• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

My experience using a Jaboa 3.4 doser

steveno

Member
Joined
11 Oct 2013
Messages
454
Location
Manchester
I've recently purchased an Jaboa 3.4 dosing unit, and thought I would post my experience using this device.

The unit was purchased from Aliexpress and was brought as part of set that included 5m of tubing and acrylic tank clamp to run the tubing, at the time it cost me £63, and also include a UK plug convertor as power adapter is a 2 pin type. This doser is their latest model, and has 4 channels, there is also single channel unit available.

This model is quite a bit smaller that their previous model.

Capture.JPG


20200716_184421.jpg


20200716_061834.jpg


This is picture of the unit set up, the dosing container where purchased form my local aquarium store, but any old container could be used. Something to be mindful of, that i was aware until recently is that fertilizers will deteriorate over time if exposed to natural light so i have now made a simple enclosure to cover the unit and dosing container and have also ordered some black tubing.


20200719_065944.jpg


The acrylic tank clamp, not the prettiest so I'm going to look for something a little more discrete.

The instruction that came with the device left a lot to be desired so here is a bried description of how to use device.
The unit only connects using 2.4GHz WIFI connection, you need to connect your phone to this WiFi channel, before your phone will connect with this unit. To connect you need to set up an Jaboa account and download their app on to your mobile. The app seems relatively easy to use, the app allows you to control each channel/dosing head and set programs independently.


Screenshot_20200716-061002_Jebao Aqua.jpg



Once connected to calibrate each channel/head you hit the three little dots in top right hand corner, and set the time of how long it takes to dose a specific amount of liquid. There are few YouTube videos on how you calibrate this particular unit.

Screenshot_20200718-122228_Jebao Aqua.jpg


Screenshot_20200718-122236_Jebao Aqua.jpg


The app that controls the unit seems works on a 24 hour cycle, you can set each head to dose specific amounts of liquid fert's over the course of the day and then set daily (24 hours) intervals between dosages. To get into the controls for each head (channel), you hold down the corresponding channel button on the main page. When you hit the run programme button a green clock icon will appear next to channel button on main page. Please note you also need to ensure device is turned on on the main page (where you select each channel). The on/off button in the individual channel allow to manually control the device.

Screenshot_20200716-061010_Jebao Aqua.jpg


Screenshot_20200716-061018_Jebao Aqua.jpg


Relatively easy up to now, this where it gets a little more complicated. To get the unit to dose on alternate days, it seems you have to turn on programmed cycle for each heads on alternate days. However there is an down side if you happen unplug or have a power cut the heads will restart the cycle and result in both heads powering on at the same time, which means the head end up dosing on the same day :(.
Apparently the older models also had a similar issue and there is a work around that is discuss in the following post:

https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads...ative-index-with-jebao-jecod-dp-series.37255/

From my own experience this unit did seem to retain the programmed dose cycle even after being unplugged, and can also be connected and controlled remotely providing the device remains connected to the WIFI/ router.

Really like the new Jaboa doser, as it really easy to use thou i don't have much experience using other auto dosing units.
 
Well done @steveno :)
Is the adaptor anything like the one in the video? I had a product from Asia recently supplied with a 2 pin DC adaptor and one of these 'death adaptors' to convert me to a UK 3 pin; if it is then I suggest you stop using it immediately and smash it with a hammer.
You should get a quality, replacement UK style DC adaptor for around £10.
 
Well done @steveno :)
Is the adaptor anything like the one in the video? I had a product from Asia recently supplied with a 2 pin DC adaptor and one of these 'death adaptors' to convert me to a UK 3 pin; if it is then I suggest you stop using it immediately and smash it with a hammer.
You should get a quality, replacement UK style DC adaptor for around £10.



That is well worth knowing about, thank you for posting 👍
 
Is the adaptor anything like the one in the video? I had a product from Asia recently supplied with a 2 pin DC adaptor and one of these 'death adaptors' to convert me to a UK 3 pin; if it is then I suggest you stop using it immediately and smash it with a hammer.

Thxs, better get my hammer out then...
 
Last edited:
Hi
A universal to uk travel adaptor should be ok, from shops such as Curry’s they have a Masterplug 4.99. Ideally should be fused and would come with a 13amp but should fit a 2amp. Would avoid buying them from eBay etc.
Cheers 🍻
 
It's a 12v 1.5 amp. I replaced it with a 12v 2 amp UK three pin DC adapter.
Easiest, and safest option in my opinion just changing the adaptor for a new UK 3 pin type. :)
Don't forget it's positive polarity too ;) (which most are) Providing the output is 1.5 Amp (or greater) and it's a 12V DC output that's the things that matter.
Do you know what size the DC plug connector is? I'd imagine it's 5.5x2.5mm or 5.5x2.1mm but worth finding out what is the correct size which is what I'd meant.
A universal to uk travel adaptor should be ok, from shops such as Curry’s they have a Masterplug 4.99
Why bother with the travel adaptor if for not a lot more you can just use a new UK style DC adaptor then plug it straight in with no further adaptors?
LMAO! Or take it apart carefully and start a channel like Bigclivedotcom
You could if you felt compelled ;) I think this kind of thing is a very real threat when ordering things this way and these adaptors really are that unsafe so worth destroying to stop people getting it out of the rubbish anywhere along the line.
Would avoid buying them from eBay etc
I had a dodgy UK DC adaptor plug a little while back which came with a product from a reputable company so worth inspecting any you have in my opinion.
Even some normal 'UK plug' styles can be questionable and had one arrive with a 16 Amp fuse fitted (UK is 13 Amp maximum) and strange shape to it - I don't know all the regulations but know for sure these didn't meet them either!
 
I've had a look on Amazon and found a UK acad adaptor that seem to provide the the correct out put, do you think i could use this, no idea whether it is positive polarity?

20200720_063158.jpg


Picture of orignal acad adaptor, note it has a pin adapter fixed, it actually a 2 pin flat head american type. Output is 12v = 1.5amp.

Screenshot_20200720-063044_Amazon Shopping.jpg


Screenshot_20200720-064128_Amazon Shopping.jpg


Ac adaptor I found on amazon, appears to provide the same output and seems to come with the correct sized connection socket.
 
come with the correct sized connection socket
Do you know it's 5.5x2.1 at this moment in time? if you do then ignore the next part but maybe link in the product as you can't zoom on the photo clearly.
do you think i could use this
That would depend on the size of the socket on the doser itself. (this is what we're trying to establish in a PM to save clogging the thread up!)
The adaptor you show here is 5.5x2.1mm and the doser might use 5.5x2.5mm or something different again. Versions do exist which are 5.5 and 'universal' so the centre is a sprung loaded connection.
To surmise maybe, maybe not.
no idea whether it is positive polarity?
Look on the adaptor for a symbol like this and take note of which way the - and + are in relation to the centre and which side of the C is open in relation.
There are variations but as a general rule look for the layout below.
Polarity_marking_center_positive.svg.png
 
Versions do exist which are 5.5 and 'universal' so the centre is a sprung loaded connection.
The 12v 2amp DC adapter I bought said

"plug hole: 5.5*2.5mm (compatible for 5.5*2.1mm)"
I'd guess you have one of the so called 'universal' ones @Nick72 with a spring loaded centre pin connection so we still don't know if it's 5.5x2.5 or 5.5x2.1 from this :banghead:
 
@steveno what @Nick72 is describing is not what you are buying. If you just take a minute you will find out easily using the lighting controller you have as we discussed in PM.
Remove the lighting controller from any power and try plugging it directly into the back of the doser, if it fits the back of the doser you know it's 5.5x2.1mm, if it's too tight then it's likely 5.5x2.5mm, assuming you have the same controller.
20200720_070838.jpg
20200720_070844.jpg
 
Made some progress tonight installing cheap DIY dosing bottles.

Still waiting for the tubing clamp for the rim of the tank.

Once that's here it's calibration and all set.

B806AA05-2C19-4237-8BB6-19A8CD3F333D.jpeg


(Sorry - don't know why photo has rotated - never done that before)

As I said in the other thread, I can't believe you can control the Jebao 3.4 remotely.

I set up a program while at work today. Still not really believing what I was seeing, turned the phone off completely before getting home.

And yes, 18:20 channel one tries to pump 5ml.

Incredible! The world had clearly moved on and left me behind.

I doubt that I will ever need to set the pumps from a distance, but it's impressive none the less.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Once that's here it's calibration and all set
I don't think you could fit anything else in there if you tried 😅.

Not sure if you have been following my journal of late but London dragon very kindly described how he made an all in one fertiliser solution, effectively does away the need to dose micro and macros on alternate days, it seems to be working out very well for him.

At the moment I have my doser set up as you suggested, but might consider making all in one fertiliser solution. I dose addition iron, so i would keep that separate, but the convenience of just one fertiliser solution would seems beneficial.

Yeah, I like the fact that you can remotely control the doser.
 
Ha ha, I know. I dream of buying a four foot tank just to get some more cabinet space.

I have been following with interest, but I'm not ready to give up the freedom to add a little extra Phosphorus here and a little less Nitrate there, when I want to.

My bottles are 1) KNO3 2)KH2PO4 3)CSM+B+FE 4) Excel

That still leaves my dry dosing Epsom Salts for Mg and Calcium Carbonate for Ca on water change days.

I'd never say never but I'm happier keeping everything separate for the time being.
 
Hiya, just thought I would let you know the replacement ac adapter for doser arrived today, it fixed perfectly, and seems to be working fine.

Here a link to ac adaptor I purchased for anyone interested (I hope its ok for me to post this link):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HFXR4MM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4VTfFbD5WACD5

£7.92 is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Screenshot_20200721-131643_Amazon Shopping.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top