DIY Apex Breakout Box Instructions/Parts List

[angiegreenwell]

I also am a bit confused about the wiring of the keystone and the ground. Could you explain that bit a little more?

[jrpark22000]

On a side note, the mini din connector from Frys does fit a little looser than I would like into the Apex. I use a px1000 and moved the breakout to it's I/O connector where it fits very tightly. The px1000 mini din cable also fits tightly into the Apex. But all that said, the Frys connector did work and triggered all of the switch inputs.

[jrpark22000]

Originally Posted by BIG L A

@ jrpark Did you need a punch down tool for the female end of the RJ45 jack? and I'm still trying to understand the use of the 1 and 8 pin? I see it for the RJ45 male jack but a lil unsure of the connection for the keystone.

Let me try and make it clearer.

Use this photo for a reference.
2010-12-29%2018_36_29.jpg

As you look at the 2 visible keystone jacks in the photo they each have 8 connectors. On each keystone, the 2 connectors in the row closest to the face plate are pins 8 and X, but this X does not matter. In the second row from the face plate are pins 1 and Y, again the Y does not matter.

I took a single long wire and tied all of the pin 8s and their X pins together making a long series wiring string. I then placed my conductor coming from my mini-din pin 8 to a single keystone pin 8 and its X.

I then took each switch input conductor (1-6) from the mini-din and placed it across pin 1 and its Y on each keystone. You now have a unique wire on each keystone pin 1 and all keystone's pin 8 tied together.



You do not need a punch tool for the keystones. Each keystone comes with a plastic cover to protect against shorts. This cover is also used to force the wire into the connector acting as a punch down tool.



You could avoid wiring to the X,Y pins but it would make the job more difficult and frankly, Why? It works, is it easy to wire, and you won’t use the X,Y pins.

[angiegreenwell]

The extra explanation on how to wire the keystones helped. Any tips on getting the pins out of the plastic holder? I tried pushing them, pulling them and warming them up with the soldering iron and no luck. I bought the same part as shown here.

Thanks

[jrpark22000]

double post

[jrpark22000]

Originally Posted by angiegreenwell

The extra explanation on how to wire the keystones helped. Any tips on getting the pins out of the plastic holder? I tried pushing them, pulling them and warming them up with the soldering iron and no luck. I bought the same part as shown here.

Thanks

Have a decent set of needle nose plyers. Grasp the pin close to the holder as seen in of my previous photos. Push. You'll feel a small pop as the pin starts to move, the pin has a ridge to lock into the plastic holder you need to overcome.

As for iron assistance, I placed the tip of the iron in the solder cup while pushing twords the plastic holder. As soon as it starts to move grasp the other end with the needle nose and use the above method.

I had better results without the iron, it's tricky to get the heat correct without over heating.

[SuperNemo]

can i ask why you use audio jacks? how would these work on pumps or float switches for top off.

sorry, new to this stuff. can anyone explain how you connect devices to the break out box.

[rbredding]

Originally Posted by SuperNemo

can i ask why you use audio jacks? how would these work on pumps or float switches for top off.
sorry, new to this stuff. can anyone explain how you connect devices to the break out box.

the audio jacks are easy (as they are only two wire connectors). One wire goes to each of the ears of the connector, when plugged in, the input devices are properly wired...




jrpark22000 (in his box) would use an RJ45 jack crimping tool (used to make Ethernet cords) to add an RJ45 jack to any float switch.

in his example, he'd just put one wire in the far left pin slot and one wire in the far right pen slot and crimp.. he'd have a float switch that terminated in an RJ45 connector (again, looks like an Ethernet cable) that when he plugged into his breakout box would connect properly to the Apex switch. (designated by the location in his breakout box)

when he plugs his breakout box into his apex, he can immediately begin using Switch1, Switch2, Switch3, etc as conditions in his programming..

If Switch2 CLOSED Then ON (as an example)

[Ricardo_Jorge]

Man this thread rocks!!
Congratulations! This is one of the best DIY that i've already saw!

Hug

[Daimyo68]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the cost of supplies vs the neptune product will vary depending on what you (or your friends) have laying around.

The one bonus to building the box yourself is a cleaner/finished look. Both designs in this thread and the Neptune design work the same, but the design's here are clean, since you just plug into a jack, instead of "clipping" a bare wire into the unit. It's all a matter of how you feel about it visually.

I have my Apex, Breakoutbox, and Mp40w controller, and wireless card mounted on the back outside of my stand as there was no room inside without being "Plasticman". So I obviously didn't want anything looking, what I feel, is ugly.

On another note, it's nice to see that people are still getting something out of this thread, as well as adding to it

/D

[Ricardo_Jorge]

Hey guys, i need a help.

According to this link: http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?...d=48&Itemid=48

The Aquacontroller uses just 4 pins of the MiniDin 8-pin cord. So, if i wonder to do my own cable, can i just use 4 wires?

If not, which of the 3 grounds should i use in my DIY?


Am i clear?
Tks.

[madreef_7K]

Just built mine and it is working perfectly for ATO (DIY with float swtich and aqualifter pump) and leak detector (DIY with 2 wire thermostat wire).

Thanks for the instruction guys. Really helpful!

[jmait769]

Originally Posted by Ricardo_Jorge

Hey guys, i need a help.

According to this link: http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?...d=48&Itemid=48

The Aquacontroller uses just 4 pins of the MiniDin 8-pin cord. So, if i wonder to do my own cable, can i just use 4 wires?

If not, which of the 3 grounds should i use in my DIY?


Am i clear?
Tks.

If you are talking about the Apex here are some links and page numbers for the mini DIN-8 plug: Neptune Page 51 and the Unofficial New User Guide for the Apex AquaController Page 84.

HTH

Jay

[Harry_Y]

While I do not have an Apex (I'm an RKE guy), I like this.

I like the RJ-45 box the best, but if you went
with RJ-11 you could use standard telco wires

[rbredding]

Originally Posted by Harry_Y

While I do not have an Apex (I'm an RKE guy), I like this.

I like the RJ-45 box the best, but if you went
with RJ-11 you could use standard telco wires

that's what I did... an RJ-11 will plug into and correctly align with an RJ45's pins 2-7 (if you're using a 6 wire RJ-11, it will align with 3-6 if using a 4 wire, it will align with 4-5 if you're using a 2 wire)

I used RJ-11 jacks on the ends of my float switch wires to hook into the box..

[Harry_Y]

Originally Posted by rbredding

that's what I did... an RJ-11 will plug into and correctly align with an RJ45's pins 2-7 (if you're using a 6 wire RJ-11, it will align with 3-6 if using a 4 wire, it will align with 4-5 if you're using a 2 wire)

I used RJ-11 jacks on the ends of my float switch wires to hook into the box..

Sounds good, and also the ends and crimp tool are available
all over so you can make custom cables quickly and easily.

[milkman55]

What kind of uses have everyone found for the breakout box other than ATO and water on the floor sensors? I assume most would use redundant ATO float switches hooked to two separate circuits to prevent one from sticking on?

My Apex is in the basement with the rest of the equipment and my display is upstairs. I use a iPad to kick off the feed mode that shuts down my Vortech pumps via the WMX module. I was thinking of a simple door bell switch mounted inside the display cabinet that would connect to the breakout box and when pressed, would start the feed cycle?

Other ideas? Going to make one of these in the near future and just was trying to think of all the ways I could use the six switches.

[rbredding]

I have a "doorbell" set up to turn on my undercabinet/refugium light for situations where it isn't already on and I need to see/do something under the stand..

hold the doorbell for 1 second.. the light comes on.. (and stays on for 3 minutes, falling back to "auto" afterward)

[insomniac2k2]

Great thread!

I went with the cat5 version. While I was at Fry's, i also found a box, which i feel is a bit better looking.

[Daimyo68]

Originally Posted by rbredding

I have a "doorbell" set up to turn on my undercabinet/refugium light for situations where it isn't already on and I need to see/do something under the stand..

hold the doorbell for 1 second.. the light comes on.. (and stays on for 3 minutes, falling back to "auto" afterward)

Great idea!

[srusso]

Sorry this is off topic, but has anyone DIY'ed other apex parts? Maybe an DIY EB8? Probes?

[murfman]

Question, I am going to build one of these for my AC Jr. Since only switch 1 & 2 are functional on the controller, all I need is two jacks, correct? This will be running a digital Avast ATO sensor.

[Malster1]

I made mine last night. Thanks for all the instructions. Here is how mine turned out.









Fun little project.

[DolphinLVR]

Where did you find the Box and Jacks @?

[Malster1]

frys electronic's