This is still a controller that just has the one output the dosing pump. So it still has the controller circuit to communicate via the command bus.
Yeah I love Hydros but unfortunately this product totally misses the mark on price vs features for me. I’d just DIY something instead in this case. I already have many devices in my collective, I don’t need another “it’s a controller!”. Why am I paying 5x markup on a rebranded doser head?
This is a stepper motor type dosing pump and also requires a controller to control the power going the coils in the stepper motor. So you cannot connect this motor to a drive port directly. It does not use a brush type DC motor.
They could probably have the stepper motor controller be built in to the doser, and have the driver input for the controller be a variable DC input. This is assuming that a stepper controller works the same way as a BLDC controller. Alternatively, they could have two continuous dosers on one controller.
I’m of the same opinion. I get the idea of brain redundancy for a couple major main “controller” but jamming it into every peripheral makes no sense to me.
You might be right to some degree but even the modules had a microcontroller in them that communicated with the main controller and controlled things in the module. With the Hydros they use a microcontroller that has enough memory and computing power to be self reliant if needed but also has the ability to communicate using a CAN communication system with other controllers or modules if you want to use that term. They basically share their data with the other controllers in the collective with them along with the cloud. Each controller communicates with the cloud independently even when in a collective. If something were to happen to one of the controllers then you would loose andy inputs or outputs on that controller but the remaining controllers would do their best to continue. The only issue is you would loose the outputs on the controller that has an issue and also if there is an output on another controller using an input on the lost controller the output would go into the set fallback mode. So you don't loose the complete collective like you would if there were an issue with the main brain or controller. Also the IP65 cases and the GX12 connectors probably add quite a bit to the cost of each controller compared to one that does not have the IP65 rated cases. A XS controller cost 159.99 so that would be the cost plus the cost of a command bus cable to add another 4 sense ports to a collective. I believe the X2 is the same price. If you need a pH or ORP port that would add more to the cost since the X3 is 199.99 but it does have 2 sense ports with the pH or ORP port.
They don’t. Panel mount GX12 connectors like they use are under a dime a piece in large quantities.
Respectfully, I have been an analog and digital electronics hobbyist for over 30 years. I design my own circuits, route my own boards and write my own firmware and software.
I’ve had the same problem with my x10 and iV combo. It’s essentially an expensive paperweight at this point because I disconnected it for very unreliable results.
I have not had an issue with mine other than the bubbles in the reagent line and I pulled it off and flushed it out good with water using a syringe. Then reinstalled them and so far no issues.
