Adding XP8 as third controller to end of bus

[HaulinAshe]

I currently have XP4-XPS with power terminators on both ends. I'm not sure how the XP8 represents itself in regards to power on the bus.

Can I simply remove the terminator from the XPS, use a standard Command Bus Cable from there to the XP8, and place the terminator on the XP8 bus port?

Or does the cable need to specifically be Data Only?

 

[HaulinAshe]

Correction to above...
I currently have XP4-XPS with power AND terminators on both devices.

 

[Danny]

You will need to remove the power supply and power it using the XP8. The power supplies that connect directly to a command buss connector cannot be used with a XP8 or WE without a data only command buss cable between them and the XP8. Also two of the power supplies that connect directly to the command buss cannot be used on the same buss without a data only cable. A WE or XP8 can be used with each other without an issues.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Thanks Danny,

It's been over a year since I formed that collective and had forgotten about the power distribution restrictions. A million other changes taken place since then.

I think I will leave the XP4-XPS end of the bus powered independently from the XP4 using a Command Bus Cable. Then jump from the XPS to the XP8 with a Data Only cable and finally terminate.

That should provide some power fail tolerance to avoid losing everything to a single XP8 component failure.

What do you think?

 

[Danny]

I have never had an issue with my XP8 but I do have a WEv2 in the collective with it and it has a IceCap battery backup on it so all 4 controllers are still powered by battery. At least for a while. I do have a data only cable but it is over 35ft. I think you would have to special order a short one. The only data only pre made cables are quite long. The XP8 does have a robust power supply inside for the buss. I believe it is a Meanwell supply in the XP8.

 

[JeffB418]

Thanks Danny,

It's been over a year since I formed that collective and had forgotten about the power distribution restrictions. A million other changes taken place since then.

I think I will leave the XP4-XPS end of the bus powered independently from the XP4 using a Command Bus Cable. Then jump from the XPS to the XP8 with a Data Only cable and finally terminate.

That should provide some power fail tolerance to avoid losing everything to a single XP8 component failure.

What do you think?

I have never had an issue with my XP8 but I do have a WEv2 in the collective with it and it has a IceCap battery backup on it so all 4 controllers are still powered by battery. At least for a while. I do have a data only cable but it is over 35ft. I think you would have to special order a short one. The only data only pre made cables are quite long. The XP8 does have a robust power supply inside for the buss. I believe it is a Meanwell supply in the XP8.

Yeah I would agree with Danny, you could drop down to just having the XP8 being your power giver in your collective. The meanwell supply in the XP8 is a very robust and reliable supply. But having a data only between the XP8 and the rest is a reasonable case as well.

 

[HaulinAshe]

An update to sorta "close out" this thread...

I wound up configuring a split-power collective.

XP8 to X4 with terminator
XP8 via data-only cable to opposite end of the cabinet then into...
WaveLE to XS with terminator

It turned out nicely and gives me sense port connectivity at both ends of the tank/cabinet.

 

[Danny]

An update to sorta "close out" this thread...

I wound up configuring a split-power collective.

XP8 to X4 with terminator
XP8 via data-only cable to opposite end of the cabinet then into...
WaveLE to XS with terminator

It turned out nicely and gives me sense port connectivity at both ends of the tank/cabinet.

Why did you need to use a data only cable. Was the cable too long to use the regular cable?

 

[HaulinAshe]

It's a 36" high stand and a 72" tank. The cable path up both ends and across the underside of the tank is 10 feet, just a little over the maximum allowable of 8'.

 

[Danny]

I thought it was more like a 15ft limit. They sell 14ft command buss cables.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Interesting that shopping a popular reseller I didn't find anything longer than 6 ft listed for sale, but looking on Coralvue.com you're correct. Coralvue does list a 14 ft Command Bus Cable.

I honestly don't recall exactly where I found the 8 ft max restriction but I'm certain it wasn't imagined. That being said, I definitely don't want to proliferate bad information and stand corrected. Looks like 14 ft is the limit.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Danny]

The reseller probably didn't think there would be enough demand for that length and that is why it is not stocked by them. If you are happy with the way it is working I would leave it as it is. If you ever want to use a battery backup on the WE then to power the other controllers you would have to change it to a regular command buss cable.