Auto feeder-Apex classic- how to program?

[Flyingbulldog]

I posted a pic of the script for the auto feeder. I am looking for advice on how to shut down the pumps and etc, just like i set feeder A.

Basically, run feeder A program and aunt feeder at the same time.

What do I need to add?

Thank you for your help

 

[Diesel]

Good question but no answer here.
#reefsquad

 

[Flyingbulldog]

Thanks

 

[Flyingbulldog]

How do you make a virtual switch? Is that only for the new apex?

 

[ngvu1]

No.

Is that only for the new apex?

 

[ngvu1]

What do you mean virtual switch? There are virtual outlets only (Maybe I am obsolete on this :-))
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/showthread.php?57-Virtual-Outlets

How do you make a virtual switch?

 

[Waterjockey]

I posted a pic of the script for the auto feeder. I am looking for advice on how to shut down the pumps and etc, just like i set feeder A.

Basically, run feeder A program and aunt feeder at the same time.

What do I need to add?

Thank you for your help

I don't quite follow what you are trying to accomplish with your script.

Here is how I run my autofeeder:

I have a virtual outlet called "Feedcycle"

Virtual outlet :Feedcycle
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 17:00 to 17:02 Then ON
If FeedD 000 Then ON
This will allow one rotation of the drum at 5pm everyday (there is a one min delay on my feeder)

Outlet Feeder:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet Feedcycle = ON Then ON
Defer 001:00 Then ON
If FeedD 000 Then ON
This is the actual feeder outlet. The one minute delay is to allow my tank to finish draining after the return pump shuts off, before the feeder begins to turn

Outlet: Main pump (my return pump)
Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
If Outlet Feedcycle = ON then Off
Defer 007:00 Then ON
This gives my fish 7 minutes to eat then the return pump starts back up

Same idea for the skimmer..but the Defer is 20 min for the skimmer
Same idea for the wavemakers, if virtual outlet Feedcycle is on, they go into a slow mode.

Once you have created a virtual outlet for setting up your feed times, you can do anything, multiple feeds per day, feed on only certain days of the week (I used to just feed Mon/Wed/Fri for example)....and all your associated equipment (pumps, skimmers, etc), will automatically shutdown, change flow etc everytime. You only need to change how the virtual outlet works to affect every piece of equipment that has the If "virtual_outlet_name" then....statement.

Does that help?

 

[Flyingbulldog]

Yes, virtual outlet. Where do input the virtual outlet script? Is it in the feeder?

 

[Flyingbulldog]

Aww, only for the new apex... virtual outlets, thanks for the help.

 

[ngvu1]

The virtual oulets option is available on all the apex versions, even the apex Jr.....

Aww, only for the new apex... virtual outlets, thanks for the help.

 

[Waterjockey]

Yes, virtual outlet. Where do input the virtual outlet script? Is it in the feeder?

No, I have the same apex you do. The classic comes with 8 virtual outlets ready for you to use. And you can add blocks of virtual outlets as you need them.

From the fusion interface go to the little outlet icon, and it will list all your outlets, including the virtual ones, real ones, variable speed ports etc

The virtual outlets are the ones that are called "Cntl". My Feedcycle virtual outlet is the one highlighted "Cntl_A1"

Just click on any of the Cntl outlets, rename it, and program it exactly as you would any other outlet.

 

[Flyingbulldog]

Here is the feed cycle I used with the day selected for Thursday for 2:43pm.
Thanks for everyone's help!!

( Feed cycle)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If DoW ----T-- and Time 14:43 to 14:46 Then ON
If FeedA 000 Then ON

(Feeder)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet Feedcycle = ON Then ON
Defer 001:00 Then ON

 

[Waterjockey]

Here is the feed cycle I used with the day selected for Thursday for 2:43pm.
Thanks for everyone's help!!

( Feed cycle)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If DoW ----T-- and Time 14:43 to 14:46 Then ON
If FeedA 000 Then ON

(Feeder)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet Feedcycle = ON Then ON
Defer 001:00 Then ON

I hate to tell you this...but there is no "and" statement for the apex. That is not going to work for you :(

Your programming looks good except for that. You could change the Feedcycle outlet code to something like this to get the result I believe you are after :
(FeedCycle)
Fallback Off
Set OFF
If Time 14:43 to 14:46 Then On
If DOW SMTW-FS Then Off
If FeedA 000 Then ON

This will run the feeder program between 14:43 to 14:46 only on Thursdays, or at anytime if you use the FeedA button.

 

[Flyingbulldog]

Thank you for the correction, I added the code and it still turns on everyday at 1443. This is still a problem. How do I fix it?

 

[Waterjockey]

Thank you for the correction, I added the code and it still turns on everyday at 1443. This is still a problem. How do I fix it?

Can you cut and paste your code exactly as it is?
It may just be the order of operations

 

[Flyingbulldog]

I thought the same thing and switched it, to the order above. The order does matter?

 

[Waterjockey]

I thought the same thing and switched it, to the order above. The order does matter?

The order is important.
The way I read what you have there as posted, will only run on Sundays, one drum rotation, at 2:15pm, or anytime if you hit the feed A button.

Is that what you want?

 

[Flyingbulldog]

Yes sir, I had the days and time switched. Can you explain why having them switched had it go off everyday?

 

[Waterjockey]

Yes sir, I had the days and time switched. Can you explain why having them switched had it go off everyday?

Sure. Because the apex reads though the program line by line. Imagine it goes through turning a light on and off. Each line will tell the light to either go on or off. The final line will determine which state the light will be (close enough), then it will switch the outlet or not.

So, the way it was...before you switched the lines.....
Fallback off. Ok...feeder will be off on powerup unless some code farther down the line tells it to go on.
Set off. Same...feeder will be off unless some other code farther down says to turn on
If DOW -MTWTFS then off. Ok, feeder will stay off unless something frather down tells it to turn on
If Time 14:15 to 14:17 Then ON. Ok...is it 14:15? Yes? Then turn on un less something else further down the program tells it not to.
So every day it turns in at 14:15.

Now let's swap the date and time lines

Fallback off; set off; same
If Time 14:15 to 14:17 then On ok, at 14:15 it is going to turn on unless some code farther down says not to
If DOW -MTWTFS then off. Ok...if it's Sunday, go ahead and run...if it's not...then go off.

Does that make sense? One way tells it to run every day, the other way tells it not to unless it is Sunday

 

[jaws789832]

Did you find the virtual outlets/ For classic I know you have to go to the Apex browse utility to make virtual outlets. You can't do it in fusion. Just basically go to the configuration then the module setup and create a new module (EB8 gives you 8 virtual outlets). Once you do that they will show up in fusion. My code:

Feeder
Set OFF
If Outlet v-feed = ON Then ON
Defer 001:00 Then ON

Virtual outlet
Set OFF
If Time 17:00 to 17:01 Then ON

pumps
Fallback ON
Set ON
If Outlet v-feed = ON Then OFF
Defer 020:00 Then ON
If Outlet Maint2_A3 = ON Then OFF

Every night at 5pm pumps (and skimmer and a few other things) turn off , the feeder waits 1 min then turns once, and the pumps turn back on 20 minutes later. I don't have mine set to the A ,B, C D buttons because I found I bump the buttons accidently too much causing my pumps to go off even if I cancel. If I want to feed at a different time I just switch the Virtual outlet to on in fusion and it makes it happen. That last line on my main pump is another virtual outlet that I have set so when I am cleaning it turns off various things in my sump that I don't want running. So 1 switch to on and my pumps heater, skimmer ect. turn off. I have another labeled Maint1 that turns on everything I want on during cleaning. Lights, sump light, a low powerhead in the tank to keep flow going, ect.