DIY Neptune systems breakout box

Little box to take advantage of the breakout connector on a Neptune apex
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updated September 23, 2024

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This is a breakout box to give further function to the Neptune Apex. The box is designed to hold two momentary push buttons (I use these for feed cycles and skimmer clean) two on/off switches and if desired two 5mm jack ports, which can be used for a number for sensors (I use one for a float and the other for a magnet door catch to turn on a cabinet light. There is a larger hole for a 22mm ‘stats light’ that I have wired up to a spare 24v port on my ffm module. The box also has a small slide on connector on the back. I just stuck this to my cabinet door and it allowed me to whip it out and place it back in the cabinet easily. This is my first real model. I made this in fusion 360 and learnt a lot designing and building it. 

The hole sizes are 

  • 22.5mm (large hole) (for 22mm 24v indicator light)
  • 14mm (two small round holes for 12mm buttons)
  • 14x9.2mm (two small square holes for 12mmx9mm switches)
  • two 9.2mm holes in underside (used for female 5mm headphone sockets)

The back plate/rear mount has been designed to use 3mm brass inserts and m3 machine screws to keep everything together and allow repeated use of the threads so four of these will also be required.

Here are the parts I used - 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251390016446?var=550316227969 - rocker switches

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122653316205?var=423060461981 - momentary push buttons

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D9D293Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - 24v light

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071KNRQN7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08MQGBD25/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Jacks and sockets

You will also need an 8 pin mini din cable. I happened to have one lying about so I used that. 

basic soldering skills are needed, but it is super straight forward :). many videos can be found on youtube on how to do it as well. I used Fish of Hex's below video to help me out.

 

Hope someone finds this useful. i enjoyed making it.

as mentioned this is my first real project so apologies if anything is missing or not clear! let me know if you have any questions!

 

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