Avast Marine Plank

[PeSam22]

Having trouble programming my Avast Marine Plank feeder and looking for help to get it set up correctly. This is what I have entered but it does not turn on. I run my pump at all times.

OSC 001:30/000:30/000:00 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 14:00 Then OFF
If Time 14:02 to 18:00 Then OFF
If Time 18:02 to 00:00 Then OFF

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Try

OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON

 

[dangles]

Having trouble programming my Avast Marine Plank feeder and looking for help to get it set up correctly. This is what I have entered but it does not turn on. I run my pump at all times.

OSC 001:30/000:30/000:00 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 14:00 Then OFF
If Time 14:02 to 18:00 Then OFF
If Time 18:02 to 00:00 Then OFF

Check out this tutorial: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/neptune-apex-programming-tutorials-part-2-timers.614038/

It’s super helpful.

With the OSC you don’t need to put “if/then”commands in between the intervals UNLESS you want to keep it off for a stretch of time, for example during the night.

This is my programming:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/001:54/118:06 Then ON
If Time 19:03 to 06:59 Then OFF
If Output Plnk_Pmp = OFF Then OFF
If Output R_Pmp_1 = OFF Then OFF
If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF

It feeds for 1 min 54 sec, and is then off for 118 min 6 sec (2 hour cycles), starting at 7am. So basically it feeds every 2 hours between 7am and 7pm.

In short, the first part of the code is the “delay after midnight,” the second part is the “on” time, and the final part is the “off” time. It repeats every 24 hours.

Using my code as an example, the programming runs for (almost) 2 minutes, every 2 hours, and WOULD start at 0100 (due to the 60 minute delay time) except for the “if/then” line that prevents the OSC code from actually running until 7am. That same line shuts the OSC code off again at 7:03 pm.

What intervals and feed times are you trying to achieve?

 

[dangles]

Try

OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON

If I’m not mistaken, this would run the auger for 30 seconds, then shut it off for 30 seconds, starting at midnight, 24 hours a day.

 

[PeSam22]

I found that bmy clock was set to 12 instead of 24 hour. I changed that, do I have to wait until the next day to test to see if it works during the schedule feeding?

 

[dangles]

I found that bmy clock was set to 12 instead of 24 hour. I changed that, do I have to wait until the next day to test to see if it works during the schedule feeding?

Did you change your code at all?

 

[PeSam22]

Did you change your code at all?

Yes, I changed it to this
OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 13:00 Then OFF
If Time 13:02 to 16:00 Then OFF
If Time 16:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then ON

However this was generated by apex when i went into the feeder option to start at 10:00 and feed 3 times a day with 180 minutes in between

 

[dangles]

Yes, I changed it to this
OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 13:00 Then OFF
If Time 13:02 to 16:00 Then OFF
If Time 16:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then ON

However this was generated by apex when i went into the feeder option to start at 10:00 and feed 3 times a day with 180 minutes in between

Your underlying OSC setup will run 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off starting at midnight. But because you added the “if/then” times, it will ONLY do its “30 on, 30 off” between 10:00 and 10:02, 13:00 and 13:02, and 16:00 and 16:02.

Because the way you set up your OSC code, during those “on” windows the OSC code will still only do 30 sec on, 30 sec off.

So at 1000 1001 it will turn on for 30 seconds, off for 30 seconds

I assume you’re wanting it to run for the entire 2 minutes, not just in 30 second intervals within those two minute windows?

If that’s the case you’d want this:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/002:00/178:00 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 13:00 Then OFF
If Time 13:02 to 16:00 Then OFF
If Time 16:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then ON

“The first line — Fallback OFF — instructs the Apex to turn off this output if the Apex ever gets disconnected from the Energy Bar where the [Plank] is plugged in. This could also apply if the Apex locks up and becomes unresponsive (which rarely happens). This just basically means don’t run the program if the Apex unit isn’t in control of the situation.“ (from @SuncrestReef Apex tutorial). Maybe not super important to include this line in this case. It’s up to you.

The second line instructs the Plank to run for 2 minutes, followed by 178 minutes of “off” time, starting at 0100 (the initial 060:00 pushes the start time back an hour from midnight). 178 minutes + 2 minutes =180 minutes (3 hour cycles)

So the OSC command on its own would run the Plank at 0100, 0400, 0700, 1000, 1300, 1600, 1900, 2200.

By adding the “if/then” statements you added, the only times it will actually run are 1000, 1300, 1600.

Now for your FeedD command…

I’m not entirely clear on is your last line about FeedD. My understanding is that the Apex reads from the top to the bottom, but stops as soon as an “OFF” command is satisfied (ignoring whatever comes after). My understanding of this could be a little off so don’t take this paragraph as gospel :) If your FeedD command is LAST in line, it wouldn’t trigger if any of the above statements are true. In other words, if the current time is in one of your “off” windows, the Apex wouldn’t honor your FeedD request because an OFF command is already satisfied. If my understanding of that is correct, I would think you would need to put that line BEFORE the OFF commands. But again, my understanding of how the Apex reads through these lines of code isn’t clear. So maybe somebody else can clarify that.

Personally I would drop the FeedD part. If you want to fed manually, either do it by hand or slide the Fusion slider from “auto” to “on”

***DO NOT FORGET TO TURN IT BACK TO AUTO OR YOUR PLANK WILL RUN THE HOPPER DRY***

 

[PeSam22]

Your underlying OSC setup will run 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off starting at midnight. But because you added the “if/then” times, it will ONLY do its “30 on, 30 off” between 10:00 and 10:02, 13:00 and 13:02, and 16:00 and 16:02.

Because the way you set up your OSC code, during those “on” windows the OSC code will still only do 30 sec on, 30 sec off.

So at 1000, it will turn on for 30 seconds, off for 30 seconds, on for 30 seconds, then off again.

I assume you’re wanting it to run for the entire 2 minutes, not just in 30 second intervals within those two minute windows?

If that’s the case you’d want this:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/002:00/178:00 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 13:00 Then OFF
If Time 13:02 to 16:00 Then OFF
If Time 16:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then ON

“The first line — Fallback OFF — instructs the Apex to turn off this output if the Apex ever gets disconnected from the Energy Bar where the [Plank] is plugged in. This could also apply if the Apex locks up and becomes unresponsive (which rarely happens). This just basically means don’t run the program if the Apex unit isn’t in control of the situation.“ (from @SuncrestReef Apex tutorial). Maybe not super important to include this line in this case. It’s up to you.

The second line instructs the Plank to run for 2 minutes, followed by 178 minutes of “off” time, starting at 0100 (the initial 060:00 pushes the start time back an hour from midnight). 178 minutes + 2 minutes =180 minutes (3 hour cycles)

So the OSC command on its own would run the Plank at 0100, 0400, 0700, 1000, 1300, 1600, 1900, 2200.

By adding the “if/then” statements you added, the only times it will actually run are 1000, 1300, 1600.

Now for your FeedD command…

I’m not entirely clear on is your last line about FeedD. My understanding is that the Apex reads from the top to the bottom, but stops as soon as an “OFF” command is satisfied (ignoring whatever comes after). My understanding of this could be a little off so don’t take this paragraph as gospel :) If your FeedD command is LAST in line, it wouldn’t trigger if any of the above statements are true. In other words, if the current time is in one of your “off” windows, the Apex wouldn’t honor your FeedD request because an OFF command is already satisfied. If my understanding of that is correct, I would think you would need to put that line BEFORE the OFF commands. But again, my understanding of how the Apex reads through these lines of code isn’t clear. So maybe somebody else can clarify that.

Personally I would drop the FeedD part. If you want to fed manually, either do it by hand or slide the Fusion slider from “auto” to “on”

***DO NOT FORGET TO TURN IT BACK TO AUTO OR YOUR PLANK WILL RUN THE HOPPER DRY***

No I only want it to feed for 30 seconds and thats it because I only have 6 fish. when i set it up through the Apex what I posted is what Apex generated based on me entering to start feeding at 10:00 and to feed 3 times a day with 180 minutes in between each feeding.I will drop the feed D part, thank you you for responding.

 

[dangles]

No I only want it to feed for 30 seconds and thats it because I only have 6 fish. when i set it up through the Apex what I posted is what Apex generated based on me entering to start feeding at 10:00 and to feed 3 times a day with 180 minutes in between each feeding.I will drop the feed D part, thank you you for responding.

Sorry for my long winded response!

The programming Fusion suggested does accomplish what you want. I also made an error in my suggestion above that I’ll correct shortly.

Enjoy!

 

[PeSam22]

Sorry for my long winded response!

The programming Fusion suggested does accomplish what you want. I also made an error in my suggestion above that I’ll correct shortly.

Enjoy!

According to my log its working as it should but I wont be able to watch it until Saturday to verify. Thanks to all that provided input in figuring it out.

 

[Amstar]

Yes, I changed it to this
OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 10:00 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 13:00 Then OFF
If Time 13:02 to 16:00 Then OFF
If Time 16:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then ON

However this was generated by apex when i went into the feeder option to start at 10:00 and feed 3 times a day with 180 minutes in between

I like this schedule -- however I would like mine to run for 1 minute each time (then feed 3 times (looks like around 10am, 1pm and 4pm which is perfect).

what would I need to change to run it for a minute at a time

I will be running the avast plank pump 24/7

 

[Amstar]

bump any help on the above question

 

[Amstar]

got it -- chatGPT took care of it and wrote it out/what needed to change