Aqua Computer Flow meter or Innovatek Flow meter ?

[FatboyHK]

I think I will use a Aqua Computer Aquaero or a Innovatek Fan-o-matic on my upcoming rad box project here, and I will add a flow meter into my loop. I searched for it and seem there are only 2 choices, and they are also from Aqua Computer and Innovatek .

These two flow meter are compatible with each other so I am completely free to choose any one of them, independence of which control system I will go with, the only criteria is performance....

I will use 1/2" tubing in my loop, but seem both flow meters from AC and Innovatek are quite small and I think they are more suitable for 3/8" tubing. If I use one of them in my loop, will it seriously affect flow rate? If I need to use one, which one is a better choice? any special consideration I need to aware of?

 

[FatboyHK]

update: I did more search and found something called Swissflow. see this thread....seem it is better than AC's and Innvoatek's

but I wanna ask, is it compatible with Aquaaero or Fan-o-matic? That thread use Crystalfontz display and SCAB controller....

Seem Aquaaero's software is very good and I don't want to switch to Crystalfontz unless it is necessary...

 

[Shoggy]

The Swissflow sensor will not work with the aquaero.
It has something around 6.000 impulses per liter but the aquaero can "only" handle up to 2.500.

 

[penguin]

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be too hard for someone with an electronics background to wire up a simple divider circuit for it. Too bad I don't have an electronics background

EDIT: Two of these on the output of the swissflow would give you 1.5 pulses per liter, which should be fine for the Aquaero.

 

[theseeker]

I have used both and I believe the Innovatek to be better because it is less restrictive than the Aqua.

 

[FatboyHK]

I have used both and I believe the Innovatek to be better because it is less restrictive than the Aqua.

What fitting Innovatek's flow meter uses? is it G 1/4 ? then I can use it with 1/2" tube easily.

I see in your sig that you use AC's block for 8800, and Aquaduct. Are they good?

Actually I wanna DIY something like an AquaDuct.

For the 8800 block, it looks nice but is it made of Al? seem not my cup of tea....

 

[FatboyHK]

The Swissflow sensor will not work with the aquaero.
It has something around 6.000 impulses per liter but the aquaero can "only" handle up to 2.500.

In this case is there any other meter I can use with Aquaaero?

 

[FatboyHK]

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be too hard for someone with an electronics background to wire up a simple divider circuit for it. Too bad I don't have an electronics background

EDIT: Two of these on the output of the swissflow would give you 1.5 pulses per liter, which should be fine for the Aquaero.

OK, seem it is not very difficult......but before I do that can anyone confirm that after applying this mod, it will work fine with Aquaaero? and where can I find such a device? how much one will cost?

 

[FatboyHK]

The Swissflow sensor will not work with the aquaero.
It has something around 6.000 impulses per liter but the aquaero can "only" handle up to 2.500.

I wonder why there is such a limitation. I think if it is the hardware which cannot handle a high impuls rate, then potentially all flow sensor will have this problem if the flow rate is high enough. If it is the software which cannot accept a big parameter for impulse per liter, then it is a software issue and can be fixed very easily. I am just curious, no offense

 

[headala]

Actually, I have the swissflow, and it definitely doesn't work with the Aquaero. The thing is that almost every other flowmeter outputs far less, and so it would be stupid for AC to add the extra sensor cost just to be compatible with this one flow meter.

It's possible that your motherboard would support it, though I don't know the max pulses they can handle.

If you want to try the project, let me know how it works out...it stinks having the flowmeter and not being able to use it!

 

[FatboyHK]

lol, I am interested to buy your swissflow if you don't mind

But I need to figure out how to pay you then.....I live in Hong Kong

 

[headala]

Hey, FatboyHK, did you still want my swissflow? I live in SW China; will be back there in August. LMK if you still want it.

 

[Top Nurse]

PM me with details about the SF 800. I'm pretty tenacious about this sort of thing.

 

[Top Nurse]

I wonder why there is such a limitation. I think if it is the hardware which cannot handle a high impuls rate, then potentially all flow sensor will have this problem if the flow rate is high enough. If it is the software which cannot accept a big parameter for impulse per liter, then it is a software issue and can be fixed very easily. I am just curious, no offense.

Now that is the million dollar question. I think I will PM Sebastian on the AC Forum about this. AC provides a SDK for the Aquasuite software. However the impulses per liter on the Innovatek device is 232 and the AC device is around 509 IIRC. Please keep in mind that neither AC nor Innovatek makes flow meters. AC buys them from Digimesa and I have no idea where Innovatek buys their unit from. Even the Innovatek one drops your flow rate significantly and the AC unit is twice as bad in curtailing the flow.