EB8 in 12v dc

[60Cubed]

Think it would be great to have an energy bar that ran dc voltage of 12 and 24 for our fans so you wouldn't need all the stupid oversized 12v plugs!! Wonder if anyone at Neptune ever thought of that. I would buy it for sure!!

[RussM]

I used to run a total of 5 120mm DC fans off one wall-wart, using only one outlet in my DC8.

[60Cubed]

Yes but I would like to control many diff fans or low voltage equipment independently of one another. Not all at once. Just be nice to have a 12v dc version of the EB8

[aquamanic]

I don't know how that would work in practice. Most 12v devices come wired to their own transformer. What would you have users do in that case? Cut off the transformer? Then what would the plugs look like, who would supply them and would you expect that to be a DIY job? I suppose you could design it somewhat like the BoB with terminals to connect to the 12v devices. It's an interesting idea but it's got some design challenges if you were going to go to market with it.

[60Cubed]

It would be for any 12/24vdc equipment. For instance I have 12vdc fans inside my hood. They are muffin fans from a computer. No power supply was furnished with them. So I have to purchase a power supply for each fan or run them off the same 12vdc plug. When you run them off the same plug you loose some functionality and are limited with the on/off of just one fan motor. I run a total of 4 fans inside my hood. 2 for cooling down the light ballast and the other 2 for cooling the tank down. It would be nice to have a central power supply for turning each fan on separately instead of having 2 or 4 12vdc power supplies plugged into my EB8 eating up valuable 120vac sockets. And they are bulky and normally you have to plug in an extension cord to the EB8 then plug the 12vdc power supply into the extension cord. Bunch of wires and gets messy in a confined area!! So a 12vdc EB8 would be a stellar idea IMO.

[phuzzykins]

If Neptune wanted to publish a spec for their AquaBus protocol (which I think is based on CAN), a DC version would be a fun project to do as a hobby... but I doubt the number of them that Neptune could sell would ever make it worth doing commercially.

[60Cubed]

Originally Posted by phuzzykins

If Neptune wanted to publish a spec for their AquaBus protocol (which I think is based on CAN), a DC version would be a fun project to do as a hobby... but I doubt the number of them that Neptune could sell would ever make it worth doing commercially.

You might be surprised. I think they would sell more than you realize. But hey they don't make it so we will never know!!! I wish they did make one cause I would get it right now for my fans to run off of. Now I gotta use up two EB8 ports to run them. And losing half the control ability to boot. Maybe one day it'll happen.

[twintank]

+1 for this idea. I have looked into creating a DIY version of this by using the 4 Integrated Variable Speed Ports
on the Apex and an IOrelay.com Reactor Series Relay to turn on/off up to 4 channels of 12/24 volts.

[RussM]

Originally Posted by twintank

... DIY version of this by using the 4 Integrated Variable Speed Ports

I've done this already using a 4-channel opto-coupled relay board switching 4 120VAC outlets .

[aquamanic]

Russ also has a version that uses a flux capacitor but that one is on the bench until he finds a reliable supply of plutonium

[kurt_n]

Yeah... but I bet neither one of you run your turboencabulator off the variable speed ports.

But seriously, I think Alan is right why this would be a tough sell... there's no "standard" plug for the 12V things you want to plug in. So there would be some aspect of DIY involved. And when you get in to DIY when dealing with power supply, I can imagine the liability issues are something Neptune wouldn't want to touch with a 10 foot pole.

[60Cubed]

Yeah but you see we are already having to do a DIY on our fans to connect them to a 12vdc power supply. Most of the 12vdc fans we use are from computers and come with just open end wiring. It would be so much easier to just throw a $2 ac plug on the end of it and running them off of a controllable power supply. The reason is if there is a over temp issue we can have the fans come on independently of each other instead of all at once. I would buy it and I think you would be really surprised at how many others would be very interested in one as well!!!

Build me one and I'll buy it. With the right knowledge (which I personally do not obtain) and the right tools/materials it can be done. Wish I had those abilities. It would already be done!!!

Lance

[RussM]

FWIW, there are plenty of 120VAC fans available out there, which represent an easier DIY. We are not limited solely to DC-powered fans.

You can always email [email protected] and present your case for a DC EnergyBar.

I do have to agree w/ Phuzzykins though... I honestly doubt that there is enough of a market for it to be worthwhile for Neptune. I think that smart control of any form of non-mains power will forever remain the realm of the more adventurous DIY-er.

But I reiterate... send your suggestion to Neptune.

[twintank]

I want the flux capacitor version and have some plutonium for it. This sounds cool! I agree that this would not be exactly a "plug and play" module but then again the break out box is not that standard too. I have one EB8 that is filled with power supplies for my fans and solenoid valves for my ATO system. IMO it gets messy really quickly. I would pay a couple hundred for this type of module just to clean up the mess and give me the ability to individual control the speed of the fans based on different Apex profiles.

[RussM]

Originally Posted by twintank

... the ability to individual control the speed of the fans based on different Apex profiles.

Now you're talking a significantly more complex DIY project! That could be fun...

[phuzzykins]

Originally Posted by RussM

Now you're talking a significantly more complex DIY project! That could be fun...

Actually, it's pretty easy... the 10V to PWM adapter I mentioned will drive PWM controlled fans.

All you really need is a small microcontroller with analog inputs and PWM outputs. An Arduino plus a few resistors / trim pots to being the 10v signals down to 5v is really all it takes.

[60Cubed]

Originally Posted by phuzzykins

All you really need is a small microcontroller with analog inputs and PWM outputs. An Arduino plus a few resistors / trim pots to being the 10v signals down to 5v is really all it takes.

Yeah that really sounds simple to me!!! Maybe I just have too complicated of a mind than to be able to understand the simplicity of your solution!!!

Strange thing is I know I'm not the only person out there that as thought of this and wished it was available?!?! I can't be......no way I'm believing that.

This would free up a lot of space on ur EB8.

[phuzzykins]

I'm sure there are lots of people who would find such a device useful... the question is, would they be willing to pay an amount for it that would justify the costs associated with developing and manufacturing it, and what would be the opportunity cost of doing so? In other words, if Neptune were to create THIS product, what would they NOT be doing as a result?

Deciding what to bring to market is not a simple process.

Having said that, I'm going to try my hand at reverse engineering AquaBus enough to make some hobbyist modules that emulate Neptune's own. I think it'd be nifty to have, for example, a module that looks like a PM1 to the apex, but reports switch states based on data scraped from the web. Want a weather simulator? Have the switch states be based on realtime weather from a location of your choice. That sort of thing.