Reef Keeper Lite programming

chickofthesea · Aug 19, 2017

I have lights set up to follow the schedule, and it works fine. Been trying to set up mt ATO (Auto Top Off), but once it turns on it keeps pumping. The LED will go off on the controller, but keeps pumping until I unplug it, and plug it back in. I have it going into a 5 gallon bucket higher than the ATO container so it shouldnt be siphoning. It is set to be ON for 5 minutes and OFF for 3 hours & 55 minutes and to repeat 6 times (24 hour cycle). Called in for Tech support, but havn't heard back. Please someone tell me what I'm missing. Thanks

chickofthesea · Aug 19, 2017

If I plug in a lamp the programming works perfectly. I am useing a Aqualifter low wattage pump. Is there an adapter I should be useing? Thanks

n2585722 · Aug 19, 2017

Aqualifters will not work on PC4 outputs 2 and 3 without adding a surge protector with a 330 volt clamping voltage. Illuminated power strip liberators do work on some pumps. A PB4 should not have this issue.

Thosepumps emit a high voltage spike when power is cut. This spike is causing the triac to turn back on momentarily. This cycle will keep repeating rapidly until you unplug the pump. It is just happening so fast the power appears to stay on.

chickofthesea · Aug 19, 2017

n2585722 said:
Aqualifters will not work on PC4 outputs 2 and 3 without adding a surge protector with a 330 volt clamping voltage. Illuminated power strip liberators do work on some pumps. A PB4 should not have this issue. Those pumps emit a high voltage spike when power is cut. This spike is causing the triac to turn back on momentarily. This cycle will keep repeating rapidly until you unplug the pump. It is just happening so fast the power appears to stay on.

It will work on 1 or 4 without the surge protector? Thanks

n2585722 · Aug 19, 2017

Yes, but it is a possibility that you might still get buss errors when it powers off. Only way to tell is to try it while you are there to make sure it works OK.

chickofthesea · Aug 19, 2017

Will do. Thanks

chickofthesea · Aug 31, 2017

It works now, but only for 2 days. If we power cycle the PC4 it will work for 2 more days. Any ideas? Thanks

n2585722 · Aug 31, 2017

What works for two days? Is the whole controller messing up? If so you may need a surge protector regardless of the output.

chickofthesea · Sep 1, 2017

Only channel 3 stops working after turning on and off the way I set it properly for two days. The other channels are all working properly all the time with no issues. Today I set a new timer and applied it to channel 3. Maybe that will fix it somehow.

n2585722 · Sep 1, 2017

What do you have plugged into that channel?

chickofthesea · Sep 2, 2017

It's the plug for the aqualifter. I do have the surge adapter plugged into channel 3 then the aqualifter plugged into that.

n2585722 · Sep 2, 2017

Does the surge protector have a clamping voltage of 330 volts? It sounds like it may still be causing the issue.

chickofthesea · Sep 3, 2017

The ATO with the surge protector

n2585722 · Sep 3, 2017

Not all surge protectors are the same. Does the one you have clamp at 330 volts. If it is higher it may not work. Have you tried putting the aqua lifter on ch1 or ch4. Those are relay outputs. That would let you know if Aqualifter is causing it. I added 47000 ohm 1 watt flameproof resisitors across all 4 outputs on my PC4's to prevent this issue. Also these might work also http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Single-Grounded-Outlet-Adapter-with-Power-Indicator-Light-Clear-50993/203735841?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-VF-PLA-D27E-Electrical|&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0K7NBRC7ARIsAEaqLRGzUuge5ganz5g0aHrBN_Tx9JKQizYB0lQWMqtxNi2dw19ZtVFzDmYaApSiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMK3u46kidYCFRcrTwod5vwA_Q Anything that will kill the voltage spike from the Aqualifter will work. The light may be enough of a load to kill the spike emitted from the Aqualifter pump. I have not tried one myself.

chickofthesea · Sep 4, 2017

Thanks for your help. I'm gonna try your suggestions. I didn't think to try a different channel.

n2585722 · Sep 4, 2017

Aqualifters have been known to cause issues on CH2 and CH3 of the PC4. The PB4 has circuits built into those outputs so they don't have an issue. Usually a surge protector will keep it from doing this if it has a 330 volt clamping voltage. Any load other than inductive will usually suppress the spike. That is why some lights will suppress the spike.

EuroDriver · Sep 19, 2017

I had this exact same issue for a while (channels 1, 2 3 and 4) with my RKL. What I did is that I got some illuminated pigtails on Amazon and just for redundancy also used a power strip with an illuminated switch (plugged the aqualifter into the power strip, the power strip into the illuminated pigtail and the pigtail into channel 4 of the PC4). It's been over a year and it's worked flawlessly since.

Interestingly, I'm using an aqualifter at home for the ATO on an RKE and have never had this issue on that one.