APEX Jr

Kylie,

I am pretty sure you will need to get the Apex (heavy).

But regardless, you do not need a display. Sometimes it is nice to have (say your internet goes down) or just for quickly glancing to see your parameters. But you can set it up and monitor it all on your computer or smart phone.

The reason I say you will need the Apex Heavy is because the VDM is only for AI lights (correct me if I am wrong people). For DIY LED's you need to access the variable speed ports which is not available on the Apex Jr. Now, you maybe could buy the VDM and use the variable speed ports that come on that, I am not sure. But if you buy the Apex heavy the variable speed ports are built in, and you have the ability to monitor ORP.....plus four extra outlets which is always nice to have.

Both models can send wireless signals. But you need to buy your own wireless bridge or gaming adapter and you you can NOT set it up wirelessly or you will brick it. You can set passwords.

 

Yes...buy the full Apex if you plan to use the variable speed ports for dimming your lights.  There are 4 ports.  If you have more than 4 drivers that you need to control, then you can add on a VDM for an additional 4 ports.  The VDM is for any variable speed devices...but also has the special serial connector that AI lights use that is not present on the standard Apex base.  To Jim's point, a display is not required...but it is nice to have when your computer or phone are in the other room.
I think both can monitor ORP...I thought the only difference between the two was the variable speed ports, but I don't own one, so I can't be 200% sure. 
You should get the EB8 for sure over the EB4.  You will find a use for the other 4 outlets.
--AJ

 

No I need (want) one. Thanks Kylie! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

 

I too am looking for a controller. I want to know pH and temp. Not sure what all these controllers are able to check while in operation. Price is the big issue for me and that is why I dont have one yet. I also want to get a set of MP40s for my tank here in the future. I understand that the Apex can do everything I've mentioned so far but are there any others that dont cost so much?

 

That's correct Kylie.  EB8 is the 8 outlet controllable power bar.  If you decide to go a-la-carte vs. with a package, you will need the Apex base unit (not Jr./Lite), the EB8, and I would strongly recommend, at minimum, a Temp probe.  You can add the pH and ORP probes later.
--AJ

 

You can run more than 4 drivers off the 4 variable speed ports on the Apex. I setup 6 on Crabbyo's which you can see Sunday, and I am going to be setting up 8-10 on my 220 when I set it up soon and only plan on using the default 4 ports. The variable speed ports output 20ma of power for the dimming. The typical meanwell drivers only need 3-4ma of power for the dimming function to work. So theoretically you could run 5 dimmers on 1 variable speed port which means a total of up to 20 drivers off of 4 ports, however that would be tapping out the port and I would never recommend that. I stop at 3 per variable speed port just to have a saftey net so with that the Apex System with the 4 ports would be able to run 12 meanwell 60-48 drivers without issue imo. This has also been confirmed with apex and I have also worked with rapid LED on this. I was only going to use 2 ports on Crabbyo's but for ease of cabling, I used all 4 ports but have 2 drivers on each of port 3 and port 4.

 

Hey Lehr,
Can you go into a bit more detail on how you're running more than one driver off of a single variable speed port? I didn't know that it was an option. Also, I know JB has a VDM for his extra drivers (I think he's running 7) so he's running 4 off the base and 3 off of a VDM. Do you just double the amount of power that you send to the variable speed port in your programming? Any references on this would be great.

Kylie,
Jim was right, the Lite does not have a 2nd pH/ORP port. Also, I had no idea that they came out with a 3rd variant of the Apex...the Jr. It was just the Full and the Lite. I was referring to the Jr/Lite interchangeably and they *are not* the same. Please refer to this page for details on the three. http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=40 The Jr looks like a nice entry level for those just wanting to use very basic functions for a few devices. The Lite is more full functioned, but is missing a few things in the full version. The biggest difference is between the Jr and the other two. The Jr is a *very* stripped down version of the Apex, but at $149, it's also a bargain. Heck, that's the same price as a single EB8.

--AJ