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_Adrian_
04-06-2015, 10:52 PM
Hey guys...

Quick few questions about the new DC pumps on the market...
I've noticed that a lot of people are swayed by the power savings and the quiet operation of these pumps. Price point wise, I'm seeing a lot of people using the Jebao DC series pumps and having decent luck.

I'm currently in the planning stage of a build and I'm wondering how well do these pumps do if left outside the water as my intent is to use two Jebao DC2000 as closed loop pumps as wavemakers and a DC9000 as a main circulation pump.

Tank in question is a Custom Acrylic 165Gal ( 53 x 24 x 30 Display Area ) with integral overflow across the full length of the back pane ( 53 x 6 x 6 ) where all the plumbing and the drains will be hidden and overall tank dimension will be 53 x 30 x 30.

Also does anyone have any information about the pin out of the pump as I'm also thinking about building a 3 CH DC Pump controller that has an Arduino friendly interface for control. This will be done through either SPI, I2C, CANBUS or even PWM.

Any input at this point is greatly appreciated!
PS: I will be posting pictures from SketchUp of the tank latter on tonight.

daplatapus
04-07-2015, 12:05 AM
My experience so far with a Jabeo DC6000 for a recirc skimmer is not good. Pump runs fine, but leaks. I've taken it apart several times to try and reseat the o ring, but it always leaks.

intarsiabox
04-07-2015, 12:15 AM
These two pumps are marketed as submersible which usually means they have no way of cooling themselves and are not guaranteed against leaking. Take it for what you want but Fishstreet even specifically states "Internel Use Only! DC Pump do not suppose for External Use." I just copied and pasted the bad English.

_Adrian_
04-07-2015, 12:38 AM
After bit of research its looking a lot like a BLDC motor.
However what makes me wonder is if there are any internal drivers or coil direct connections ( plug is a 3 pin from what I seen in pictures ) however its hard to tell until one is in hand and verified.

_Adrian_
04-07-2015, 01:15 AM
Thanks for the input guys :)

I did read a few of these earlier units had really poor controllers and no other external input for control. I also noticed that Neptune / APEX do have a "controller" but due to size I don't believe its a speed controller as well

MKLKT
04-07-2015, 03:34 PM
My experience so far with a Jabeo DC6000 for a recirc skimmer is not good. Pump runs fine, but leaks. I've taken it apart several times to try and reseat the o ring, but it always leaks.

I had a different branding of the DC9000 I think. It was nice when it worked, and then it suddenly died a year after owning it. I only ever used it submerged though. Was certainly quieter, but it was more a different sound (more like a propeller than the AC hum). J&L doesn't seem to even sell them anymore so I'd assume that's why.

The Guy
04-07-2015, 03:41 PM
I have a 1320 DC speed wave & controller and been using it for a year with no issues, the secret is to keep the power supply cool. BTW it's available for $75

roblarss
04-07-2015, 04:08 PM
I have 2 of the speedwave brand (most of the pumps are identical) operating as a closed loop outside of the water for about a year. No leaks. Fairly quiet. I do have them wired into an arduino controller ramping them up and down.

I have gone through a few powersupplies (replaced under warranty). Keep them cool and they are fine.

_Adrian_
04-07-2015, 04:45 PM
Thanks a lot guys !!! This is Great input here :)

DC pumps are still in their infancy, but they do prove to be more efficient and quiet.
Being able to control the speed / flow is a big plus for those that want wave maker.

I have 2 of the speedwave brand (most of the pumps are identical) operating as a closed loop outside of the water for about a year. No leaks. Fairly quiet. I do have them wired into an arduino controller ramping them up and down.

I have gone through a few powersupplies (replaced under warranty). Keep them cool and they are fine.

Are you controlling with PWM through a FET ?

ronau
04-07-2015, 06:55 PM
Thanks for the input guys :)

I did read a few of these earlier units had really poor controllers and no other external input for control. I also noticed that Neptune / APEX do have a "controller" but due to size I don't believe its a speed controller as well

Do you mean the Jebao module:

http://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-store/Jebao-Apex-controller-for-pumps.html

I believe they will control the DC pumps as well, there are youtube videos of similar DIY modules controlling DC pumps.

I would suggest oversizing and running them at less than full power.

roblarss
04-07-2015, 07:35 PM
I have the pump signal wire connected directly to the arduino output and the negative tied into the supply output negative.

I do also have a resistor and cap on the signal line to change the PWM to analog. The speedwave pump doesnt really need the resistor/cap but my jebao wp pump does.

Ron99
04-07-2015, 08:44 PM
I run a Speedwave 2640 as my return pump. Been using it for almost a year now. But I'm not using the stock power supply. I'm using a 19V laptop PS with it.

_Adrian_
04-07-2015, 08:45 PM
Do you mean the Jebao module:

http://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-store/Jebao-Apex-controller-for-pumps.html

I believe they will control the DC pumps as well, there are youtube videos of similar DIY modules controlling DC pumps.

I would suggest oversizing and running them at less than full power.

That's always been the plan...
Its easier to run in the "green" than it is to constantly ride the "yellow stripe"!
That's why everything I design / work on is a complete overkill!
Its not hard to put in a bit extra and have 4 channels capable of 250W in the design and set it up as such that you may never need it.

And believe it or not 4 drives isnt much when you look at 1 Main Circulation pump, 1 Skimmer pump and 2 closed loop / wavemakers.

In regards to power supplies...
Sounds like they are pushing them right to the ragged edge. RMS figures are always a lot more different than the PEAK figures.
24V 400W off the shelf industrial supply maybe better suited then the "bricks" the pumps ship with as well as reduce clutter overall when all your pumps are controlled from one unit!

daplatapus
04-08-2015, 01:50 PM
I have a 1320 DC speed wave & controller and been using it for a year with no issues, the secret is to keep the power supply cool. BTW it's available for $75
Yup, I have several Waveline's and that is definitely the secret. The original controllers had a small fan on the back. If you mounted it to a wall (like one would assume you can because of the mounting holes) they WILL over heat, die and shut everything down.
After a lot of whining and complaining RLSS has sent me new controllers for ALL my pumps and they seem to be much better at dissipating heat.
For giggles, I mounted one of the old controllers to the bottom of a floor joist so that the fan was open to the air (it's running my external skimmer) and it's been humming along for almost a year now with no issues OTHER than a really noisy bearing on that little fan.
Here's the difference between the old and new controllers:

http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x353/daplatapus/2014-06-26125133_zps289ffea7.jpg (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/daplatapus/media/2014-06-26125133_zps289ffea7.jpg.html)

http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x353/daplatapus/2014-06-26125140_zps66a25849.jpg (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/daplatapus/media/2014-06-26125140_zps66a25849.jpg.html)

The Guy
04-08-2015, 02:44 PM
Yup, I have several Waveline's and that is definitely the secret. The original controllers had a small fan on the back. If you mounted it to a wall (like one would assume you can because of the mounting holes) they WILL over heat, die and shut everything down.
After a lot of whining and complaining RLSS has sent me new controllers for ALL my pumps and they seem to be much better at dissipating heat.
For giggles, I mounted one of the old controllers to the bottom of a floor joist so that the fan was open to the air (it's running my external skimmer) and it's been humming along for almost a year now with no issues OTHER than a really noisy bearing on that little fan.
Here's the difference between the old and new controllers:

http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x353/daplatapus/2014-06-26125133_zps289ffea7.jpg (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/daplatapus/media/2014-06-26125133_zps289ffea7.jpg.html)

http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x353/daplatapus/2014-06-26125140_zps66a25849.jpg (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/daplatapus/media/2014-06-26125140_zps66a25849.jpg.html)
Ya I'm pretty sure speedwave & waveline are the same company, so I think you could use a waveline controller to run a speedwave pump. What do you think? BTW I like your old retro kitchen table, my parents had one of those a lonnnnnng time back.

mike31154
04-08-2015, 03:27 PM
It would be great if a well established company like Iwaki or Panworld offered something suited to our application. I know Panworld already makes a number of DC pumps, but they are on the small side & not biased for a lot of head pressure. Or perhaps an innovator like EcoTech could come up with something? After all, they're really the first company to offer decent DC power heads. Wouldn't be cheap, but you could be assured that some proper R&D goes into the product.


EDIT: Ok, maybe I need to retract my statement about Panworld only making small DC pumps, it's been a while since I did a search on the product!

http://www.panworldpump.com/products_03.php?cs=3&ss=18

hfp75
04-08-2015, 03:38 PM
Ive got 2 tanks running, one is using an Eheim 1262 and the other a QuietOne 5000.

The Eheim is rock solid and simply amazing!!

The QuietOne 5000 is the loudest pump I have ever head - Ironic with the name and all but it does work... I am hunting for a replacement Eheim so that I dont have any crazzy surprises...

Eheim...

_Adrian_
04-08-2015, 04:32 PM
This is what I don't get about "engineers"...
Why the HELL would you mount a heatsink at the back of the unit where there is little to NO airflow when mounted ???

The current plan for mine will be simple...
An SPI controlled 6CH LED driver ( PWM ) that in turn will drive 4x 25A SSR's ( Solid State Relays )

This way interfacing to a Arduino or any other micro controller will be as simple as a few lines of code

_Adrian_
04-12-2015, 06:58 AM
Spent the better part of they day working on THIS (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=945166&postcount=11).

Hoping to finish up the light main board and tomorrow and then move on to the DC pump control section and heater controls.