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@tagyoureit I have been successfully running NjsPC now for a few years now and have a simple setup connected to a Aquarite 940 salt generator and automating it in Home Assistant and just updated to 8.0.1. I have been studying the Chem controller documentation and think I am on the right track for adding a PH sensor, ORP sensor, EZO-PRS pressure sensor. Before I purchase the next pieces of equipment, I wanted to ask a few questions.
Attached are screenshots of the checkout cart at Atlas Scientific; one with industrial-grade sensors and required components; another with lab-grade components for comparison in price. A little over $300 difference on price. |
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Replies: 14 comments 56 replies
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@tagyoureit might have different opinions but here are a few things to consider.
All told if you are looking to budget you can get the cost down by using a pressure transducer and an ADC for temp probes or you can get a MEGA-BAS and hook up the temp probes directly. For a 2-pack these cost around $20 and this will give you both air and water temp. |
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I'm going to jump in here and add a few more questions: @psmith3, you said:
Where are those early reports? I'm not seeing it on the Chem controller Wiki. Shelf life is obviously half, but so is the price... I will need to bring the sensors inside every winter anyways, so the longer shelf life isn't really saving me labor. Have either of you considered the combined ORP / PH / Temp sensor? It is pre-terminated with SMA connectors, and it saves $20. Only downside I can see is that if one half fails (PH / ORP), you're now stuck paying to replace both... Is that likely? They both claim the same shelf life. One less probe to care for means a litttle less work for seasonal commissioning / decommissioning . |
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my 2c I lack the tools, skill, and mental fortitude to make my own flow cell or do a 3/4" NPT tap in perfectly good (and $$$) IPS cell, so I just use the consumer probes. 😂 Have tried the lab probes as well and found that their lifespan was about the same as a consumer probe in my environment. I calibrate every 6 months and replace ever 12-18 months. I can tell a calibration is needed when the manual taylor kit ph reading starts to diverge from the Atlas probe reading, using graphs like this: I recently just calibrated since we are back in the pool again. Surprisingly the probes are still ok after 12 months but pretty sure this will be the last season before I order another pair. Ideal Acid/Base are in the low 80%s now. I prob should have calibrated during the Winter months but I let the water get down to 60-65 degrees so I don't worry about the chemistry as much since we are not swimming. |
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Nice! Do you try cleaning the probes with a toothbrush before calibrating? |
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Ok, so if anyone is interested in some savings. Whiteboxlabs has a sale going on right now with a few components required for this setup. 30-50% off for the Whitebox T3 for Raspberry Pi, Atlas-Scientific Industrial ORP probe, I2C Toggler, and pH Calibration Set (6 pouches). Saved about $100 from ordering from Atlas Scientific directly. Shipping from Switzerland, so hopefully it will be here soon without duty tax.. Ordered the rest from Atlas Scientific directly just now... |
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At some point today, the message went away. I’ll keep monitoring it to see if it happens again.
Thanks,
Parker
On May 21, 2023, at 3:08 PM, rstrouse ***@***.***> wrote:
While that message is displaying, capture a replay and post it here. That message will appear when we haven't had a response from the chlorinator in a while. It could be that the 940 just doesn't talk back as often as we would like. The Pentair units are very chatty.
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Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#719 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADNVCK7QO5DJOS6H6QVDIZ3XHJY4XANCNFSM6AAAAAAW5VE7RU>.
You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>
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Ok. Good to know. Thanks.
On May 22, 2023, at 11:27 AM, rstrouse ***@***.***> wrote:
Bear in mind that message is not incorrect. If the cell stops responding and they often do (for instance when it is recalibrating its TDS levels) the message will appear.
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Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#719 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADNVCK35BKR3ZNIKG55XXFDXHOHV7ANCNFSM6AAAAAAW5VE7RU>.
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I'll just say the lab grade ORP probe from AS lasted a month for me. I have 2 EZO-PMP's both crapped out after switching them to I2c mode. They lasted about a week, so I soldered wires directly to the motor and run them with relays now. Then the tubing extender kept popping out of the pressure side of the pump spraying chlorine everywhere, which I assume is what killed my ORP sensor as it dropped to 100 mV then started reading negative mv amounts. I don't know how a splash of chlorine would cause an issue with the probes mounted in a flow cell, but alas I relocated the chlorine tank 10' away from the equipment pad. I purchased a cheap ORP probe on Ali express, swapped it out and it works as a temp solution.. Still I reordered another Lab grade ORP probe from AS, if this one goes out (in less than a year) I'm not going to get probes from AS again. my 2cents |
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I bought the EZO-PMP a couple of weeks ago, and it works well. I did upgrade the hose and bought the version that supports acid. I removed the cassette, removed the stubby hose, and installed the new single length of hose between my homemade 5-gallon acid tank directly to the plumbing. The thing I liked about the pump is that it did not need a check valve to prevent water from the pressure side from entering. The design of the peristaltic pump has pressure on the line and blocks the flow until the paddles turn the line. So far, so good.
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I used to buy cases at Lowes'--the one with the green label that had less fumes (when it was available). This spring, I switched to getting it from Amazon--just for the convenience of not having to drive to Lowe's and lug a case home: 31.x % I've never diluted the acid. Seven years later, no issues, except I do have to change check valves and pump tubes about yearly. |
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Have you checked your Total Alkalinity lately? When that gets low, it doesn't take much to swing PH wildly. |
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Not in a week. It was low at 37 ppm last I checked. Maybe I need to get that one up and see if the PH gets stable. I’m still trying to get my initial balance.
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Thanks for the explanation. Learning constantly!
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@johnny2678 @psmith3 Sorry to hijack this thread, but quick question.... Where is everyone getting the cool graphs? |
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@tagyoureit might have different opinions but here are a few things to consider.