I have a tank in my room and also in my livingroom. The apex is in my room and I want to add a 2nd EB8 so I can control my livingroom tank also. Where can I get a usb cable that's 50 feet and also which cable is compatible?
so I was just researching that lol. Assuming youre using the AquaBus, you need the specific cable to link it (that's what Neptune says). I think its BS, because it seems to be just a regular USB cable. Just dont plug it into a computer. Here's a link to one on amazon:
I would not risk frying your apex by using a USB. They are different. Try using an apex wire in a computer - they wont work. it is NOT a USB connection. It carries power at a higher voltage than USB and the power it carries is used to power some Neptune boxes.
I looked into it further, because the people who used the modules with arduino used a regular USB 2 cable. It does work; and the label only states that plugging the cable into a computed would fry it, because it has no way to accept the incoming information. That being said, a USB 2 would be able to carry enough power, as long as it doesn't have a powered repeater.
Why risk it? I spent good money on my apex that controls even more money. It voids the warrenty and you stand a chance of frying your system. No thanks.
The AquaBus can be a total of 200? in length giving you ample
opportunities to locate the modules in convenient locations.
Version: 5.0 Page 12
Most of the bus and power cables are 6? but you can source longer USB cables on the Internet. You have to make
sure there are no powered repeaters on long cables as this will damage the base unit.
I have used connectors and spliced cables directly to get lengths up to 35 feet. Used standard USB cables with NO effect on the system. I had plenty of old computer cables with the USB connector on one side and the printer connector on the other, no worries.