Torx's DIY $10 Apex Break Out Box

[Torx]

I know that it is the cheapest addition to the Apex modules, but when opened up, it is understandably cheaper and still well over priced IMHO considering they would get bulk pricing on stock. But I digress.

$39.99USD + taxes + S/H etc etc



<$10CAD completed. This is all that the "Break Out Box" is if "Break It Open". I will probably put it into a project box down the road and make up my own label. Personally I have no idea why Apex uses a grey cable and blue label :S (although there are some out there with the orange/white label) when everything else is black and orange/white ... I was adamant about finding a black cable lol.

1 - Black MD8 Mini Din 8 Minidin (ebay)
1 - terminal block (thesource)
1 - multimeter to test which line is which as most Minidin cables have different colors/pin (have several sitting around)
5 - minutes work (while waiting for my next pot of coffee to brew)

DIY BoB cable pin outs. 8 is the ground, 7 is not used and 1-6 are respectable switches to their numbers

[img]http://i57.*******.com/1zf55vn.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i62.*******.com/20lff5.jpg[/img]

[blackthunda77]

Nice, i might actually try this. Your right, seeing it in the open like that it does look alot simpler. Just a cable split onto individual blocks. Hows it working for you? Im interested in doing this for a flood alarm and a couple other things.

How do you use the multimeter to test the cables? I know its probably easy but im a noob with that stuff.

[Torx]

Originally Posted by blackthunda77

Nice, i might actually try this. Your right, seeing it in the open like that it does look alot simpler. Just a cable split onto individual blocks. Hows it working for you? Im interested in doing this for a flood alarm and a couple other things.

How do you use the multimeter to test the cables? I know its probably easy but im a noob with that stuff.

Everything is working great. I have a switch on a skimmer overflow cup that shuts down my skimmer if it goes "crazy", but that is it so far. I also have magnetic blocks that I will hook up to the cabinet doors and hood that will turn on lights when doors are open. Also going to play with a few alarms with my floats for low and high water levels etc.

As for testing the wires, use the continuity option and touch a pin on the connector and then touch the stripped wires until you hear the beep, then you know that that pin goes to that wire.

Normally looks like this. Some make a tone, some just have numbers that change on the display, I prefer the multimeters that tone.

[AcMonster]

Thanks for the great write up. Just built 2 boxes in small project boxes. Total cost was $28 for both. Looks great!

[paulywog0667]

What is the purpose? Is it just extra digital outputs and inputs? Do not blame you for just popping them on a terminal. Maybe dab something on the terminals, so the salt does not corrode the block? If that is what it is, I might get one of those cables and a connector. So I have plug in for extra outputs/inputs. For the controller I am making.

[Torx]

Originally Posted by paulywog0667

What is the purpose? Is it just extra digital outputs and inputs? Do not blame you for just popping them on a terminal. Maybe dab something on the terminals, so the salt does not corrode the block? If that is what it is, I might get one of those cables and a connector. So I have plug in for extra outputs/inputs. For the controller I am making.

Easily add float switches, door/window switches etc to the Apex. Mostly for float switches. I do have door switches that I will be adding when I get another EB8 so when I open a door in my cabinet or hood, a separate light comes on. I have some electrical grease, but the terminals are no where near when I would need to worry about corrosion. There are several DIY's out there like this, some use 1/4 audio jack inputs, I personally would like to come across some old speakers or stereo head unit and steal off the speaker outputs (red and black things that pinch the speaker wires) but I was going as simple as possible here to show that it really isn't anything fancy.

[paulywog0667]

Nice, I have an extra terminal block. I will have to make sure to remember and run some extra i/o pins to it. Thanks for the tip. I think Home Depot sells plates with the speaker terminals you mentioned. They might be for junction boxes though.

[byee]

THANK YOU for help me save $45 to buy something else.

I'm hoping someone will post a DIY for the LSM (lunar simulation module).

[flyhigh123]

how did u test the switch to see which color is what?

like how do you know switch #1 is what color? Do I test it through the apex?

[Torx]

Originally Posted by flyhigh123

how did u test the switch to see which color is what?

like how do you know switch #1 is what color? Do I test it through the apex?

I just wrote down a list of 1-8. Then used a multimeter and tested which pin on the cable connecter went to which color wire and wrote it down according to the img above as I checked each pin.