Neptune apex top off reservoir program

[Staghorn]

Hello I have a reservoir with a low water float switch at the bottom and a high water float switch at the very top. The water comes in through a float valve located just under the high water switch. Someone on here actually helped me years ago with this initial program, and I’ve been using the same one for about five years, but there is a flaw. The idea was when the low water switch was activated. It would open a solenoid that would allow the water to enter the reservoir and shut off after a certain period of time. What I need to do is increase that period of time to 10 hours. What happens is the solenoid does not stay open long enough and the container does not fill up all the way when I’m draining water into a mixing bucket. I would really appreciate someone’s help with this. Who knows what they are doing. This is the way that it is currently programmed.

Fallback OFF
If 1TOR-B OPEN Then ON
If 2TOR-T CLOSED Then OFF
If Output ATO_TIMER = ON Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then OFF

I also would like to know for my benefit and possibly so I’m able to changes this in the future what that last lineup code actually means. Does it mean that the solenoid stays open for 10 minutes? It doesn’t seem so, because it runs longer than that. In any case, I appreciate your help with this thanks in advance.

 

[aftrout]

I am trying to understand the physical setup to understand your programming. I understand the float switch, but are they in the mixing reservoir or the RO/DI water reservoir? The first three lines seem logical to APEX programming to allow the reservoir to fill when the bottom float switch triggers the sequence.

Also, check the physical location of the top float switch. Without knowing the setup, is any water flowing onto it causing it to trigger an off condition? I am guessing since I don't know how the setup is designed.

The 'defer' delays a state change. In your programming above it is set for 10 seconds. Basically, it allows for a smooth transition for putting power on or off. I like it for when I use the feeding schedule. It allowed ,e to program how the pumps would turn on after the feed schedule ran its course. I had it set where the main to come one first then I would defer my protein skimmer coming so the sump would equalize to normal flow before the skimmer came on etc.

 

[Staghorn]

OK the reservoir has a float switch at the very bottom (TORB) and a float switch at the very top (TORT) there is a float valve located about an inch below the high water float switch. That high water float, which is only a redundancy in case the foot valve were to fail for whatever reason. The idea here is for the solenoid only to be opened when the low water float switch is triggered and then run for a set out of amount of time, allowing the reservoir to be filled, in this case, I want to increase that amount of time because if I happen to be feeling my mixing reservoir, the solenoid does not open long enough to fill the container, and I have to reset it to open manually to be able to fill that container.

 

[BrokenReefer]

Based on what you're asking for - you want the solenoid valve to stay OPEN for 10-hours, no matter if you are filling the mixing container or not?

That line would be:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If 1TOR-B OPEN Then ON
If 2TOR-T CLOSED Then OFF
If Output ATO_TIMER = ON Then OFF
When On > 600:00 Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then OFF

What does the ATO_TIMER control?

 

[Staghorn]

Based on what you're asking for - you want the solenoid valve to stay OPEN for 10-hours, no matter if you are filling the mixing container or not?

That line would be:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If 1TOR-B OPEN Then ON
If 2TOR-T CLOSED Then OFF
If Output ATO_TIMER = ON Then OFF
When On > 600:00 Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then OFF

What does the ATO_TIMER control?

Wow I think you just triggered a repressed memory! I guess the ato timer programming is what Controll the solenoid time!!!


I’m guessing I counts switch the 090:00 to 600:00?

Do you know what the last “min time” line would Controll in this case?

 

[BrokenReefer]

Based on the code snippet, here is what I see your code logic doing:

If TOR_SOL_2_8 turns ON, it starts a 90-minute timer. (Defer 090:00 Then ON)
If TOR_SOL_2_8 is still ON after 90 minutes, this outlet will turn ON and then stay ON for at least 1 minute before it is allowed to turn back OFF. (Min Time 001:00 Then ON)

 

[D.WhiteShark]

duplicate post

 

[D.WhiteShark]

Hello I have a reservoir with a low water float switch at the bottom and a high water float switch at the very top. The water comes in through a float valve located just under the high water switch. Someone on here actually helped me years ago with this initial program, and I’ve been using the same one for about five years, but there is a flaw. The idea was when the low water switch was activated. It would open a solenoid that would allow the water to enter the reservoir and shut off after a certain period of time. What I need to do is increase that period of time to 10 hours. What happens is the solenoid does not stay open long enough and the container does not fill up all the way when I’m draining water into a mixing bucket. I would really appreciate someone’s help with this. Who knows what they are doing. This is the way that it is currently programmed.

Fallback OFF
If 1TOR-B OPEN Then ON
If 2TOR-T CLOSED Then OFF
If Output ATO_TIMER = ON Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then OFF

I also would like to know for my benefit and possibly so I’m able to changes this in the future what that last lineup code actually means. Does it mean that the solenoid stays open for 10 minutes? It doesn’t seem so, because it runs longer than that. In any case, I appreciate your help with this thanks in advance.

Did you ever get this resolved. I'm looking to do the exact same thing... I'm just not sure where the ATO_TIMER comes into play

 

[Staghorn]

Yes, it works as designed, ato timer controls the time the solenoid stays open for.

Did you ever get this resolved. I'm looking to do the exact same thing... I'm just not sure where the ATO_TIMER comes into play

 

[Staghorn]

I have to be honest when I redo the reservoir with a new larger container I purchased. I’m going to put the float valve above the high water float switch, and I’m just gonna have the solenoid open once the low water switch is triggered and stay open until the high water switch is triggered, and have the float valve as my redundancy. I can’t remember why I set it up with the current configuration, but I’ve gone over this allot of times and I think the new set up is the way to go.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

Yes, it works as designed, ato timer controls the time the solenoid stays open for.

Thanks! Can you share the program with me so I can use it on mine... If you don't mind.

 

[Reef Jedi]

I have to be honest when I redo the reservoir with a new larger container I purchased. I’m going to put the float valve above the high water float switch, and I’m just gonna have the solenoid open once the low water switch is triggered and stay open until the high water switch is triggered, and have the float valve as my redundancy. I can’t remember why I set it up with the current configuration, but I’ve gone over this allot of times and I think the new set up is the way to go.

This is exactly how I have mine programmed and set up. It’s worked flawlessly for the last year. Welp I better go knock on wood. But seriously that is a smooth way to do it and the float switch is really there incase it doesn’t shut off at the high optical sensor. I also put a leak detector next to the ato just incase.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

I ended up creating a virtual outlet called ATO_Timer for 30 min. Once the optical sensor reads open starts the timer.

Then programmed the solenoid outlet as:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Output ATO_Timer = ON Then ON
If Output ATO_Timer = OFF Then OFF

Seems to be working as desired. I may override the timer later if I pick up a second optical sensor.

 

[Staghorn]

Thanks! Can you share the program with me so I can use it on mine... If you don't mind.

Solenoid Program

Fallback OFF
If 1TOR-B OPEN Then ON
If 2TOR-T CLOSED Then OFF
If Output ATO_TIMER = ON Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then OFF

Timer:
Set OFF
If Output TOR_SOL_2_8 = ON Then ON
Defer 300:00 Then ON
Min Time 001:00 Then ON