New Hydros Control Center with Kraken

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rmcrom

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Hello Everyone,
I just added a Kraken to my collective and took the opportunity to build a mount for the equipment. It is impressive how much 'stuff' can be replaced by the Kraken. I am using all 8 Force ports and all 4 Drive ports. I also used a 75AH lead acid battery which should give me backup power for quite a while.

My Kraken is powering:
  • 4 Radion XR15
  • Varios2 skimmer
  • Varios4 return pump
  • Nero 4 sump stirrer
  • MightyJet media reactor
  • Tunze fuge light
  • Tunze ATO
  • 2 Kamoer dosers
  • Hydros auto feeder (made a DIY cable from a USB extension cable and GX12 2-pin connector)
On my XP8 I have:
  • UV
  • Heat
  • 2 MP40
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20231230_161959.jpg

Stuff my Kraken replaced: o_O
20231230_162003.jpg
 
Collective connection wise, are you doing Kraken to XP8 to X4? My Kraken comes in this weekend but I have a WEv2 to add to the mix. My current connections are XP8 to X4 to WEv2. X4 gets power from the XP8 and WEv2 has it's own power. I'm thinking I would go Kraken to XP8 to X4 to WEv2. Use one of the Force ports to feed the WEv2. I believe that should work.
 
Collective connection wise, are you doing Kraken to XP8 to X4? My Kraken comes in this weekend but I have a WEv2 to add to the mix. My current connections are XP8 to X4 to WEv2. X4 gets power from the XP8 and WEv2 has it's own power. I'm thinking I would go Kraken to XP8 to X4 to WEv2. Use one of the Force ports to feed the WEv2. I believe that should work.
It does not matter too much unless you have several controllers that are like the X4 and don't have their own power. Then you would want to spread out the power givers such as the Kraken, WEv2 and XP8.
 
  • Hydros auto feeder (made a DIY cable from a USB extension cable and GX12 2-pin connector)
Very nice setup! Would like to hear and see more of your DIY feeder arrangement. I was anticipating plugging into my XP8 but would prefer the Kraken.
 
To make the cable, I cut a section from the female side of a USB extension cable. Amazon.com

In side the cable are 4 wires, you just need the black and red for power. Black is ground and red is +V. I did not use a voltage regulator to reduce from 12v to 5v.

Solder the black and red wires to a 2-pin GX12 connector. There is a chart on the forums here showing which pin is + and which one is -.

That's really all there is to it other than put on a little heat shrink to help with water protection.

51FzUktLnNL._SX522_.jpg
 
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To make the cable, I cut a section from the female side of a USB extension cable. Amazon.com

In side the cable are 4 wires, you just need the black and red for power. Black is ground and red is +V. I did not use a voltage regulator to reduce from 12v to 5v.

Solder the black and red wires to a 2-pin GX12 connector. There is a chart on the forums here showing which pin is + and which one is -.

That's really all there is to it other than put on a little heat shrink to help with water protection.

View attachment 4005
I thought USB was 5v and not 12v power.
 
I had my cooling fans on a drive port. Even though it said it ran at 12v, the fan control ran REALLY hot. I decided to step it down with this: Amazon.com
Runs well.
Yes I suppose for just a few bucks the safety is worth it. I'll add an inline voltage regulator to reduce to 5v.
 
Did Radions connect easily with Force Port 24v Adapter Cable or needed something extra?

On related note anyone able to connect Sicce Syncra DC pump to this in some manner, looks like it would need a bit of a different connector

1705944092340.png
 
I connected my SDC3.0 pump using a regular force port to 5.5/2.1 barrel connector. The only thing on mine with the screw on connector was the pump itself and it connects to it's controller. The controller had a barrel type connector. It did not look like the one in the photo.
 
How did you connect the tunze micro reactor light to the unit? Sorry I’m a little later with the post.
 
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