22/2010, 08:54 AM

I am thinking about selling my acjr and replacing with an RKL level 3. A friend of mine has an elite and I like the way the RKL is set up with the different modules. The biggest thing that i liked about it was the way you can hook up the ato directly through the RKL.

Can anyone give me any reasons why I should or shouldn't make the switch? All opinions, suggestions, etc. are welcome.

d0ughb0y · 03/22/2010, 09:29 AM

is the ac jr sufficient for your needs now except for the ato switch?
you know you can wire in the float switch wires to pins 1 and 2 of the serial connector and use statement like

if switch open then ato on
if switch closed then ato off

and if you have a serial cable hooked up to a computer, you can web enable the ac jr using acserial2web program. once you have web enabled the ac jr, you can tuck it away in your cabinet and do all the monitoring and control from your cell phone.

kirtdog · 03/22/2010, 09:33 AM

I don't have the serial cable and my computer is a mac that doesn't have a serial connection.

rbnice1 · 03/22/2010, 09:37 AM

Since your using a mac I would sell the AC Jr. and get a Apex lite.

JMO.

kirtdog · 03/22/2010, 09:46 AM

why would you recommend the apex lite...rbnice1?

d0ughb0y · 03/22/2010, 09:54 AM

the web access itself of the apex lite would make it the better choice than any of the rk controllers. I''m not familiar with the apex, but I think you can hook up the float switch wires to the controller for use with ato.

my program used to work on mac, but I have lost access to a mac machine for testing so it is not supported on macs anymore. btw, mac do have serial ports and supports serial devices, albeit via bluetooth or usb.

kirtdog · 03/22/2010, 10:00 AM

so basically, I would need to get some sort of bluetooth or usb adapter? will my current dc8 work with the apex light?

d0ughb0y · 03/22/2010, 10:05 AM

no serial connection using apex lite, its direct ethernet cable connection to your router, and yes, dc8 will work on apex lite.

kirtdog · 03/22/2010, 11:22 AM

Pricewise, it looks like the reefkeeper will be a little cheaper but I want to make sure I get my money's worth. I am not really concerned with the net features.

rbnice1 · 03/22/2010, 01:01 PM

Its not just the net features.

The apex is fully programmed and set-up via your computer through what ever web browser you are using. Same with updating it. It can also be programmed by hand on the little HMI display but its so much easier via the net.

It is backwards compatable with all other neptune products. I believe it also has the ability to monitor 8 switches right out of the box. You might want to do a bit more research before you make your final choice.

kirtdog · 03/22/2010, 03:03 PM

Thanks rb...I have done so much research that it is making me crazy...lol. I am not sure what do do now.

kirtdog · 03/23/2010, 09:56 PM

here is another option, My acjr really does everything I need it to do. I mainly need an auto topoff so I could get probably get by just getting an ATO. Any recommendations?

rbnice1 · 03/23/2010, 11:56 PM

Well you have a few options.

You could just buy a standard float switch and wire it into the AC Jr's serial port.(I think it has 2 switches available.) Or you could get a ATO system then you use the controller to monitor.

For example on my Apex I dont have any switches wired(yet) so what I did is use a standard duel float system from Autotopoff.com. Instead of plugging it right into a normal outlet it plugs into my DC8. My controller then only allows it to run for 8 minutes every 90 minutes. For me if the floats got stuck or the solenoid stuck it would take 5 days to overflow my sump. Eventually I will add another float switch to look for high sump lvl for alarming purposes.

kirtdog · 03/24/2010, 12:32 AM

rb,

slots 4 and 8 on my dc8 are in use by powerheads. Will there be a possibility of the aqualifter not switching off due to the low current draw? I appreciate all of the help and advice.

rbnice1 · 03/24/2010, 03:25 PM

Yes that is a possibility.

Why are your power heads on 4 and 8? I had 2 K4's befroe I got my vortechs and they were on 1 and 2 and worked fine.

Edit: Just checked my old program they were on 3 and 4 and worked fine.

kirtdog · 03/29/2010, 12:30 AM

hey rbnice...i think i am going to order the autotopoff.com ato...is it necessary to get the low voltage upgrade.

03/22/2010, 08:54 AM	#1
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	Replace ACJR with RKL level 3? I am thinking about selling my acjr and replacing with an RKL level 3. A friend of mine has an elite and I like the way the RKL is set up with the different modules. The biggest thing that i liked about it was the way you can hook up the ato directly through the RKL. Can anyone give me any reasons why I should or shouldn't make the switch? All opinions, suggestions, etc. are welcome.

03/24/2010, 03:25 PM	#15
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Yes that is a possibility. Why are your power heads on 4 and 8? I had 2 K4's befroe I got my vortechs and they were on 1 and 2 and worked fine. Edit: Just checked my old program they were on 3 and 4 and worked fine. Last edited by rbnice1; 03/24/2010 at 03:31 PM.

03/22/2010, 09:29 AM	#2
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	is the ac jr sufficient for your needs now except for the ato switch? you know you can wire in the float switch wires to pins 1 and 2 of the serial connector and use statement like if switch open then ato on if switch closed then ato off and if you have a serial cable hooked up to a computer, you can web enable the ac jr using acserial2web program. once you have web enabled the ac jr, you can tuck it away in your cabinet and do all the monitoring and control from your cell phone.

03/22/2010, 09:33 AM	#3
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	I don't have the serial cable and my computer is a mac that doesn't have a serial connection.

03/22/2010, 09:37 AM	#4
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Since your using a mac I would sell the AC Jr. and get a Apex lite. JMO.

03/22/2010, 09:46 AM	#5
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	why would you recommend the apex lite...rbnice1?

03/22/2010, 09:54 AM	#6
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	the web access itself of the apex lite would make it the better choice than any of the rk controllers. I''m not familiar with the apex, but I think you can hook up the float switch wires to the controller for use with ato. my program used to work on mac, but I have lost access to a mac machine for testing so it is not supported on macs anymore. btw, mac do have serial ports and supports serial devices, albeit via bluetooth or usb.

03/22/2010, 10:00 AM	#7
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	so basically, I would need to get some sort of bluetooth or usb adapter? will my current dc8 work with the apex light?

03/22/2010, 10:05 AM	#8
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	no serial connection using apex lite, its direct ethernet cable connection to your router, and yes, dc8 will work on apex lite.

03/22/2010, 11:22 AM	#9
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	Pricewise, it looks like the reefkeeper will be a little cheaper but I want to make sure I get my money's worth. I am not really concerned with the net features.

03/22/2010, 01:01 PM	#10
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Its not just the net features. The apex is fully programmed and set-up via your computer through what ever web browser you are using. Same with updating it. It can also be programmed by hand on the little HMI display but its so much easier via the net. It is backwards compatable with all other neptune products. I believe it also has the ability to monitor 8 switches right out of the box. You might want to do a bit more research before you make your final choice.

03/22/2010, 03:03 PM	#11
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	Thanks rb...I have done so much research that it is making me crazy...lol. I am not sure what do do now.

03/23/2010, 09:56 PM	#12
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	here is another option, My acjr really does everything I need it to do. I mainly need an auto topoff so I could get probably get by just getting an ATO. Any recommendations?

03/23/2010, 11:56 PM	#13
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Well you have a few options. You could just buy a standard float switch and wire it into the AC Jr's serial port.(I think it has 2 switches available.) Or you could get a ATO system then you use the controller to monitor. For example on my Apex I dont have any switches wired(yet) so what I did is use a standard duel float system from Autotopoff.com. Instead of plugging it right into a normal outlet it plugs into my DC8. My controller then only allows it to run for 8 minutes every 90 minutes. For me if the floats got stuck or the solenoid stuck it would take 5 days to overflow my sump. Eventually I will add another float switch to look for high sump lvl for alarming purposes.

03/24/2010, 12:32 AM	#14
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	rb, slots 4 and 8 on my dc8 are in use by powerheads. Will there be a possibility of the aqualifter not switching off due to the low current draw? I appreciate all of the help and advice.

03/29/2010, 12:30 AM	#16
kirtdog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College PA USA Posts: 251	hey rbnice...i think i am going to order the autotopoff.com ato...is it necessary to get the low voltage upgrade.