FIXED - APEX EB8 Disconnected - No ATO or Calcium Reactor Solenoid Until Fixed or Mitigated.

[TheClark]

Just nodding off tonight, and a calcium reactor PH high alarm went off.

Went to investigate, it looks like my EB8 in the garage is disconnected.

I cannot get it back online.  Things I have tried:

- Powered off eb8 by unplugging and disconnecting USB cable for 30 seconds

- Rebooted apex via fusion

- Traced out USB connections.  They appear valid, and in fact make the light turn solid green on the eb8 when plugged in

- Deleted the module via fusion.  It won't come back now.  

This EB8 is remote in my garage.  Probably 50' or so from the apex controller.  Wired via homemade cable, cat6 with USB ends.  Been that way for at least 5 years.

Its possible the USB is bad, but seems unlikely given the years of service.  However, I can drag the eb8 upstairs tomorrow morning and hook it up closer with a shorter cord and see...

Honestly though, thinking the EB8 is finally just bad.  

Hoping not, any other ideas to try?

This is surprisingly difficult to google for some odd reason.

@SuncrestReef

[TheClark]

This guy had the same symptoms, had to reinitialize all to fix.  Hoping there is something lesser, I have 4 eb8s and a ton of programming and virtual outlets.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1943760

 

 

[SuncrestReef]

My first guess is a faulty EB8, and 2nd guess is a bad AquaBus port somewhere across your setup.  Even an unused AquaBus port with a little corrosion can cause unexplained issues in other modules.  Each port and cable end should be carefully inspected for corrosion.

Before taking the drastic step of completely wiping the Apex, I’d recommend testing the EB8 on a different Apex to see if the EB8 is the fault.  I have a spare Apex I could loan to test if needed.

[TheClark]

52 minutes ago, SuncrestReef said:

My first guess is a faulty EB8, and 2nd guess is a bad AquaBus port somewhere across your setup.  Even an unused AquaBus port with a little corrosion can cause unexplained issues in other modules.  Each port and cable end should be carefully inspected for corrosion.

Before taking the drastic step of completely wiping the Apex, I’d recommend testing the EB8 on a different Apex to see if the EB8 is the fault.  I have a spare Apex I could loan to test if needed.

Sure appreciate how quick you are to always help APEX users in need!

Good idea on another APEX.  I will try to see if I can find someone in town local here like @stylaster 

For now I am going to shuffle some outlets around and free up another less critical EB8.

Then bring this one upstairs and try it in different ports / different cables as you suggested.

Depending on testing results, will probably order another EB8, worst case I have a spare...

Sure is odd though how the light goes solid green.

[TheClark]

Crazy update.

Went to the garage to unhook everything.

Light was flashing green this morning, instead of solid green (last night)

Unplugged USB and AC for 1 minute.

Plugged in, it all works now.

I lost all programming but had it backed up.  Re-applying now!

 

 

[SuncrestReef]

I’m hoping you only lost the EB8 programming, not the whole Apex programming, correct?

If it was only the EB8 programming, then I assume the Apex detected it as a new module and assigned it a different AquaBus address.

[BeardUp]

Did you have any recent power fluctuations? Shortly after I got my apex classic and set it up, I had power to my house drop for like half a second. It was not long enough for my router to die, but turned off my tv and the apex seemed to stay on, but the EB8 was gone and I had the same symptoms as you as well as the same outcome. Its been fine since though that's only been a few months. 

[Trailermann]

I have an extra EB8 never used if it helps.

[TheClark]

On 5/13/2021 at 9:43 AM, SuncrestReef said:

I’m hoping you only lost the EB8 programming, not the whole Apex programming, correct?

If it was only the EB8 programming, then I assume the Apex detected it as a new module and assigned it a different AquaBus address.

Yes, only the eb8 programming thankfully.  Thanks again!

 

On 5/13/2021 at 11:45 AM, BeardUp said:

Did you have any recent power fluctuations? Shortly after I got my apex classic and set it up, I had power to my house drop for like half a second. It was not long enough for my router to die, but turned off my tv and the apex seemed to stay on, but the EB8 was gone and I had the same symptoms as you as well as the same outcome. Its been fine since though that's only been a few months. 

Interesting!!  That's probably it, we did have a recent power fluctuation doing wiring in the garage.  Very good to know!  Maybe I should UPS it, but with 4 EB8s it gets spendy!

 

On 5/13/2021 at 10:07 PM, Trailermann said:

I have an extra EB8 never used if it helps.

That's awesome, thanks for the offer.  Good for now, but much appreciated.

 

[SuncrestReef]

On a somewhat related topic, this guy at Reef2Reef has made several detailed posts about diagnosing and repairing Apex EB832's and other equipment.  I really wish I had the DIY electronics experience to do things like this:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/repairing-eb832-aquabus-power-issues-or-why-head-unit-reboots-again.830684/

[Bicyclebill]

Hate to say it, but this is what I appreciate about having separate controllers for my components that I feel need controllers.

[TheClark]

2 hours ago, Bicyclebill said:

Hate to say it, but this is what I appreciate about having separate controllers for my components that I feel need controllers.

That's a plus for sure, my eggs are in one huge basket.  Most of the time, the basket is quite wonderful though.

Considered having a spare apex brain, spare eb8.  Expensive spares though!

 

[TheClark]

On 5/13/2021 at 8:45 AM, TheClark said:

Crazy update.

Went to the garage to unhook everything.

Light was flashing green this morning, instead of solid green (last night)

Unplugged USB and AC for 1 minute.

Plugged in, it all works now.

I lost all programming but had it backed up.  Re-applying now!

 

 

This reared its head up again.  Of course, late in the evening.

My original theory looks to be a fluke, bad connections were at least one of the causes of intermittent failure.

The connection from APEX to EB8 was:

Apex Controller->USB Cable->CAT6 Keystone Jack->CAT6 Cable 100' ->CAT6 Keystone Jack 2->USB->EB8

I cut off the USB and CAT6 and wired them directly together one just one end of the cord.  All problems instantly solved.

New configuration is:

Apex Controller->USB Cable->CAT6 Keystone Jack->CAT6 Cable 100' ->Directly Wired To->USB->EB8

So my keystone jack was bad.  I did try repunching it down last night, no dice.

If I had another jack, would have used it.  Haven't added new jacks in a while apparently.

Anyways, putting this out there on the great inter-webs in case it can help someone out there.