Spotlight on the Neptune Apex Breakout Box| BRStv

Today on BRStv, we are getting a quick look at the Neptune Apex Breakout Box and how it can help turn your saltwater tank into the ultimate automated piece of equipment. In this video, Randy shows you what a Breakout Box is capable of as well as walks you through some common applications and how to program them for your tank.

Want to automate more things on your tank?! Check out the Neptune Breakout Box and other Neptune equipment at the link below!

From push button feed and maintenance modes to automated cabinet lights when you open your tank stand doors, this Breakout Box from Neptune Systems is a really awesome way to get the most out of what your Neptune Apex aquarium controller can really do! Follow along as Randy shows you exactly what this thing is capable of as we go beyond the bullet points on the packaging and show you what this gear is all about!

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[sjsmith]

Instead of jamming all the ground wires together in one port, just get a small bus bar that can be found at any home depot or lowes in the electrical section. Mount the bus bar close to the breakout box. It'll give you a discreet port for each ground wire. Then a single wire can run from the bus bar to the ground port on the breakout box. Much neater wiring, and you can disconnect just one ground if needed without taking them all out.

[hoohaaa]

Would love to see more tutorial videos on the breakout box and utilizing it to its fullest capacity. This is the best video on YouTube for the breakout box, and I’m including videos that Neptune uploaded.

[TimHarris-photog]

This was a great help to us reef-newbies. Thank you

[brandonreidy]

Not only can it be programmed for tank use, It can also serve as a DIY security system! Get an email/sms anytime your doors are opened with simple door postion switch!

[Reject]

i really like these kinds of vids! i'm waiting for the cor pump to come out for that feed button thing, but if it dont hurry up and come out, i now at least have a new way to doing it! thanks guys!!

[derekkchung]

Make your own breakout box. There is NO electronic inside. Just all wiring. You should use those DC power plugs/jacks so that each device is on its connection, not all ground wires connected to one connection (see 7:10). It makes no sense that when you need to disconnect one device, you need to disconnect all the ground wires. What was Neptune thinking when they designed this? Remember, no electronic inside and you can DIY it for $15 and make it BETTER than what they (Neptune, not BRS) wants.
Also, use virtual outlet to control each input so that you can set it to off or on using apex fusion. That way you can also make off to on, or on to off.
Oh, if you want a 2nd or 3rd breakout interface, you have to buy a PM1 or PM2, or PM3, or ASM module (2:04)? I really don't need extra COND, temp or Ph interfaces. Maybe they should make a new module that has couple breakouts, 24VDC, and some 1LINKs.

[jimjh]

You can also use a ground terminal ( 1 wire got to ground on BoB amd then have individual ground terminals for each switch etc makes things super simple

[leobardofelix]

I like how the label maker is labeled label maker

[hatfieldsreef]

Door switch question. I have three doors, can I wire all three switches to one wire from breakout box? Resulting in no mater which door I open the light will come on.

[PNAquatics]

I’ve done the same using a raspberry pi. Controls all my fish room equipment.

[CLOWNFISH]

Can you add an ozone monitor to the breakout. Then when the sensor goes off apex will shut off the ozone reactor?

[frankw]

Love the BOB, but stuffing 6 wires into one ground terminal is asking for serious problems, especially if any of the switches are being relied upon for "disaster prevention". If they're not in there just right, one bump could easily break connections. One very easy, and cheap (how often do you hear THAT?) fix is to get what's called a "common busbar". Mount the bar just to the side of the BOB, run a wire from the ground terminal over to the bar, and you can now have an independent screw point for each separate ground wire.

[justforkiks]

Where did you guys get that long switch bank from?

[brandonreidy]

You made it sound like classic members had to create a virtual outlet to be used with switch naming. Not sure if thats correct, no extra virtual outlets need created from the user side. It can be done by the classic by configuration>probe/input setup

[twinturbo]

You showed a solenoid valve in this video - how can that be used with the breakout box given that it has 12/24v requirements ? Also for the waterproof wire connector, where can I buy them ?

[damianthompson]

I have to side with everyone suggesting that it's a bad idea to stuff all those ground wires under 1 terminal. Not only is it a safety and maintenance issue as they've already pointer out but it also violates national electrical code in the US as well as voiding any u.l. certifications on the equipment connected in that way. If you feel that a buss bar is more than you'd like to spend then just run 1 wire from the bob and use a wire nut to tie them all together. That at least avoids going against NEC and keeps the u.l. rating intact but you still have the maintenance issues associated with having all the wires under the same terminal

[jimjh]

I am using my Breakbout Box to auto fill my ATO container, as well as Control 2 electric solenoids which control my RODI Production, and Auto flushing my RO membranes

[robertwolters]

And here I thought I learned basic as a kid for no reason.

[kenhahn]

Randy - Were you reading Tyler’s email last week, because I asked for this exact video. I am finally completing 2 - 300Gal building in our dream home and was just waiting for Black Friday sales to save a ton on a LOT of equipment. I am living overseas and without being able to play with the breakout boxes I ordered, I didn’t “get” how the breakout box was such an awesome tool. I know I could build them for less, but my time is valuable and I am ordering and planning everything so I can come home for a week in Jan and set up both tanks so they can cycle and cure for a couple of months until we move back home. Thank you for the very informative video.

QQ - You have one BOB per EB on the BRS160. What did you use to get the extras ports for the 2-3 extra BOBs?

[coreyyellowmanjackson]

Damn this dude looks like Chris Algieri. LOL