How to Install Firmware on AC Jr.

The AquaController Jr is an aquarium-monitoring unit made by Neptune Systems that is capable of monitoring the pH and temperature of the water in an aquarium, with the information displayed on an LCD screen. The unit can also simulate sunrise, sunset and the cycles of the moon by varying the intensity of light emitted from its LEDs. The AquaController Jr is equipped with alarms to alert users when conditions exceed preset settings. Neptune Systems may release firmware updates for the AquaController Jr to fix any issues with the unit.

Things You'll Need

  • RS232 serial cable or AquaJr update serial cable
  • Serial-to-USB adapter (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Download the firmware file. Make sure to download the correct file, depending on whether your AquaController Jr has a serial port.

    • 2

      Double-click the zip folder to view the contents, then double-click the file "jrupdate" to extract it. Click "Extract all" on the pop-up menu and extract the files into "C:\aquajr."

    • 3

      Connect one end of a serial cable to the serial port on the AquaController Jr, then connect the other end of the cable to the serial port on a PC. If you have the non-serial version of the AquaController Jr, connect one end of the AquaJr update serial cable into the temperature probe connector on the AquaController Jr, then connect the other end to the serial port on a PC.

    • 4

      Open the "Start" menu and type "run" in the text box on the bottom of the Start menu to open the Run menu. Type "cmd" in the text box to open a command prompt.

    • 5

      Type "cd c:\aquajr" in the command prompt.

    • 6

      Unplug the 9-volt adapter from the AquaController Jr. Press and hold the "Select" button on the controller. Plug the power adapter back into the controller. Release the "Select" button when the screen goes blank. The controller should now be in the "Aqua Boot Menu."

    • 7

      Press "Select" next to "Update Flash." The screen should display "Loader."

    • 8

      Type "jrupdate aquajrser.enc --COM1" in the Command Shell on the PC. "P[xxx]" should be displayed on the second line of the LCD display on the AquaController Jr if the update is working.