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Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple.

Considering the control unit's power supply is small, the amp total on the power supply would dictate how much power is available to all drive ports as a group.

If you were to put the power supply size aside, the max amps all drive ports on the C2 or C4 can handle is 1.5A total. So if you daisy-chain multiple units, it is a matter of not exceeding the total amp limit. That also includes running other devices on the drive ports, which would subtract from the 1.5A total.
 
Or, use a regular outlet since the units will be ON 24/7. It seems that it might not be the best use of a Drive Port to have something that is ON 24/7, but I don't know the full picture, so it is hard to tell.
 
Danny said:
If it is is a matter of too much current you can always use the drive port to drive a 12v relay and use the switch contacts to turn on the power to the pump. Just do it on the low voltage side of the pump for safety.
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Yeah you could just use one of these triggered off a single 12V drive port and run as many X1s as youd like: Controllable Four Outlet Power Relay Module version 2

Most likely you would be fine running 1 x1 off a drive port along with the Hydros ATO pump. Running 2 might be pushing it possibly. The reason the Tunze ATO pump doesn't work even tho its under 1A is due to peak current during initial turn on. Most likely it has a much higher "peak" current than 1A hence why it doesnt work with hydros due to a large initial inductive load. The drive ports weren't designed as large power driving ports, really only there for small accessories.
 
Sorry, it's probably me being overly demanding but this interaction also branches into my other feedback with CoralVue about the lack of instructions (I won't call it a manual any more ;)) and another question I have asked (a hypothetical one about the control method of any potential future wired power strips) that went unanswered.

Your reply would have been perfect if I was talking about BRS or Versa dosers as they are third party items. However, the Kamoer dosers are distributed by CoralVue so I had hoped for a more specific answer. Presumably you have access to Kamoer dosers to measure their current draw? You could even test them with the Hydros and the Hydros ATO to see what their combined power draw is. Even if you didn't have the time or inclination to do this, presumably (as CoralVue already has recommendations as to how many Kamoer dosers can be daisy-chained on to their original power supply), CoralVue already knows what the power draw is of these dosers when daisy-chained? If not, what is the advertised daisy-chain limit (of 3-5 units depending on where you look) based on?

I could buy everything and be the beta tester and plug it all in and see what happens but what if it doesn't work? What if I damage my new system with my experiments? I assume that there is no current protection on the drive ports but this is yet more information that may be out there that I haven't seen widely communicated.

Should I expect you to do all this work to answer one customers question? Probably not, but it would be nice to have a bit more guidance when plugging Coralvue distributed items into the Hydros than 'it depends'.
 
JeffB418 said:
The drive ports weren't designed as large power driving ports, really only there for small accessories.
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From the promotional material:

The HYDROS Drive Port is a universal output port that provides 12V DC power that you can turn on or off. Run all kinds of aquarium devices like small motors, pumps, fans, low wattage lights, and more.
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If running a Kamoer X1 (with a calculated 0.42A) is pushing the limit of the drive ports then this description of the use of the ports seems to be a little optimistic.
 
SomethingFishy said:
From the promotional material:



If running a Kamoer X1 (with a calculated 0.42A) is pushing the limit of the drive ports then this description of the use of the ports seems to be a little optimistic.
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As I said, you are most likely fine with a single X1 off a drive port, past that I wouldn't be too sure or recommend. I believe an X1 would be in the same ballpark as small motors (or other devices they list), so I do not think they are false advertising on this point.
 
SomethingFishy said:
Sorry, it's probably me being overly demanding but this interaction also branches into my other feedback with CoralVue about the lack of instructions (I won't call it a manual any more ;)) and another question I have asked (a hypothetical one about the control method of any potential future wired power strips) that went unanswered.

Your reply would have been perfect if I was talking about BRS or Versa dosers as they are third party items. However, the Kamoer dosers are distributed by CoralVue so I had hoped for a more specific answer. Presumably you have access to Kamoer dosers to measure their current draw? You could even test them with the Hydros and the Hydros ATO to see what their combined power draw is. Even if you didn't have the time or inclination to do this, presumably (as CoralVue already has recommendations as to how many Kamoer dosers can be daisy-chained on to their original power supply), CoralVue already knows what the power draw is of these dosers when daisy-chained? If not, what is the advertised daisy-chain limit (of 3-5 units depending on where you look) based on?

I could buy everything and be the beta tester and plug it all in and see what happens but what if it doesn't work? What if I damage my new system with my experiments? I assume that there is no current protection on the drive ports but this is yet more information that may be out there that I haven't seen widely communicated.

Should I expect you to do all this work to answer one customers question? Probably not, but it would be nice to have a bit more guidance when plugging Coralvue distributed items into the Hydros than 'it depends'.
Click to expand...
I need to clarify something. We do not make the Kamoer pumps. We only distribute them. We are at the mercy of the manufacturer, and they are the ones that make the product the way they see it fit. We have no say on the product's design or when they will make the products compatible with HYDROS. To make a product work with HYDROS would require them to reassign a team of engineers to stop doing what they are doing for Kamoer to work on the HYDROS interface. We have no say on if or when they will do that. They are an autonomous company that sells products to the US and the rest of the world. The Aquarium side of the company is tiny compared to the rest of the company that deals with medical equipment.

I provided you with the answer to your question to know the limitations of the drive port and apply that knowledge to other devices that you might want to use in the future. I am sorry if I was not direct enough and just gave you the answer you wanted. The truth of the matter is that very few things in this world have a simple solution... most of the time, the answer is "is complicated."

BTW, my answer was not just "it depends." I followed with the information you need to make the educated decision with the Kamoer and future products you might want to run. I think that is a more constructive answer than saying "yes, you can run 2" without any background as to how that hypothetical answer was achieved.
 
Who said anything about getting Kamoer to change their products? :rolleyes: That whole paragraph demonstrates that we are on completely different pages.

To make their product 'work' with your Hydros drive port, all you need is to make a cable to plug it in to the drive port. I can easily do that myself so, clearly, CoralVue can as well, and that doesn't need Kamoer's involvement. I am not talking about full integration, or getting the product to work with the Hydros interface, I am talking about powering it with the drive port, which is something that you advertise the drive port can do.

If you don't know the specs of the products that you distribute, and would like to send me a Hydros and a couple of Kamoer dosers for me to run the 5 minute test for you, then I am happy to plug it all in, measure the current draw, and then pack it all up and send it back with the answer. I just thought it might be easier, considering you have Hydros units there, and presumably, access to the dosers, for you to run that test yourself. Although I honestly didn't anticipate that you would need to go to all that trouble as you should already have the specs of the dosers, and as you have designed and built the Hydros you clearly know those specs too.

The only information that you need to be able to answer my question is the current draw of the Kamoer with the pump running, the current with it at idle (to work out how many can be daisy-chained) and the limit on the drive port. This is not rocket science and is one of those things that does have a simple answer - it really is not complicated.

I note that you didn't comment on my assumption that the drive ports don't have any over-current protection.

The answers to all of this is somewhat moot now though, as I have lost confidence in team behind the product (both engineering and sales/communication), so I will be purchasing an alternative solution. My frustration is not really whether the Kamoer can or can't work with the Hydros, but more that you don't appear to understand that an accurate answer to my question is really not as complicated as you appear to be making it out to be.
 
SomethingFishy said:
Who said anything about getting Kamoer to change their products? :rolleyes: That whole paragraph demonstrates that we are on completely different pages.

To make their product 'work' with your Hydros drive port, all you need is to make a cable to plug it in to the drive port. I can easily do that myself so, clearly, CoralVue can as well, and that doesn't need Kamoer's involvement. I am not talking about full integration, or getting the product to work with the Hydros interface, I am talking about powering it with the drive port, which is something that you advertise the drive port can do.

If you don't know the specs of the products that you distribute, and would like to send me a Hydros and a couple of Kamoer dosers for me to run the 5 minute test for you, then I am happy to plug it all in, measure the current draw, and then pack it all up and send it back with the answer. I just thought it might be easier, considering you have Hydros units there, and presumably, access to the dosers, for you to run that test yourself. Although I honestly didn't anticipate that you would need to go to all that trouble as you should already have the specs of the dosers, and as you have designed and built the Hydros you clearly know those specs too.

The only information that you need to be able to answer my question is the current draw of the Kamoer with the pump running, the current with it at idle (to work out how many can be daisy-chained) and the limit on the drive port. This is not rocket science and is one of those things that does have a simple answer - it really is not complicated.

I note that you didn't comment on my assumption that the drive ports don't have any over-current protection.

The answers to all of this is somewhat moot now though, as I have lost confidence in team behind the product (both engineering and sales/communication), so I will be purchasing an alternative solution. My frustration is not really whether the Kamoer can or can't work with the Hydros, but more that you don't appear to understand that an accurate answer to my question is really not as complicated as you appear to be making it out to be.
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Couldn’t you just get that information using a kill-a-Watt meter??

 
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