Help ACJR

[FastUno]

Anyone using this controller? How do you like it?
I am having trouble with mine...is it just me?
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=6102999#post6102999

 

[cali_reef]

I don't own a ACJR but I have two ACII and I think they perform as advertised.

As for your temp problem, I don't believe your symptom is a "problem", all electronic temperature sensing equipment requires calibration periodically, nothing is wrong with that if you understand how the sensors are designed and constructed. The Neptune products I have used all have the ability to offset the sensor to correct the reading, now you just need to find a truly "calibrated" temp gage to do that with. What would be the purpose of knowing the water temp down to .1 deg accuracy? You should be watching out for fluctuation instead. These things control heater's on and off points and the minimum differential is one degree, the best you can do is to control the tank water temperature within that 1 deg. BTW, I am not sure if the corals mind the water temp have a 1 deg swing or 3 deg swing, I know the surface water temp varies a little(maybe few deg) thru out the day in all the tropical areas I visited.

As for your clock loosing seconds, I don't know if mine does that, but why does it matter? Again I don't think the fish and coral would mind the lights are coming on or off a minuet off each day, I think nature have more daily variance.

You are right to point out the clock is off, but I don't think the accuracy of the clock is the reason you buy a controller for a fish tank. I didn't buy my last few Breitling for it's accuracy, they loose about a minuet every week:lol:. I think you should send it back for repair or maybe ask for a refund if you think these issues are important to you

 

[FastUno]

I set the ACJR to my atomic clock last night & within 21hrs it was off by 1min & 14s. This adds up & yes it's significant over time. We have figured out how to make clocks that run pretty much on par a long time ago & this is the heart of the unit. The whole concept behind this unit revolves around scheduling, so how can I trust it's other operations?

I used the leap second menu to compensate for the faster clock speed, then it starting shooting seconds by 2x (2,4,6), which did the reverse of what it was suppose to do (i.e. make it go slower). After playing with it for some time, I just happen to hit the "self test" button & after it got out of that test it started displaying seconds somewhat normally. Sometimes they run faster from 1 sec to the next & other times slower, but it at least now it's keeping up with my atomic clock (only running for 2hrs so far & with 80s/day compensation). We will see by tomorrow on this.

They say the temp sensors have been calibrated, yet look at the other posts. Many others report higher temps than what their current temp sensors report (generally 1-2deg). Not such a big thing, but if they say one thing & it turns out to be something else, then there is a problem. Furthermore, I have heard nothing but great things about this controller & was expecting the set the schedule & forget setup. Yet all these anomalies have taken me by surprise & left me questioning the unit as a whole.

 

[cali_reef]

Hey, what else in your home is in sync with your atomic clock??:lol: How can you trust the clock in computers that runs the Air Traffic system? I am sure they are not running in sync with the Atomic clock and I just recently read an article about the scientific community having a debate how to correct for the extra few seconds we are not correcting during leap years. The controller replaces cheap mechanical intermatic timers in my system, how accurate you think those are??

I would question how does others know their existing temperature sensor are accurate? I am not saying the AC sensors are accurate, they can't be since the sensors are resistance based and is very sensitive to humidity, how the extra wire is coiled\bend together, etc... They would not give you the ability to off set if they will maintain 100% accurately for its service life.

 

[FastUno]

I could understand a $20 intermatic timer being off by a few. I could understand the ACJR being off 1min or even 5min after a month, but not 1/2hr, especially after paying some $275.

The root of the problem is that their clock driver is interrupted by their scheduling processor & they knew this to be a problem. That is why they gave us the "leap second" function to compensate, since it's different for any given application/sets of schedules. They know that their temperature readings are off & as a result provide a compensation for that, under the guise of giving us further control. Would have been real nice if they would have just told us that & I would have accepted it as a norm & not had to post this thread.

This is unacceptable in my book!

 

[cali_reef]

Oh well, one unhappy customer.. Did they offer to give you a refund?

 

[FastUno]

They offered an exchange. I am actually happy with it & love the idea of it running as a backup in case temp gets too hot it will turn off MH.

Just have to monitor the monitorD) now to make sure it does its job & learn to live with the way it operates. Constantly checking & comparing temp values & perhaps resetting clock often.