Hydros, Pump, Variable Soft Start Time

[hkinkade]

Question: Can I set up an extended soft start on my return pumps with the Hydros?

I need my return pumps to ramp up slowly (extended soft start) in two situations:

• When I manually turn them on
• When power is restored after an outage

The Problem:My drain system is complex with a long 50-foot line running to the sump room. Because of the water inertia in that long line, it takes time for the flow to fully accelerate when the pumps start.

When the pumps (two varios 6) turn on, the water level in the tank and overflow box rises higher than normal until the flow gets going and the sump level drops. This eventually lowers the sump below the pump inlets, and doesn't overflow the tank.

While this behavior helps prevent overflow, it’s not ideal for everyday operation.

---

Has anyone successfully set up a longer soft start ramp with the Hydros system? The varios pumps take about 10 seconds to come to speed by themselves, I need something closer to 60 seconds.

 

[tbrown]

I'm not positive that that's possible. Have you reached out to CoralVue on their support page? They're usually pretty quick to answer.

 

[hkinkade]

I'm not positive that that's possible. Have you reached out to CoralVue on their support page? They're usually pretty quick to answer.

I have also posted on Coral Vues forum, no response yet.

 

[hkinkade]

Here's my solution:

Well for what it's worth it appears this is not possible with Hydros. I wish CoralVue would develop a module or functionality to perform some math and other more advanced functionality (similar to this issue), love the product though, but for power users it's got some short comings. Even though power users may be a very limited market, I'm hoping Coral Vue will recognize that many people recognize those who are able to do complex / complicated functionality and buy the product based on their use. It does have large marketing value, although not easily measured.

My solution, not preferred but it will work, I have two pumps. When I turn them both on the inrush of flow overwhelms the system until my drain begins to reach full flow. So I used dependancies and delay the second pump from coming on for 45 seconds. It works for now. I'm not certain how this could have been done with the Hydros if I only had one larger pump :-/

 

[BryanM]

I would think this would be possible if you have a return pump that has 0-10v control.

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

Yes, this can be done, however its not a simple...ramp up x to x over x time.

We can "Stage" the back to normal process.

Assuming you are using "Water Change" Mode, this mode would presumably shut down the return pump, because the return schedule is not active in WC Mode.

Normally, you would tap on the mode "Normal" to return to normal mode...where the Return Pump is setup to its full set speed.

However, what you could do is create a NEW mode, perhaps titled, "Initiate Normal", there you can set a MODE TIME OUT, which would be the amount of time it would actually take to move back to default NORMAL. In this MODE, you could make a new schedule for the return pump runs at...perhaps, half of "full speed"

After the exit delay, the schedule would return to normal.

 

[hkinkade]

Yes, this can be done, however its not a simple...ramp up x to x over x time.

We can "Stage" the back to normal process.

Assuming you are using "Water Change" Mode, this mode would presumably shut down the return pump, because the return schedule is not active in WC Mode.

Normally, you would tap on the mode "Normal" to return to normal mode...where the Return Pump is setup to its full set speed.

However, what you could do is create a NEW mode, perhaps titled, "Initiate Normal", there you can set a MODE TIME OUT, which would be the amount of time it would actually take to move back to default NORMAL. In this MODE, you could make a new schedule for the return pump runs at...perhaps, half of "full speed"

After the exit delay, the schedule would return to normal.

Connor, good idea and thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm still learning the mindset to use the Hydros, this helps. With time I'm sure I'll learn the approach to control most if not all of my needs. Question, with this approach or the approach I'm currently taking, delaying the start of the second pump, what happens upon loss of power then regaining power. Will the pumps both go on? I would like to avoid this as it would lead to my fail safe having to catch this event (the pumps going dry before tank overflow).