Reefkeeper Elite

[customclimates]

Looking forward to this ...
http://www.digitalaquatics.com/m_product_info.php?part_number=30-0011-001
View attachment 34985

 

[Scott]

yeah, first reports of this started appearing about a month ago, but this is the first I've seen a pricetag on it.

I'm holding out for this one.

 

[Liam]

the system looks great but the pricetag they are showing only includes the base unit and two 4 outlet strips,maybe a ph probe.
This system is modular so by the time you add the ethernet module,top off module,lunar module,extra ph module it will likely be over $1000

i am waiting to see too

 

[Scott]

yeah, ethernet is a critical feature for me.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

 

[Ifferfish]

I hate waiting, I want to play with one now...

 

[Miller]

When that thing has ethernet modular it will make my reef tank look like it is being run by a cave man.

 

[Reef55]

I just read through the listing about it, and this is my take:

RK Elite $490 = Aquacontrol 3 $569
+ can control up to 160 outlets (AC3 controls 24 outlets)
+ good mounting options
- sending emails when Alarm goes off (my AC3 text msg's my cell phone when something goes wrong, this is the best feature of the AC3 IMO)
- ethernet module (no clue on price or date yet, it comes built in to AC3)
- web server (not mentioned on RK Elite, built into AC3, so you don't need any other software)
- feed mode button (one button press turns off the pumps I choose for the amount of time I choose while I feed, then automatically turns the pumps back on)
- ability to control Tunze streams (cost $175 for AC3 module, which is cheaper than Tunze 7096 controller)
- ability to update firmware over ethernet (must be done via USB cable)


On my 120 gallon system, I only control 6 outlets. I can't imagine ever needing more than 24 outlets to control. The only other benefit of the RK3 elite that I see is it looks cooler and has better mounting options. To have ethernet capability for the RK Elite will most likely get the prices right about even. So price is not really a decision factor between the two... but the other functions that the AC3 can do IMO far outweighs the benefits of the RK Elite. You gain the possibility of tons of outlets (which is doubtful would be needed by hobbiests), but lose vital functionality.

Long and short, If I was in the market for a controller, I'd buy the AC3.

 

[Liam]

I just read through the listing about it, and this is my take:

RK Elite $490 = Aquacontrol 3 $569
+ can control up to 160 outlets (AC3 controls 24 outlets)
+ good mounting options
- sending emails when Alarm goes off (my AC3 text msg's my cell phone when something goes wrong, this is the best feature of the AC3 IMO)
- ethernet module (no clue on price or date yet, it comes built in to AC3)
- web server (not mentioned on RK Elite, built into AC3, so you don't need any other software)
- feed mode button (one button press turns off the pumps I choose for the amount of time I choose while I feed, then automatically turns the pumps back on)
- ability to control Tunze streams (cost $175 for AC3 module, which is cheaper than Tunze 7096 controller)
- ability to update firmware over ethernet (must be done via USB cable)


On my 120 gallon system, I only control 6 outlets. I can't imagine ever needing more than 24 outlets to control. The only other benefit of the RK3 elite that I see is it looks cooler and has better mounting options. To have ethernet capability for the RK Elite will most likely get the prices right about even. So price is not really a decision factor between the two... but the other functions that the AC3 can do IMO far outweighs the benefits of the RK Elite. You gain the possibility of tons of outlets (which is doubtful would be needed by hobbiests), but lose vital functionality.

Long and short, If I was in the market for a controller, I'd buy the AC3.

don't forget the elite will have individual circuit protection for each outlet.
Providing it is based on GFCI,that is a nice feature.
But i agree ACIII is still a better value at this point.
I'm in no rush so i will make my decision once all the final features and prices are announced.

 

[Liam]

here is the power stip functionality i was referring too.

this a quote from Digital aquatics

- Digital Aquatics introduces IntellaStrip™ technology.
Another first for our industry is the ability of the PC4 to report the total current load that’s being pulled through the unit. We use this feature to do what no other power strip on the market can…
The PC4 can think, shutting things down before a blown breaker or fuse takes the entire system down! No more worrying about what might happen if a pump fails while you’re on vacation. We’ll be releasing more on IntellaStrip™ technology soon!

 

[Liam]

Mark(reef55) has some good info on the intellistrip.
it seems it may not work quite as i had hoped.
Hopefully he will post it here.

 

[Reef55]

don't forget the elite will have individual circuit protection for each outlet.
Providing it is based on GFCI,that is a nice feature.
But i agree ACIII is still a better value at this point.
I'm in no rush so i will make my decision once all the final features and prices are announced.

Yep, that applies to the entire strip (I read more about it myself). The strip can be set for something like, max 10 amps. So if the entire strip exceeds 10 amps, then it will shut down the entire strip. Their point is that if the strip shuts down before something goes wrong, everything else on that circuit won't also be shut down. However, this will require you to know what threshold to set your strip at. Also, from an electrical engineering perspective, if something so drastic happens causing this to be needed, having the whole circuit go down is not really a bad thing.

This strip does not have GFCI on each outlet, nor does it have GFCI protection on the entire strip for that matter.

I think the DA team is really good at marketing and hyping their product, but IMO it is inferior to the AC3 in capabities.

 

[Scott]

Long and short, If I was in the market for a controller, I'd buy the AC3.

Nice, thanks for the comarison.

I've nearly pulled the trigger on the AC3 several times now. When I caught wind of this, I decided to wait.

To me, a few hundred bucks either way isn't much of a factor as how well it does a few things I think are important (mostly ethernet/web capabilities).

 

[Liam]

when you read between the lines in the thread on RC there sure is a lot of hype and no solid info.
Thanks for the heads up on that Mark.
I will likely still wait and see how it plays out but it looks like i may go back to the ACIII

 

[Ifferfish]

Does anyone know if the AC111 will work on Mac? I have (Keith has) an older windows machine I could use, but I would love to us my Mac if I could.

 

[Reef55]

Does anyone know if the AC111 will work on Mac? I have (Keith has) an older windows machine I could use, but I would love to us my Mac if I could.

As long as your Mac has a working web browser (firefox), you can use the AC3. If you need to do a firmware update, you'll need a windows PC, but it can be done from any computer hooked up to your home network. The AC3 does not require a computer running 24/7... it is the computer, and the web server, all in and of itself.

 

[Ifferfish]

So, If I want to go online and see what my PH levels are, can I? My Mac has Safari for a web browser.

 

[Scott]

So, If I want to go online and see what my PH levels are, can I? My Mac has Safari for a web browser.

Yep, and you can control your equipment to maybe do something about it as well.

 

[Ifferfish]

Well, I have been putting off a new control purchase for a year now, I think it is time to just do it. All the new things sound great, but it really does come down to functionality.

 

[Reef55]

even better, reefchat.org has a signature generator for your stats off your AC3 (we can't use them here, but nm about that for now). However, to make the signature, their site logs your stats to a database, which you can go look at later. So basically, I can look back about 14 months now on that website for what my stats have been

 

[Ifferfish]

And you can look on a moment to moment basis if you are away from home and see what is going on right? There are several times I would make adjustments to equipment and wish that I could see the impact during the day, but of course needed to wait to get home to do so.