Sophos9 - Diy "poor Mans" Reef Cooling

[sophos9]

Idle, its cus the sensor aint shielded... Weird or what? Even stranger is that mine is running directly on the lighting cable and works fine?

Glad its sorted tho!

 

[idlefingers]

'tis strange indeed! I thought the fact that the lighting power cable is well insulated would've stopped it affecting nearby things - even if they were bare-wired? As you can probably tell, my electrical knowledge is mainly based on guess-work

 

[sophos9]

As you can probably tell, my electrical knowledge is mainly based on guess-work

Me too... Ask Underwurlde

 

[idlefingers]

I'm starting to get frustrated with this bloody thing now. I've now got it in the proper enclosure w/ sensor on the other side of the tank, as far as I can get it away from the lights cable and it's still dropping a degree when the lights are turned off! Arrrrrgggghhh!! I guess I'll have to drop an email to monitors-direct and see what they say.

What's equality odd and frustrating is that the temp reading is now even more inaccurate than it was before! Before it was 1 degree off what the glass thermometer in the tank says, now it's 2! I'm starting to feel like I've wasted a lot of money on this..

 

[Underwurlde]

This is intreaging. Intreaguing. INTR... sod it. Interesting. Gunna read through it now (if the sprogs leave me alone)....

Andy

 

[idlefingers]

Cheers!

 

[Underwurlde]

OK, try this: Swap the red & white wires for the temperature probe around.

Does interference still occur?

Andy

 

[idlefingers]

Just switched 'em and it still does it.

 

[Underwurlde]

not the obvious then. unravel that wire & take another pic.

or a point to point wiring dig

 

[idlefingers]

It's not all tangled up now it's in the new enclosure but I figured it'd make more sense drawing it out 'cos it's still a mess of wires! Hope this is good enough.. I've never tried to make an wiring diagram before!

 

[sophos9]

Exactly the same wiring as mine (apart from I did not use crimp terminals) - You are in safe hands with Andy, he is the dude (but not like Dude Lebowski)

 

[Underwurlde]

Just a minor thing, may work, may not, very subtle if it does:

For N & E you have done as I would have - from the mains, crimp (star pointed) & then fed N (& E) from there.

For L you have not done this, rather star pointed AFTER the connection @ terminal (9).
Try instead wiring as per N & E: come in from the mains, & THEN crimp to (9), (1) & (3).

OK, that may work, but I doubt it, but worth a shot - how have you wired it Sophos?

If it still does not work, then the obvious thing to consider is the actual NTC temp sensor itself. So, I reckon yours differs to that of Sophos.

Q): what termperature sensor are you using (link please)
Q): To Sophos: what termperature sensor are you using (link please) - the Maplins one isn't it?

Cheers,

Andy

 

[sophos9]

Hi Andy, how you doing?

The temperature sensor is provided with the unit so *should* be the same

I've got a live link wire going from 9 to 3 then 3 to 1, all neutrals are terminated at 8, earths all go into a connection block, 2 and 3 go to the live of the attached sockets....

 

[idlefingers]

I'll give that a try (moving the live wires around). As sophos said, the sensors should be the same type..

Cheers for all the help guys!

 

[Underwurlde]

Hi Andy, how you doing?

Just put the kiddie-winks to bed, so my nervous tic is starting to abate....

The temperature sensor is provided with the unit so *should* be the same

I was *hoping* they would be different, & then go 'Ah ha!' a la Alan Parsons.

These problems can be right royal bast..ds to track down....

If it still does not work, take the temperature probe out of the water - is it still effected then?

Andy