Can we Daisy chain Several EB8's via USB?

[iammrhappy]

I'm trying to draw up a plan on how I want to set up my near future Apex controller.


I want to have my Apex Brain + House EB8 inside my house and have it control my heater, skimmer, waves, doser, etc


Then I want to run a long USB cable from the Apex Brain all the way to my backyard to control my saltwater mixing station and RODI, Heater etc.


Potential Idea/Question:

I know forsure that I will need an EB8/4 outside my house for the mixing station.

Lets say I want to add ANOTHER EB8/4 outside just for extra stuff. I can't think of anything at the moment.

Can I daisy chain the Backyard EB8 to the 2nd Backyard EB8 and have the Apex Brain control both of them?

Blueprint:

Apex Brain ---(usb)-->1st Outdoor EB8 ----(usb daisy chain)-----> 2nd Outdoor EB8


Thanks!

[mal7887]

Yes you can. Aquabus modules can be connected in any order. It sounds like you will need to order a long cable. There is info on the Neptune Forum about the best places to order cables from that support the Aquabus function.

[keepLearning]

USB 2.0, per spec, can only go up to 15 feet. They have USB cables with repeater/signal booster to allow USB cable to go up to 50 feet. Not cheap though.

[mal7887]

Originally Posted by keepLearning

USB 2.0, per spec, can only go up to 15 feet. They have USB cables with repeater/signal booster to allow USB cable to go up to 50 feet. Not cheap though.

You cannot use a repeater/signal booster for aqua bus cables, it will not work.

The system can have 200ft total of all cables. There is not a limit for a single cable length.

Also FYI aquabus is proprietary and does not follow standard USB rules.

You can order long cables here: http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-apex-xxg.html

[slief]

Originally Posted by keepLearning

USB 2.0, per spec, can only go up to 15 feet. They have USB cables with repeater/signal booster to allow USB cable to go up to 50 feet. Not cheap though.

This in incorrect. The Aquabus cables are male USB-A to male USB-A and are not bound to USB 2.0 specs. I have a 50' cable in my Apex system running out to the garage where I have an EB4 for my chiller. You can run up to a 200' cable or up to 200 foot of total aquabus length between all modules and the base unit. You do NOT want to run any kind of a booster. Aquabus does not conform to USB specs and you will likely fry your base unit or module if you use a booster due to the wiring differnces in the aquabus.

Here is a source for long Apex Aquabus cables.
http://www.usbfirewire.com/search.aspx?searchterm=apex

Edit.. I see Mal7887 beat me to it..