Alternate options to Apex Neptune Flow Meters

Edward Smith · 05/18/2018, 12:32 PM

I find stuff like this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sensor-Contro.../dp/B01HK0A7XW

Are there other monitors/controllers out there to monitor water flow or control solenoids, that just aren't marketed to the aquarium hobby?

Anyone familiar with what this particular sensor would connect to?

Thanks

mcgyvr · 05/18/2018, 01:26 PM

Absolutely..
Flow monitoring has been done in industrial applications for YEARS..

Those cheaper devices are very similar just made by slaves now with lower cost materials/no agency approvals,etc...

They simply output a voltage proportional to the flow that can be read by any device capable of measuring voltage..
Typically people are using microprocessors to take that voltage and scale/translate it to a "human readable/relatable" flow rate..

adnan26 · 05/18/2018, 06:39 PM

Micro controller. Get ready to Code!

Edward Smith · 05/19/2018, 06:06 AM

Yea.....I was hoping a little more "plug and play".....hence why Apex is a much more popular option?

Seriously, is there a easy controller to hook these components up to?

mcgyvr · 05/19/2018, 09:36 AM

https://www.amazon.com/DIGITEN-Digit...6Y3V3YSJG1B7X2
first I found..
I'm sure there are more depending on what you want to do..

The most simply is just a voltmeter to read the output voltage...

There is also this
https://www.amazon.com/Save-a-Drop-P...TFQSZDDB6ADG6J

Dr RBG · 05/21/2018, 04:44 PM

What are the chances that one could adapt one of these to the apex since these and apex output a voltage that is proportional to the flow?

Sisterlimonpot · 05/22/2018, 04:13 PM

If the voltage outputs are extremely similar than all you would have to do is slap the right connector on it, if they are different it becomes more complicated, (Thinking out loud) I don't know how the ones from neptune are tuned for accuracy. If the user can calibrate it like we do the probes, you may be able to do it. But I would suspect that you would have to have a processor in between the flow sensor and apex so that it will change that voltage value to fit within the range of what the apex can read.

Again I'm thinking out loud here....

dwolson2 · 05/22/2018, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

If the voltage outputs are extremely similar than all you would have to do is slap the right connector on it, if they are different it becomes more complicated, (Thinking out loud) I don't know how the ones from neptune are tuned for accuracy. If the user can calibrate it like we do the probes, you may be able to do it. But I would suspect that you would have to have a processor in between the flow sensor and apex so that it will change that voltage value to fit within the range of what the apex can read.

Again I'm thinking out loud here....

You could potentially just add a resister to get an even voltage drop if the output of the sensor was too high.

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mcgyvr · 05/23/2018, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr RBG

What are the chances that one could adapt one of these to the apex since these and apex output a voltage that is proportional to the flow?

Highly likely...
And quite easy to test.. Simply check the output voltage from the sensor and compare that to the stated flow rate in comparison to the full scale range..

Example.. Say you measure 2.5V and Apex reports 250GPH.. If full scale of the sensor is 500GPH then you know thats a 0-5V output voltage sensor..

Sisterlimonpot · 05/23/2018, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Highly likely...
And quite easy to test.. Simply check the output voltage from the sensor and compare that to the stated flow rate in comparison to the full scale range..

Example.. Say you measure 2.5V and Apex reports 250GPH.. If full scale of the sensor is 500GPH then you know thats a 0-5V output voltage sensor..

excellent point!!!

Steve175 · 07/15/2018, 07:52 AM

From electrical to mechanical: I tried to do this a few years back on my closed loop. I bought 2 $500 1.5" PVC union industrial valves that measure flow [don't judge me, I was really into UV then and wanted to have the optimal flow through them]. I still have them. They work for a solid 24h before the tiny pinwheel in them jams with a sub-micron of sand. Once a hermit farted and they both jammed. I just ordered the apex flow meters. That they have been designed for SW [or I can whine here about it like a baby if they jam with a hermit fart] is priceless. Honestly, tho, I am most excited about their 1/4" option: keeping a reliable eye on my CA reactor effluent rate is priceless. . .

Steveb · 01/01/2020, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve175

From electrical to mechanical: I tried to do this a few years back on my closed loop. I bought 2 $500 1.5" PVC union industrial valves that measure flow [don't judge me, I was really into UV then and wanted to have the optimal flow through them]. I still have them. They work for a solid 24h before the tiny pinwheel in them jams with a sub-micron of sand. Once a hermit farted and they both jammed. I just ordered the apex flow meters. That they have been designed for SW [or I can whine here about it like a baby if they jam with a hermit fart] is priceless. Honestly, tho, I am most excited about their 1/4" option: keeping a reliable eye on my CA reactor effluent rate is priceless. . .

Curious if you implemented the 1/4" option and if so on the input to the CaRX or on the effluent side? Has it been reliable or have you had any issues with it getting cruded up?

05/18/2018, 12:32 PM	#1
Edward Smith Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Saint Charles, IL Posts: 3,071	Alternate options to Apex Neptune Flow Meters I find stuff like this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sensor-Contro.../dp/B01HK0A7XW Are there other monitors/controllers out there to monitor water flow or control solenoids, that just aren't marketed to the aquarium hobby? Anyone familiar with what this particular sensor would connect to? Thanks __________________ "Hi, my name is Ed and I'm a reefaholic" "Hi Ed" Current Tank Info: 24g Zeroedge (rules), 150g (to be unveiled soon)

05/18/2018, 01:26 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Absolutely.. Flow monitoring has been done in industrial applications for YEARS.. Those cheaper devices are very similar just made by slaves now with lower cost materials/no agency approvals,etc... They simply output a voltage proportional to the flow that can be read by any device capable of measuring voltage.. Typically people are using microprocessors to take that voltage and scale/translate it to a "human readable/relatable" flow rate.. __________________ Who me?

05/19/2018, 06:06 AM	#4
Edward Smith Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Saint Charles, IL Posts: 3,071	Yea.....I was hoping a little more "plug and play".....hence why Apex is a much more popular option? Seriously, is there a easy controller to hook these components up to? __________________ "Hi, my name is Ed and I'm a reefaholic" "Hi Ed" Current Tank Info: 24g Zeroedge (rules), 150g (to be unveiled soon)

05/19/2018, 09:36 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	https://www.amazon.com/DIGITEN-Digit...6Y3V3YSJG1B7X2 first I found.. I'm sure there are more depending on what you want to do.. The most simply is just a voltmeter to read the output voltage... There is also this https://www.amazon.com/Save-a-Drop-P...TFQSZDDB6ADG6J __________________ Who me?

05/22/2018, 04:13 PM	#7
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	If the voltage outputs are extremely similar than all you would have to do is slap the right connector on it, if they are different it becomes more complicated, (Thinking out loud) I don't know how the ones from neptune are tuned for accuracy. If the user can calibrate it like we do the probes, you may be able to do it. But I would suspect that you would have to have a processor in between the flow sensor and apex so that it will change that voltage value to fit within the range of what the apex can read. Again I'm thinking out loud here.... __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

05/18/2018, 06:39 PM	#3
adnan26 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Cooper City, FL Posts: 13	Micro controller. Get ready to Code!

05/21/2018, 04:44 PM	#6
Dr RBG Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: New England Posts: 163	What are the chances that one could adapt one of these to the apex since these and apex output a voltage that is proportional to the flow?

07/15/2018, 07:52 AM	#11
Steve175 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,186	From electrical to mechanical: I tried to do this a few years back on my closed loop. I bought 2 $500 1.5" PVC union industrial valves that measure flow [don't judge me, I was really into UV then and wanted to have the optimal flow through them]. I still have them. They work for a solid 24h before the tiny pinwheel in them jams with a sub-micron of sand. Once a hermit farted and they both jammed. I just ordered the apex flow meters. That they have been designed for SW [or I can whine here about it like a baby if they jam with a hermit fart] is priceless. Honestly, tho, I am most excited about their 1/4" option: keeping a reliable eye on my CA reactor effluent rate is priceless. . . __________________ Steve ---------------------------------- Current Tank Info: 2 separate 250G bowfront rimless ELOS tanks plumbed to 260G sump, 220G refugium, 220G frag, BK DeLuxe 300, 400W MH x4, closed loops, 3/4hp chiller x2, Phos reactor, Kalk reactor, Charcoal reactor, Ca reactor, 60G surge tanks, & a huge elec bill