How to Find/Disable Apex Alarm Condition (Flow Sensor)

[rhostam]

Hi,

Due to the recent Apex firmware update 5.10 8F22, I had to rebuild my configuration after a hard reset to the factory setup. I am adding module by module and configuring things as I go.

I am getting to alarms now and am well acquainted with alarm programming. However, I've encountered something that has confused me (or I am so filled with rage that I'm blind to the obvious).

I cannot proceed with my rebuild until I can control the alarming critical conditions. Also, I don't want to complicate anything further until this is resolved.

I would appreciate any pointers/clues/advice.

1. My Apex is alarmed by what appears to be a flow sensor [UV_FLO]. The condition below is from the ALARM log entry.
2. I have no condition in my programming that alerts on this condition.
3. I've renamed my sensor to see if the identical alarm/log entry is produced. The alarm in the original wording persists.
4. I've confirmed that the alarm condition isn't active (even if I did program it), and flow is well above the minimum threshold.
5. This makes using the email/alarm impossible for other conditions as this alarm is always active, and I cannot dismiss or disable it (yet).
6. I've checked the Apex Configuration summary for the sensor in question, the programming does not show the condition.
7. This appears to be an artifact/ghost configuration from the previous install(?). I'm not sure how this is possible, though.

From the Apex, here is the alarm log snippet:
(the problem condition is "If UV_FLO < 50.0 Then ON")

Device Map:

Flow Sensor Configuration:
As with other default alarm conditions, I've disabled them for this device. The condition still triggers despite the setting and the device name change.

Observed Flow Rate of [UVFLOW] 1" Flow Sensor:
I am aware of the low flow rate; I just plumbed in a COR20, and this is the max I am getting, much to my dismay. I have a total of 6 elbows with plumbing going from (COR20) 3/4" --> 1" --> 1.5" --> UV --> 1.5" --> 1" combination of rigid and flex since this was a post build addition. I would like this number to go up to 950gph, but this is not a priority.

Apex Configuration Summary:

Outputs​

ID
0
Device
base_Var1
Name
VarSpd1_I1

Type
Variable
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set PF1
ID
1
Device
base_Var2
Name
VarSpd2_I2

Type
Variable
Icon
Left/Right Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set PF2
ID
2
Device
base_Var3
Name
VarSpd3_I3

Type
Variable
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set PF3
ID
3
Device
base_Var4
Name
VarSpd4_I4

Type
Variable
Icon
Left/Right Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set PF4
ID
4
Device
base_Alarm
Name
SndAlm_I6

Type
Alarm
Icon
Sound B
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
5
Device
base_Warn
Name
SndWrn_I7

Type
Alarm
Icon
Sound A
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
6
Device
base_email
Name
ALARMTRIGGER

Type
Alarm
Icon
Bell
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Set OFF
ID
8
Device
14_1
Name
FMM2_24V

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Set OFF
ID
9
Device
14_2
Name
FMM2ALARM

Type
Alarm
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
10
Device
9_1
Name
LinkA_9_1

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
11
Device
9_2
Name
LinkB_9_2

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
12
Device
3_1
Name
WAV_BACK

Type
WAV
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
tdata 00:00:00,0,0,35,3,200,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:59:00,0,0,35,3,200,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
ID
13
Device
5_1
Name
WAV_FRONT

Type
WAV
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
tdata 00:00:00,0,0,35,3,200,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:59:00,0,0,35,3,200,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
ID
14
Device
2_1
Name
EBM1_HEAT1

Type
Outlet
Icon
Thermometer
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If TEMP1 > 84.0 Then OFF
ID
15
Device
2_2
Name
EBM2_UNUSED

Type
Outlet
Icon
Light B
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
ID
16
Device
2_3
Name
EBM3_AERATOR

Type
Outlet
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
ID
17
Device
2_4
Name
EBM4_AMWFEED

Type
Outlet
Icon
Hourglass
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
ID
18
Device
2_5
Name
EBM5_UNUSED

Type
Outlet
Icon
Left/Right Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
ID
19
Device
2_6
Name
EBM6_UNUSED

Type
Outlet
Icon
Spigot
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
ID
20
Device
2_7
Name
EBM7_UV

Type
Outlet
Icon
Left/Right Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set ON
ID
21
Device
2_8
Name
EBM8_SKIMMER

Type
Outlet
Icon
Hourglass
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set ON
ID
22
Device
2_9
Name
LinkA_2_9

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
23
Device
2_10
Name
LinkB_2_10

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Set OFF
ID
24
Device
16_1
Name
COR20_UV

Type
COR 20
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
tdata 00:00:00,0,0,100,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:59:00,0,0,100,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
ID
25
Device
6_1
Name
COR20_RETURN

Type
COR 20
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
tdata 00:00:00,0,0,55,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
tdata 23:59:00,0,0,55,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
ID
26
Device
8_1
Name
DOSWCIN

Type
DŌS Pump
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
tdata 00:00:00,1,16,34,142,2,148,130,34,162,2,28,11,0
ID
27
Device
8_2
Name
DOSWCOUT

Type
DŌS Pump
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Disable
Program
Fallback OFF
tdata 00:00:00,1,16,34,142,2,148,130,34,162,2,28,11,0
ID
28
Device
4_1
Name
FMM3ATOPMUP

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If ATOLO OPEN Then ON
If ATOHI CLOSED Then OFF
When On > 005:00 Then OFF
Defer 000:30 Then ON
ID
29
Device
4_2
Name
FMM3ALARM

Type
Alarm
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Set OFF
ID
30
Device
7_1
Name
FMM1_24V

Type
24VDC
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Set OFF
ID
31
Device
7_2
Name
FMM1ALARM

Type
Alarm
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Set OFF
ID
32
Device
Cntl_A1
Name
ERRORATOPMUP

Type
Virtual
Icon
Up/Down Arrows
Control Type
Advanced

Log
Enable
Program
Set OFF
If Error FMM3ATOPMUP Then ON

 

[takitaj]

Go to outputs and search the list for that variable name. It could be of the type "Virtual". Click on it and fix the programming or delete it if you're not using it any longer. You can also turn off the alarms temporarily until you find the issue. Don't forget to turn them back on afterwards.

 

[rhostam]

Go to outputs and search the list for that variable name. It could be of the type "Virtual". Click on it and fix the programming or delete it if you're not using it any longer. You can also turn off the alarms temporarily until you find the issue. Don't forget to turn them back on afterwards.

Thank you.

I forgot to include outputs list sorted alphabetically descending showing tail end of list:

Same data, sorted by output type with virtual outputs listed:

As you can see, the output does not exist. I would normally have dozens of virtual outputs and at least another dozen non-virtual outputs. I haven't added them back in, yet.

Naturally, I have toggled the alarm OFF until I find the problem.

 

[takitaj]

Did you already check the actual alarm program? Input variables? Beyond that I'm not sure. Maybe @SuncrestReef has an idea?

 

[rhostam]

Did you already check the actual alarm program? Input variables? Beyond that I'm not sure. Maybe @SuncrestReef has an idea?

Hi,

Here I was thinking I included all relevant information. Hehe. Yes, I plan on using a layered alarm approach and so have renamed my email alarm output to [ALARMTRIGGER].

Here is the configuration/code right now. If set to AUTO, the alarm triggers anyway. If OFF, it remains off. If ON, it remains on.

 

[takitaj]

One last thing I thought of... The update mentions possibly having to update the FMM module then unplug the FMM Aquabus & power (if used) for 5 seconds. It also said to check for other module updates as well. Oh, and make sure all the FMM ports are set correctly too (ie: flow or leak detect, etc), including unused ports.

I haven't done the update yet. Getting ready for vacation and don't want to have to trouble shoot it right now.

 

[rhostam]

One last thing I thought of... The update mentions possibly having to update the FMM module then unplug the FMM Aquabus & power (if used) for 5 seconds. It also said to check for other module updates as well. Oh, and make sure all the FMM ports are set correctly too (ie: flow or leak detect, etc), including unused ports.

I haven't done the update yet. Getting ready for vacation and don't want to have to trouble shoot it right now.

Hi, the update is what caused me to have to factory reset my Apex system. I have two FMMs that no longer work (bricked), and I'm working with Neptune to resolve them. It garbled my configuration, affecting one of my DOS, an ASM, and all but one of my FMMs (4). I performed the update as instructed, but only two of the FMMs updated successfully.

This issue I'm experiencing with the flow sensor is AFTER I factory reset my Apex. I will try switching up the port types for fun; maybe that will reset something somewhere.

Have a good vacation, and thanks for the college try.

 

[rhostam]

Hi, update:

Since I had problems with so many of my FMMs, I decided to delete this problem FMM. Again. I re-added it and re-updated it. No more alerts for the flow sensor when the email alarm set to AUTO. So, I added the flow sensor BACK as well as the wet floor sensor. Things appear to be working now.

Thanks for your help, folk.

 

[takitaj]

Awesome glad you got it sorted!

Thanks, it'll be nice to leave the world behind for a week!