Power Cabinet Finally Up.

[SteveMM62Reef]

I got my 12Vdc Power Cabinet up, yesterday moved some Receptacle Boxes, and ran longer wires. The Cabinet is From EBay “CNAweb 19 Inch 12U Slim SoHo Wall Mount Network Cabinet Enclosure, 6” Depth Black.”

Horizontal Pieces Amazon, “Jingchengmei 2 Pack 1U Metal Disassembled Blank Panel 1U Rack Mount Spacer for 19in. Server Rack Cabinet.” Wire Grommets, “MAHDPRO Desk Grommet 2” (50mm) Pack of 5-Black ABS.”

ACE Hardware, “1/2” x 1/2” x 1/2” Aluminum “U” Channel” and 3M x 6 Metric Machine Screws and Aluminum Pop Rivet Backup Washers.”

Mounted Under Basement Stairs. 12Vdc will
Eventually go through the Wall. Also I may put in a Power Strip inside the Cabinet, that’s a 12U with Surge Protection. Cabinet will hold up to Six 30 watts Power Supplies.

 

[n2585722]

What are you using the 12v for?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

LED Lights, and ATO’s. Tired of the mess with all the little Power Supplies.

 

[n2585722]

What about the 24v supplies you have any of those?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Two 24Vdc for Return Pumps, There’s an End Bay in the Aquarium Cabinet for Them. Plenty of Room for more there.

 

[n2585722]

Have you seen this? It will not be out till next year though.

CoralVue Hydros release the Kraken 24V power supply | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

CoralVue launched a new power supply at MACNA 2022 called the Kraken. An extension to their constantly evolving, ever-expanding Hydros controller range, Kraken is aimed at replacing up to eight 24V…

reefbuilders.com

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Will you need the Hydros Controller, to make this work? Lot more $$$$ than what I’m doing.

 

[n2585722]

It is a Hydros controller. It just has outputs only. If you want to control one or more outputs with a type of input you would have to get another controller with the input or inputs you need and create a collective with the controllers. I have nine of the Hydros controllers in a collective currently. They start at 159.99 for the two smaller controllers. The next one with pH is 199.00. They go up from there. The Kraken will power the other controllers so no need for a power supply. You would just need enough command buss cables to hook the controllers to each other and a couple of buss terminators.

 

[Saltyanimals]

Any updates here? I never even thought about a DIY power cabinet to replace a bunch of AC bricks. I'm building out my Apex cabinet which looks great in the front, but the back side is a hot mess with hanging ugly bricks.

I'll have to do a bit more research, but are you essentially just buying all the connector barrels to match the required size for the device and plugging them into the larger 12Vdc? And again I assume a 2nd 24Vdc for those that require the 24.

Following!

 

[n2585722]

Any updates here? I never even thought about a DIY power cabinet to replace a bunch of AC bricks. I'm building out my Apex cabinet which looks great in the front, but the back side is a hot mess with hanging ugly bricks.

I'll have to do a bit more research, but are you essentially just buying all the connector barrels to match the required size for the device and plugging them into the larger 12Vdc? And again I assume a 2nd 24Vdc for those that require the 24.

Following!

If you are referring to the Kraken here is a link https://www.coralvue.com/hydros-kraken-24v-power-center . I believe they will cables that you can purchase separately for most common DC power plugs. It had 8 24v outputs and 4 12v outputs. All are controlled. There is one external 24v power supply. Also there s a input for a 12v lead acid battery for backup.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I have the Second Power Supply up and Running for Two additional 10” ReefBar Pro’s and One 44” ReefBar Pro. I’m going to order a another Power Supply, and a 19” 1U Surge Protector Power Strip from from Amazon that Bolts into the Cabinet. I got the Plugs with wire tails on Amazon. They are 5.5mm X 2.1mm for 12Vdc. Don’t use the 5.5mm X 2.5mm, those are for 14VAC. They can be forced into the 5.5mm X 2.1mm Cables, but can Overheat.

 

[Saltyanimals]

Would you say the 5.5mm X 2.1mm is fairly "standard" for the typical equipment we have in the hobby? i.e. ATO, Skimmer, etc? I thought there were quite a wide range of sizes depending on the manufacture, but it's nice to see somewhat a standard in size. Makes buying a 10 pack of that 5.5mm X 2.1mm an easier DIY project.

Any recommendation for the power supply watts and amps to allow some growing space for more equipment? The one below seems to make sense since it allows up to 18 devices (channels) and is individually fused as an additional safety. What's not clear is the quality of these things over the OEM bricks.

https://a.co/d/5K99OIz

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Yes, that connector is fairly Standard for 12Vdc. An Exception is the MarineLand 36" 59watt LED w/12vdc 60watt power supply. I cut the Cord off the power supply. I’ve had those Power Supplies bite the dust due to them not following the 80% Max Load Rule. My Power Supplies are 360 watts, they have bigger, but they don’t fit the Cabinet Space very well. The ones I use have Copper Wound Transformers, Output is adjustable, and I did do a couple of 24 hours monitoring, with my Fluke Meter, and the output is stable. You need to figure out which is the + and - lead. Positive is always the inner contact. Eventually I will have to add a 12Vdc Fan, and the Cabinet has the punch outs for that in the top.

 

[Saltyanimals]

Nice! You're basically DIY'ing that Hydros Kraken. Sure the Kraken is fancier, but at least for me these thing go in a cabinet and behind an Apex panel so not to be seen. However that Kraken does say a 12v battery as back up. Is there a way to add a backup battery to this design?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I could add a Battery, and actually have a Heavy Duty Shelf nearby, but since this is going to be just for lighting and dosing, don’t think it will be needed. BTW, I Have a Deep Cycle Battery on my 65 Gallon. Modified a Basement WatchDog Controller, to start two 12Vdc Pumps for Water Circulation in a Power Outage. Someday I actually get the 65 Gallon out of my shop, and back where it belongs.