Hydros Kraken

[NancyFish]

They make DC to DC converters you can use to get the 24v up to the other voltages but it would be a DIY project and you would still have the converter box. I guess I got lucky my MP10's are 24v.

Year later, how do you like your mp10s and the kraken? I was almost sold on the kraken until I realized my kessil is 48v, but I’m still tempted.

 

[n2585722]

Year later, how do you like your mp10s and the kraken? I was almost sold on the kraken until I realized my kessil is 48v, but I’m still tempted.

I have had the MP10's for years. The Kraken is quite helpful with all my controllers. At the tank I have three controllers that have their own power supply but with the Kraken I replace those three supplies with the Kraken by connecting each of them to a force port on the Kraken. I have all but one of the force ports in use and two of the 4 drive ports in use on the Kraken.

 

[NancyFish]

I am glad to help out. I have been using Hydros now for 3 years but I added to it slowly over time. The collective makes it easy to add to your controllers as you get more experience and want it to do more functions with it. Just choose a controller that has the ports that you need to do what you want to do and add it into the collective. Since the controllers are daisy chained all together they do not use wifi for communication between the controllers in a collective. A collective does require 2 terminators and enough command bus cables to connect all the controllers together. There are 2 types of command bus cables one with data and power and one with data only. If the length is over 14ft for the cable you would use data only. You would have to have a source of power on both ends though. The XD, X10, XP8 and Kraken all provide power to the bus. There is also a power pack that can connect directly to the bus if needed but with it there has to be a data only cable between it and any other source of power. These supplies come with the starter kits with the X2, X3, X4 and XS. A better choice now would be the Pro Packs since they come with either an X3 or X4 and a XP8 with a command bus cable and 2 terminators. I believe they also come with a temp sensor and a pH probe. The wifi strips will stay in whatever state they are in until wifi communications is restored. I use drive ports and the built in pumps on the X10 for all my dosing, ATO and AWC. I have used the wifi strips for heaters, return and skimmer but the heaters have their own thermostats as backups. Now that the XP8 is out those are on the XP8 now. I still use the wifi strips for non critical uses and testing things when I try different setups. Also Hydros has a facebook group here https://m.facebook.com/groups/hydrosgroup/?ref=share and they also have a forum here https://forum.coralvuehydros.com/ .

Would you consider using 150w heaters on the WiFi bar (four outlet)? And maybe a kessil 48v ap9x light?

I’m thinking of getting the kraken, but then I have these left out (already have the WiFi bar not in use).

 

[n2585722]

Would you consider using 150w heaters on the WiFi bar (four outlet)? And maybe a kessil 48v ap9x light?

I’m thinking of getting the kraken, but then I have these left out (already have the WiFi bar not in use).

A 150 watt heater should be ok on the wifi outputs as long as it has it's own thermostat for backup turn off. The wifi outlets will stay in whatever state they are in if communications is lost between the controller and the wifi strip. So if the output is on it will stay on until communications is restored. The Kraken only has 8 24v DC and 4 12v DC outputs. It has no AC outputs on it. The AC outputs are only on the XP8 and Launch other than the wifi power strips.