Fan controllers, AQUAERO VS mCubed T-Balancer (updated)

I dont know much about electronics and stuff, so i will ask before i do anything stupid.
The cpecifications of bigNG state:

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max. current: 7A
max. power: 80W (PWM)/20W (analogue)
power per channel: 40W (PWM)/20W (analogue)

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What is the difference in analogue and PWM mode...? I have tried it, and in PWM mode my fans started to sing... :rofl:
I am wondering this, because i would like to plug 8x Scythe Slipstreams 1600RPM (4.92W) to my bigNG with Y splitters. As far as i understand all this specs, the max power states 20W in analogue mode, and that would mean that i cant run all of 8 Slipstreams because they would exceed the power limit... Am i wrong? Am i missing something? Sorry for being such a noob about it, but i realy dont want to fry my bigNG :rolleyes:Thanks in advance...:up:

Eddie3dfx, keep in mind that the multiswitch works with PWM if you want to take control over the power output. In this case the aquastream will go mad if you try to run it since it works only with "real" constant 12V.

old thread. just to confirm, you cannot control the fanamp power outage using aquareo for some reason. Anyone found a workaround ?

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Originally Posted by Extigy

old thread. just to confirm, you cannot control the fanamp power outage using aquareo for some reason. Anyone found a workaround ?

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I haven't found any workaround, no. And also check this thread. You might be able to use a poweradjust to control a pump or strong fans if it was that you where looking for. I haven't got any answer yet.

And also this thread should be RENAMED. Looking at it now it looks like it is a test or something (a misfortune name by me..). If an admin sees this they could change it to something like Aquaero vs Mcubed T-balancer? pros and cons?. Or to something that describes the thread better. I cant change it myself.

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Originally Posted by Baxxxter

I dont know much about electronics and stuff, so i will ask before i do anything stupid.
The cpecifications of bigNG state:

What is the difference in analogue and PWM mode...? I have tried it, and in PWM mode my fans started to sing... :rofl:
I am wondering this, because i would like to plug 8x Scythe Slipstreams 1600RPM (4.92W) to my bigNG with Y splitters. As far as i understand all this specs, the max power states 20W in analogue mode, and that would mean that i cant run all of 8 Slipstreams because they would exceed the power limit... Am i wrong? Am i missing something? Sorry for being such a noob about it, but i realy dont want to fry my bigNG :rolleyes:Thanks in advance...:up:

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The bigNg can provide way more than 20W in analogue mode, just make sure it gets decent airflow...

And you can't really "kill" the bigNG, if it gets to warm, it switches all fans to 12V and/or PWM

looks like pure power its the bigNG and for graphs and total monitoring its the aqua....man tough choices...very tough.

Hi all, sorry to jump on this post but ive just got my t-balancer bigng, dos anyone know if this will work on vista 32bit. all i get is errir's coming up :( is there any downloads for this. all i can get to work is the navigator server and that dont do much :(( pls help

Go to the options menu in t-balancer 2.12, then usb connection then select Device driver (API)

hi bond number, ive tryed clicking on t-balancer navigator 2.12 but get a run-time error 339 component sysinfo.ocx is not registered or missing :( help

I installed my two T-balancer XL on a fresh install of Windows XP and copied the database tban.mdb, which contains screen locations from another monitor, 19", and its 1600x1200 resolution but now i'm temporarily running an old 14" with 800x600 resolution and can't see the T-Balancer Navigator software as it is "Off Screen" so to speak

What do I do to get it "On Screen"?

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Originally Posted by -X-hellfire

I installed my two T-balancer XL on a fresh install of Windows XP and copied the database tban.mdb, which contains screen locations from another monitor, 19", and its 1600x1200 resolution but now i'm temporarily running an old 14" with 800x600 resolution and can't see the T-Balancer Navigator software as it is "Off Screen" so to speak

What do I do to get it "On Screen"?

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Well, it was a mistake to put the T-Balacer panels "Off Screen" and save the tban.mdb so I will connect the 19" monitor and set it to 1600x1200 resolution move the panels "On Screen" for 800x600 then switch to the 14"

Are there any simple "virtual desktop" software than can fix this mess easy?
(thus keeping a 800x600 resolution but make it scrollable to 1600x1200)

btw I haven't installed any nvidia forceware software yet as I'm going to save a ghost-image before I do

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Originally Posted by -X-hellfire

Well, it was a mistake to put the T-Balacer panels "Off Screen" and save the tban.mdb so I will connect the 19" monitor and set it to 1600x1200 resolution move the panels "On Screen" for 800x600 then switch to the 14"

Are there any simple "virtual desktop" software than can fix this mess easy?
(thus keeping a 800x600 resolution but make it scrollable to 1600x1200)

btw I haven't installed any nvidia forceware software yet as I'm going to save a ghost-image before I do

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Downloaded a freeware called dexpot and tried it but it prbably needed some graphiccard drivers to work properly, didnt show up any resolutions, so I uninstlled it and switched monitor.

Changed it up to 1600x1200 and found the "Off Screen" panels and positioned them for 800x600

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2401/tbal800x600.jpg


On one of the T-Balancer XL fancontrollers (fan14) the usb does not work yet, have to use FTDI and VCP-driver to run two controllers and it requires some trial and error to get working.

The T-Balancer XL fancontroller (fan58) looks weird too as the Panel for (hdd in nb 6) shows manual and 0% fanspeed but the fan it is spinning and the controller is blinking which indicates correct operation.

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Originally Posted by Ender17

so do these auto fan controllers require you to wire up sensors all over the case or can they use the built in sensors that you would see from something like RealTemp or a GPU monitor?

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I am wondering the same thing about the T-balancer. Is is possible to control the fan speeds using the reported CPU / GPU temperature provided the t-balancer is connected via USB? Some one here must know.

Also, any word on whether the t-balancer software /drivers work on Windows 7 RTM 64bit?

t-balancer can certainly access and control to SpeedFan data if this is of any help. Of course, using 3rd party apps to gather the data means control is only valid when the app and the t-ban software are up and running. Off hand I can't remember what the fans do if the sw is not running, full speed maybe or user defined manual setting ?

Hi
i have my T balancer working on windows 7 64 at the present moment
had to install the software and then instal the serial to usb driver from FTDI wed site and not the driver which windows update tries to install

http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm

cheers

mark

t-balancer review
aquaero usb 4.0 review

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Originally Posted by Factotum

t-balancer review
aquaero usb 4.0 review

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Just skimmed over you Aquaero-Review:

"10 watt power restriction for a base model of Aquaero just isn’t enough to power the most popular WC pump Laing DDC3.2 (1Plus) with power consumption of 18 watts. The use of integrated pump control features is only available for Aquastream pumps."

The old standardversion (that you have tested) is 10 W per channel and max. 30 W in total for the 4 channels. The new version with "Powerbooster" is 25 W @channel 1, 15 W per channel 2-4 and max. 45 W in total. With it you have got the opportunity to easily control any Laing DDC @channel 1 AND 20 W of fans (it´s possible to enhance this by using an additional "Poweramp") - what´s more 1 flow sensor (with usage of channel 4 even 2) and 6 temperature sensors.

All this including a very nice software, emergency shutoff dependent on rpms, flow or temperature and and and ...

Sounds like an advertising text, but I am really totally confident with this control unit.

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Originally Posted by scamps

All this including a very nice software, emergency shutoff dependent on rpms, flow or temperature and and and ...

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true, but it must be that way. German quality :up::up::up:

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Originally Posted by scamps

The old standardversion (that you have tested) is 10 W per channel and max. 30 W in total for the 4 channels. The new version with "Powerbooster" is 25 W @channel 1, 15 W per channel 2-4 and max. 45 W in total.

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here :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Factotum

true, but it must be that way. German quality :up::up::up:
here :shrug:

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uuups ;)

Nevertheless you should update your Aquaero with the Powerbooster. Without the Aquaero is just a very good fan control unit with limited power out. With Powerbooster it is almost the (in Germany so called) "eierlegende Wollmilchsau" :)

the best powerbooster :p:

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Originally Posted by scamps

With Powerbooster it is almost the (in Germany so called) "eierlegende Wollmilchsau" :)

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in English = all-in-one :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Factotum

the best powerbooster :p:

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... and Mr. "Liquid Cooling Museum" Spock :up:

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Originally Posted by Factotum

in English = all-in-one :rolleyes:

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I prefer Eierlegende Wollmilchsau :D All-in-one sounds like a boring printer device ...

:btt:

Both sounds good but I am leaning towards the Aquero with better support.

Any solutions to control multiple DDC 3.2s for dual loop purposes?

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Originally Posted by hchristian

Both sounds good but I am leaning towards the Aquero with better support.

Any solutions to control multiple DDC 3.2s for dual loop purposes?

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Aquero with powerbooster upgrade + PowerAmp http://shop.aquacomputer.de/product_...oducts_id=2363

channel 1 (powerboosted): first DDC
channel 2: PowerAmp and behind the second DDC

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Originally Posted by scamps

Aquero with powerbooster upgrade + PowerAmp http://shop.aquacomputer.de/product_...oducts_id=2363

channel 1 (powerboosted): first DDC
channel 2: PowerAmp and behind the second DDC

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Has it been implemented before? Links maybe?

I tried searching the forum but couldn't get a satisfactory answer

Another question is, if i daisy chain fans to the remaining channels (3 & 4), will I still be able to monitor/control the rpm?

Many thanks!

I wonder if those DIY amps from german forum have same problem as aquaero's poweramp with providing 2 volts less maximum voltage or they are using different schematics and providing full 12V? And if they are able to handle D5, or even dual D5. online autotranslated text to english is not ideal :)
IIRC commercial mCubed Fanamp provided full 12V voltage with 25W max power (and momentarily higher, for eg. fan/pump startup) .. dunno if it can be enough for D5. It would be nice if someone would test aquaero+fanamp+D5 if he has such things arround - that would be simple way to have best of both worlds (good software && power to handle lot of fans and most powerful pumps) even for those, that aren't experienced with DIY electronic scheme soldering (especially if instructions and schematics are in foreign language) - just stick one or two fanamps in aquaero's ports :)

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Originally Posted by scamps

Aquero with powerbooster upgrade + PowerAmp http://shop.aquacomputer.de/product_...oducts_id=2363

channel 1 (powerboosted): first DDC
channel 2: PowerAmp and behind the second DDC

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I read on one of Shoggy's post that dual DDCs will not work due to power draw issues during spin up http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...0&postcount=15.

It's not quite clear whether he meant dual DDCs will not work in channel 1 simultaneously or will not work in any configuration. Nothing was mentioned about the PowerAmp however.

What effect does 10 - 10.5 V (output of PowerAmp) have on DDCs?

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It's not quite clear whether he meant dual DDCs will not work in channel 1 simultaneously or will not work in any configuration. Nothing was mentioned about the PowerAmp however.
What effect does 10 - 10.5 V (output of PowerAmp) have on DDCs?

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Effect of 10-10.5V Amp - you simply can run pump at only 80% of it max speed. Similar to speed4 of D5 vario. But the essence of using those DIY poweramps or eg. mcubed fanamp is that you get your power for pump from another separate power cable as to one feeding aquaero. It's just that voltage is regulated to be same as from aquaero, and rpms of fan or pump are forwarded to aquaero.

@hchristian: you can use the aquaero with powerbooster for ONE pumpe. If you want more pumps you can connect one ore more poweramps to a fan channel.

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Originally Posted by Shoggy

@hchristian: you can use the aquaero with powerbooster for ONE pumpe. If you want more pumps you can connect one ore more poweramps to a fan channel.

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Thanks Shoggy for clearing that up.

So let me sum it up :

Channel 1 : Pump with 12V
Channel 2 + Powerbooster : Pump with 10 V - 10.5 V
Channel 3 : Fan
Channel 4 : Fan

So essentially you are left with 2 channels to control fans with.
How does RPM controlling work when 2 fans are spliced to 1 channel?

If you mean poweramp when sying powerbooster, than it is OK ;)

You will only able to monitor one RPM signal when you connect several fans to one channel.

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Originally Posted by Shoggy

If you mean poweramp when sying powerbooster, than it is OK ;)

You will only able to monitor one RPM signal when you connect several fans to one channel.

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Thanks Shoggy, sure cleared my questions.

Now to consider the International shipping costs for an Aquero :D

In the same boat. Is the AQUAERO the one to go for?

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Originally Posted by hchristian

Thanks Shoggy, sure cleared my questions.

Now to consider the International shipping costs for an Aquero :D

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Where do you live? I think Bitspower out of Taiwan can also ship AC stuff.

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Originally Posted by The Asgard

In the same boat. Is the AQUAERO the one to go for?

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I have two of them; got my first around 4 1/2 years ago I think and have LOVED it.

Shoggy, can the Aquaero software be enhanced to include CPU, GPU and other temps for fan speed control?

Phil

No, that is not possible. Would also make not much sense for fan control since the internal sensors jump up and down within seconds.

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Originally Posted by Shoggy

No, that is not possible. Would also make not much sense for fan control since the internal sensors jump up and down within seconds.

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The CPU/GPU temp fluctuation is definitely higher than the coolant but I wouldn't say it's useless in controlling fan speed. I've been using these parameters for watercooling successfully for quite a while.

Phil

I also have a quesiton. Can you split a temperature sensor and plug it into 2 aquaeros or is there a way for the other aquaero to read from the first one?

Or must i have 2 sensors.

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Originally Posted by Philwong

The CPU/GPU temp fluctuation is definitely higher than the coolant but I wouldn't say it's useless in controlling fan speed. I've been using these parameters for watercooling successfully for quite a while.

Phil

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This has been debated quite a bit already. If you're cooling the water you base your fan speed by the temperature of the water not the CPU, etc. Trying to run your rad fans by measuring the temp of the cpu is like me setting our AC by the temperature of my wife: she's usually quite hot but the fluctuations will make you crazy! :D

BTW, I'm going down to Tioman island tomorrow (and then back up to KL); have you ever been there? Also, are there any decent water cooling shops in KL?

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Originally Posted by Brodholm

I also have a quesiton. Can you split a temperature sensor and plug it into 2 aquaeros or is there a way for the other aquaero to read from the first one?

Or must i have 2 sensors.

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The temperatures rely on minute fluctuations in resistance (I think), so that definitely would not be possible. You even have to re-calibrate them if you change the length of the cable! :eek: Keep in mind though you can put as many water temp sensors in your loop as you want.

I have two Aquaeros and I just divide up their duties: one is for monitoring surface temperatures and logging, the other is for monitoring water temperatures and pump RPM's (for automatic shutdown). It takes a bit of planning ahead but it works. You definitely have to draw it all out and label your cables carefully!

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Originally Posted by headala

The temperatures rely on minute fluctuations in resistance (I think), so that definitely would not be possible. You even have to re-calibrate them if you change the length of the cable! :eek: Keep in mind though you can put as many water temp sensors in your loop as you want.

I have two Aquaeros and I just divide up their duties: one is for monitoring surface temperatures and logging, the other is for monitoring water temperatures and pump RPM's (for automatic shutdown). It takes a bit of planning ahead but it works. You definitely have to draw it all out and label your cables carefully!

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Thats what i thought. Im thinking of controlling 2 DDC3.2 in a dual EK pump top. And im worried that if the temperatures vary or sensors isnt calibrated the same way i will have one pump pushing the other or one pump speeding up the other one. I don't know if thats really a problem though.

Shoggy: see above +1 to many others needing for more power from single aquaero. It's possible in several ways to workarround that limitation, but most of them will stay as 'hacks', not 'solutions'. :/

Well, there will never be a solution with that aquaero since it has already reached its technical limits with the powerbooster variant. It is already a wonder that it works this way. Any more power would always lead to a damaged controller.

@hchristian: you can only use the rpm signal of one fan.

Well.. after reading all this awesome information, i ended up buying the Aquaero Fan controller. Can't wait till it gets here!! :yepp: :up: Can't believe i bought that Aerocool Touch 1000..:rofl::shakes:

Good boy :buddies:

:D