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Thread: Torx's DIY $10 Apex Break Out Box

  1. #1
    Frequent Visitor Torx's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Torx's DIY $10 Apex Break Out Box

    I know that it is the cheapest addition to the Apex modules, but when opened up, it is understandably cheaper and still well over priced IMHO considering they would get bulk pricing on stock. But I digress.

    $39.99USD + taxes + S/H etc etc



    $10CAD completed. This is all that the "Break Out Box" is if "Break It Open". I will probably put it into a project box down the road and make up my own label. Personally I have no idea why Apex uses a grey cable and blue label :S (although there are some out there with the orange/white label) when everything else is black and orange/white ... I was adamant about finding a black cable lol.

    1 - Black MD8 Mini Din 8 Minidin (ebay)
    1 - terminal block (thesource)
    1 - multimeter to test which line is which as most Minidin cables have different colors/pin (have several sitting around)
    5 - minutes work (while waiting for my next pot of coffee to brew)

    DIY BoB cable pin outs. 8 is the ground, 7 is not used and 1-6 are respectable switches to their numbers



    Current: 120 Gallon Peninsula DIY system.

  2. #2
    Always a Noob
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    So from what I gather all the I/O terminals share a common ground, correct?

    Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AddictedtoSalt View Post
    So from what I gather all the I/O terminals share a common ground, correct?

    Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
    Yes, that's right.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  4. #4
    Always a Noob
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    Awesome thank you

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  5. #5
    Always a Noob
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    Ok so I just finished my break out box and everything is cool except for 1 thing. on my cable pin 2 is also connected to the outer metal ring on the connector. Will this cause any issues?

  6. #6
    Always a Noob
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    Anyone?

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  7. #7
    Always a Noob
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    So I decided to not risk it and cut the connector open. I replaced all the wires with a length of cat5 cable instead.
    I wired mine up so each I/O has its own ground as well as signal terminal
    uploadfromtaptalk1395405477817.jpg

    Its working great.
    Thanks for the write up.

    Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AddictedtoSalt View Post
    So I decided to not risk it and cut the connector open. I replaced all the wires with a length of cat5 cable instead.
    I wired mine up so each I/O has its own ground as well as signal terminal
    uploadfromtaptalk1395405477817.jpg

    Its working great.
    Thanks for the write up.

    Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
    Anyway to get a little more info on how you put your together? And the reason for a ground for every wire?

    Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jasonandsarah View Post
    And the reason for a ground for every wire?
    Probably just for the sake of simpler connections. Plus, this way, if you need to disconnect one switch for some reason, you don't need to pull all ground wires out of a single terminal briefly to remove just one.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  10. #10
    Frequent Visitor Torx's Avatar
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    Yes, there are disadvantages to my quick diy. Mainly being that is you need to take one switch out, you loose all for a moment. A separate ground per connection would be best, but for how often...I am just going to keep it the way it is.

    Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk
    Current: 120 Gallon Peninsula DIY system.

  11. #11
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Ty for the quick response.
    Sorry if this is a dumb question but...Could you also explain how a terminal block works?
    I have all the parts and think I can put this together easily but would just like a little more info on it and how it works.
    For now I only really plan to use my B.O.B. for float switches.

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  12. #12
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Torx View Post
    Yes, there are disadvantages to my quick diy. Mainly being that is you need to take one switch out, you loose all for a moment. A separate ground per connection would be best, but for how often...I am just going to keep it the way it is.

    Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk
    In industrial systems, each I/O point has its own ground and it is against the national electric code to connect more than two wires to any one terminal screw. Why should it be any different for a DIY apex module? That was my biggest grief with the one that Neptune makes and the whole reason I made one myself rather than buying theirs.

    You might be an engineer if...You have no life, and you can PROVE it mathematically.

  13. #13
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    n industrial systems, each I/O point has its own ground and it is against the national electric code to connect more than two wires to any one terminal screw. Why should it be any different for a DIY apex module?
    We're talking about 3.3V TTL signals, not power systems... gimme a break. And on the NS BoB, the wires don't go around the screw - the terminals are the clamp-down type - tightening the screw merely applies pressure to close the clamp.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by RussM View Post
    We're talking about 3.3V TTL signals, not power systems... gimme a break. And on the NS BoB, the wires don't go around the screw - the terminals are the clamp-down type - tightening the screw merely applies pressure to close the clamp.
    Even so, its still a PITA to put more than 2 wires in a clamp terminal, they fall out very easily, and anytime you want to add or remove a wire all of the switches show open.

    You might be an engineer if...You have no life, and you can PROVE it mathematically.

  15. #15
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Here's mine
    So I'm going to put mine together today and was just wondering if I could get a little input on the best placement for the terminal block in/on the project box?
    I see one has no box. The other has the whole terminal block coming out and Neptune has there's half sticking out? Is there a better way to do it?

    Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

  16. #16
    Frequent Visitor Torx's Avatar
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    What ever works. I have no project box. I probably should...but I am comfortable with it as is for the current application of the block.

    Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk
    Current: 120 Gallon Peninsula DIY system.

  17. #17
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jasonandsarah View Post
    Here's mine
    So I'm going to put mine together today and was just wondering if I could get a little input on the best placement for the terminal block in/on the project box?
    I see one has no box. The other has the whole terminal block coming out and Neptune has there's half sticking out? Is there a better way to do it?

    Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
    If you dont mind taking the cover off anytime you need to mess with connections, I would mount it centered inside the project box and have the hole for the cables face down when attached to its final surface. Then the casing is at least water resistant.

    You might be an engineer if...You have no life, and you can PROVE it mathematically.

  18. #18
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Is there supposed to be a bare wire in with the other 8?
    Black, red, brown, yellow, purple, blue orange, green and 1 bare wire?

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  19. #19
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Should I just cut the purple and bare wire out?

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  20. #20
    Frequent Visitor Torx's Avatar
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    I trimmed mine...I think. Not at home, so can't double check.

    Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk
    Current: 120 Gallon Peninsula DIY system.

  21. #21
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Will they have anything going through them? Do you know what the bare wire is?
    Sorry for all the questions this is a simple project that I'm probably over complicating.
    I'm great with instructions but get messed up when things are different then described.

    Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

  22. #22
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jasonandsarah View Post
    Do you know what the bare wire is?
    You listed 8 colored wires + the bare wire. There are 8 pins plus the shield - the bare wire is probably connected to the shield. Test with an ohmmeter to verify.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  23. #23
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

  24. #24
    Frequent Visitor jasonandsarah's Avatar
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    To start I got a grey 8 pin mini din 8 cable (Amazon) and the wire layout was.... black 1, brown 2, red 3, orange 4, yellow 5, green 6 purple/ground, blue not used. Bare wire goes to the shield as stated before.

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    Is it the same configuration if I want to use it on the AC3?

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