Apex: Virtual outlet to override real outlet?

[Oberst Hajj]

Is it possible to setup a virtual outlet that would override the programming on an actual outlet?

My daily feeding routine is to feed three frozen cubes of food everyday and three sheets of nori every other day. I also have an Avast Plank that auto feeds multiple times a day via this code:

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:10/119:50 Then ON
If Time 18:59 to 08:00 Then OFF
If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF

I would like to know if it is possible to setup a virtual outlet that I could turn on when I am going to be gone for a couple of days that would increase the duration and number of times a day my Avast Plank auto feeds the tank since they will not be getting all the other food.

 

[SuncrestReef]

There are probably several ways you could achieve your goal, but here’s how I would do it:

Create two virtual outputs; Vacation, and VacationFeed.

[VacationFeed]
OSC 000:00/000:10/059:50 Then ON
If Output Vacation = OFF Then OFF

[Plank]
Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:10/119:50 Then ON
If Time 18:59 to 08:00 Then OFF
If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF
If Output Vacation = ON Then OFF
If Output VacationFeed = ON Then ON

When you go out of town, manually set the Vacation slider to ON. This will block your normal Plank schedule, and activate the VacationFeed schedule. When you return, move the Vacation slider back to OFF to resume the normal schedule.

Set the OSC in VacationFeed to the frequency you’d like the Plank to run.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

That's very cleanSuncrestReef, thank you.

On a related note, the pump in my Avast feeder is kind of noisy and I'd like to have it turn on 1 minute before the feeder comes on and stay on for 5 minutes after the feeder turns off. How would I set that up?

 

[SuncrestReef]

That's very cleanSuncrestReef, thank you.

On a related note, the pump in my Avast feeder is kind of noisy and I'd like to have it turn on 1 minute before the feeder comes on and stay on for 5 minutes after the feeder turns off. How would I set that up?

OK, this will be a little more complicated, but with a few timer tricks and some math, it can be done. Here's what I recommend:

[NormalFeed] -- virtual output
OSC 000:00/001:10/118:50 Then ON
If Time 18:59 to 08:00 Then OFF
If Output Vacation = ON Then OFF

[VacationFeed] -- virtual output
OSC 000:00/001:10/058:50 Then ON
If Output Vacation = OFF Then OFF

[Plank]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output NormalFeed = ON Then ON
If Output VacationFeed = ON Then ON
If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON

[Pump]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output NormalFeed = ON Then ON
If Output VacationFeed = ON Then ON
Defer 005:00 Then OFF

What this does is moves the timers for the Plank feeder to two separate virtual outputs; NormalFeed and VacationFeed. Each of the OSC timers have an extra 1 minute added to the original 10 second ON time, and that 1 minute is deducted from the OFF time (both shown in red above). When these outputs are ON, the Plank will wait for 1 minute before running due to the Defer 001:00 timer. During that 1 minute delay, the Pump will be running giving you the 1 minute head start before the Plank begins. After the OSC timers turn OFF, the Plank will stop, but the Pump will remain on an additional 5 minutes due to the Defer 005:00 timer.

Continue to use the Vacation slider from my earlier post to manually change from your normal feeding schedule to your automated schedule when you're away.

I hope this makes sense. Be sure to read my Apex Timers tutorial for more details on OSC and Defer:

Neptune Apex Programming Tutorials, Part 2: Timers

Part 2 of a series on learning how to program your Neptune Apex. Today's article is all about timers: OSC, If Time, DOW, Defer, When, and Min Time.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Oberst Hajj]

Thanks SuncrestReef. That is a bit more complicated, but I think I can follow it well enough.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

OK, this will be a little more complicated, but with a few timer tricks and some math, it can be done. Here's what I recommend:

[NormalFeed] -- virtual output
OSC 000:00/001:10/118:50 Then ON
If Time 18:59 to 08:00 Then OFF
If Output Vacation = ON Then OFF

[VacationFeed] -- virtual output
OSC 000:00/001:10/058:50 Then ON
If Output Vacation = OFF Then OFF

[Plank]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output NormalFeed = ON Then ON
If Output VacationFeed = ON Then ON
If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON

[Pump]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output NormalFeed = ON Then ON
If Output VacationFeed = ON Then ON
Defer 005:00 Then OFF

Looking at this more, do I need the If Time statement in the VacationFeed code as well, or does it pick up that bit of programing from the NormalFeed code?

 

[SuncrestReef]

Looking at this more, do I need the If Time statement in the VacationFeed code as well, or does it pick up that bit of programing from the NormalFeed code?

If you want to restrict the feedings to only certain hours of the day, then you will need to add an If Time to the VacationFeed output.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

If you want to restrict the feedings to only certain hours of the day, then you will need to add an If Time to the VacationFeed output.

Thanks, I figured that was the case.