Here’s a peak inside the other electronics cabinet. That’s where I’m trying to centralize all of the controls. Kind of my “mission control center”.
I prepped one panel for the three displays that will show water levels for three different tanks.
View attachment 14368
View attachment 14369
I pulled out some old Apex gear and the first of the three now interfaces with it.
Digital inputs to Apex are relay contact closures from my DIY controller to the Apex Module.
-high level in 150g FW (RODI) tank
-low level in FW tank
Digital outputs from Apex are a relay contact closure wired off of 120VAC outlet. Relay is the energized and the normally open contact is closed. My DIY controller is waiting for the command. I’ll be adding some other digital outputs for other controls.
-turn on pump to fill the FWTO tank.
Communicating between the systems is fairly simple and they’re all isolated electronically. I don’t have to worry about voltage differences because the relays isolate one system from another. (Like an electronic prophylactic)
Other digital control signals are also there that will be put in place once the next controller/monitor for the FWTO tank is complete tying them together.
Lastly, the third one will go on my saltwater mixing vat. I will wire in a remote control so that I can turn on/off the pump from across the room or change the flow rate. I bought DC controllable pumps with an external DC input (0-10v) for that reason.
