AC3 Upgarding Firmware - Backup

[hilde123]

I got an iphone and want to use aquanotes on it; when trying to connect it says connection failure, may need to update firmware. I researched a little and found I need firmware version 3.4 for this iphone app to work. I am currently running 3.2. I have the upgrade firmware file to do the upgrade but I have a few questions:

-I have the AC3 connected via a wireless bridge to my home network. Can I update the firmware through this connection or does it have to be a direct connection?

-Will I lose any of my program or devices when doing the upgrade?

-Will I lose any of my calibration for ORP, PH, or Temp when doing the upgrade?

-Should I do a backup of the AC3 before doing the upgrade, is there a way to dump all programs, devices, settings from the AC3 before doing the upgrade in case something goes wrong?

Thanks

[kenargo]

- I have the AC3 connected via a wireless bridge to my home network. Can I update the firmware through this connection or does it have to be a direct connection?


Yes, you can upgrade an AC3 in your configuration

-Will I lose any of my program or devices when doing the upgrade?

No, you should not but you should still back it up.

-Will I lose any of my calibration for ORP, PH, or Temp when doing the upgrade?


No, calibrations are nor cleared

-Should I do a backup of the AC3 before doing the upgrade, is there a way to dump all programs, devices, settings from the AC3 before doing the upgrade in case something goes wrong?


Always a good idea to back up before an upgrade.

[hilde123]

How do I do a full backup of the AC3 (devices, program, setting, cal points, etc)?

[kenargo]

How do I do a full backup of the AC3 (devices, program, setting, cal points, etc)?

Program and timers are easy; connect to the controller and copy/paste the timers and program and save in a text file. calibration and settings there is no way to really save them but as I mentioned; it isn't too likley they would be lost but you might want to record things from the network screen (I used to take a screen shot and save that).

[hilde123]

I downloaded the firmware upgrade from Neptune Sys and was reading the instllation instructions. In the instructions it warns that the programming structure has changed some and some programs may not run correctly after the upgrade. Do you have any knowledge of the changes to the programming language. Below is a copy of my program, should I have any issues?

MHL$-A01 - MH Lights
CO2&-A02 - Calc Reactor Co2
REF$-B04 - Refugium lights
CHI%-A03 = Chiller
SKI#-B01 - Protien Skimmer
VHO$-A06 - VHO lights (on Solar Dimmer)
CLP#-A07 - Closed Loop Pump
HEA%-B02 - Heater
SPP#-B03 - Secondary Return Pump Power
KAL%-A04 - Kalkwasser Dosing Pump
CAL#-B06 - Calcium Reactor Recirc Pump
AIR%-A05 - Air Pump
FA3%-B05 - Ballast Fan
VOD%-A08 - Vodka Dosing Pump
BUZ%-B08 - Buzzer
DU1&-C01 - Dummy
DU2&-C08 - Dummy
DU3&-C07 - Dummy
DU4&-D01 - Dummy
DU5&-D02 - Dummy
ALM%-C02 - Alarm (dispatches email)
SW1%-C04 (Low water level sump level switch)
SW2%-C05 (Primary Pump Pressure Switch)
SW3%-C06 (Water Leak Sensor (waterbug)

If Time > 00:00 Then VHO ON
If Time > 15:30 Then MHL ON
If Time > 19:30 Then MHL OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then REF ON
If Sun -090/090 Then REF OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then CLP OFF
If Time > 03:00 Then DU1 ON
If Time > 03:05 Then DU1 OFF
If Time > 10:00 Then DU2 ON
If Time > 10:15 Then DU2 OFF
If Time > 13:00 Then DU3 ON
If Time > 14:00 Then DU3 OFF
If Time > 16:00 Then DU4 ON
If Time > 16:30 Then DU4 OFF
If Time > 18:45 Then DU5 ON
If Time > 19:15 Then DU5 OFF
If Timer DU1 = ON Then CLP ON
If Timer DU2 = ON Then CLP ON
If Timer DU3 = ON Then CLP ON
If Timer DU4 = ON Then CLP ON
If Timer DU5 = ON Then CLP ON
If Time > 00:00 Then SPP ON
If Time > 00:00 Then SKI ON
If pHA1 < 06.60 Then CO2 OFF
If pHA1 > 06.70 Then CO2 ON
If pH < 07.60 Then CO2 OFF
If Temp < RT+0.0 Then HEA ON
If Temp > RT+0.3 Then HEA OFF
If Time > 07:00 Then KAL ON
If Time > 07:30 Then KAL OFF
If Timer DU2 = ON Then KAL ON
If pH < 07.83 Then KAL ON
Max Change 010 M Then KAL OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then CAL OFF
If SwitchA1 CLOSED Then CAL ON
If Sun 060/000 Then FA3 ON
If Time > 20:00 Then VOD ON
If Time > 20:11 Then VOD OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then SW1 OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then SW2 OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then SW3 OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then SW1 ON
If SwitchA2 OPEN Then SW2 ON
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then SW3 ON
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then MHL OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then VHO OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then CLP OFF
If SwitchA2 OPEN Then SPP ON
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then SPP OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then SKI OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then REF OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then MHL OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then VHO OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then CLP OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then SPP OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then SKI OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then REF OFF
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then CAL OFF
If Temp > RT+2.1 Then VHO OFF
Max Change 051 M Then VHO OFF
If Temp > RT+2.0 Then MHL OFF
Max Change 060 M Then MHL OFF
If Temp > RT+2.2 Then REF OFF
Max Change 060 M Then REF OFF
If Temp > RT+2.1 Then SPP OFF
Max Change 020 M Then SPP OFF
If Temp > RT+2.0 Then CLP OFF
Max Change 065 M Then CLP OFF
If Temp > RT+2.1 Then SKI OFF
If FeedA 000 Then SKI OFF
If FeedA 000 Then CLP OFF
If Temp > RT+1.5 Then CHI ON
If Temp < RT+0.5 Then CHI OFF
If Temp > RT+4.0 Then CHI OFF
If TmpA > RT+4.0 Then CHI OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then ALM OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then ALM ON
If SwitchA2 OPEN Then ALM ON
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then ALM ON
If Temp > RT+1.8 Then ALM ON
If Temp < RT+-0.3 Then ALM ON
If pH < 07.65 Then ALM ON
If pH > 08.60 Then ALM ON
If pHA1 > 07.20 Then ALM ON
If pHA1 < 06.10 Then ALM ON
If ORP < 280 Then ALM ON
If Power 000 Then ALM ON
If Power 000 Then SKI OFF
Max Change 015 M Then SKI OFF
If Time > 00:00 Then BUZ OFF
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then BUZ ON
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then BUZ ON
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then BUZ ON
If Temp > RT+2.0 Then BUZ ON
If Temp < RT+-1.0 Then BUZ ON
If TmpA > RT+2.0 Then BUZ ON
If TmpA < RT+-1.0 Then BUZ ON
If pHA1 < 06.10 Then BUZ ON
If Timer ALM = ON Then KAL OFF

[hilde123]

bump

[RussM]

That caution only applies if upgrading to v3.4 from a firmware earlier than version 3.3. If you are currently on v3.3, then no worries.

To play it safe, copy and paste the timer and programs to a NotePad or WordPad file.... or just bookmark this thread which has your current program in in ;)

[RussM]

In this section:

If SwitchA1 OPEN Then BUZ ON
If SwitchA1 OPEN Then BUZ ON
If SwitchA3 OPEN Then BUZ ON

Is the middle one supposed to be If SwitchA2 OPEN Then BUZ ON ?

[hilde123]

Russ, good catch that should be SwitchA2, I'll have to correct the program. I am upgrading from 3.2 to 3.4. Do you know what program statements or order that is problamatic in the newer firmware versions?

[RussM]

Russ, good catch that should be SwitchA2, I'll have to correct the program. I am upgrading from 3.2 to 3.4. Do you know what program statements or order that is problematic in the newer firmware versions?
I was actually looking at your program to see if I could see any obvious ways to shorten it, since you are right at the limit of 100 lines when I noticed that. You could quite effectively make use of the greater program line capability of the AC3 Pro! Or the Apex ;)

I started out w/ v3.3, so have no experience w/ 3.2, and cannot say specifically what's changed.... the readme.txt mentions possible probe name changes too. But I don't see anything in your listing that doesn't look like I am used to w/ v3.3 & v3.4. Regardless, I've give it a try, and be prepared to make any necessary adjustments to the program. Do a line by line before after comparison of the timers and programs after applying the firmware update.

The jump up to version 3.4 should be well worth any minor bumps along the way... if there are any.

[hilde123]

Got the firmware and webpages upgraded. There is definately significant improvements. I really like the new flash graphs. Btw, no program issues after the upgrade. I struggled flashing the firmware until I used a windows xp machine.

[RussM]

:beer: