Review my Apex ATO Code!

[Biglurr54]

I need help programming my ATO on my Apex Classic. I want to have the ATO kick on 4x a day for a 5 minute window in order to prevent the pump from continuously cycling all day, yet still maintaining a stable level in the sump.

Once the ATO is turned off, I want to have other pumps kick on to do a water change so I want to make sure the level is at the operating level right after the ATO turns off. Ill have code for the AWC later. Right now I want to make sure I have the ATO coded properly.

Here’s what I got:
Sw1 = Operating sump Level - Normally Open at proper level
Sw2 = High Water Level – Normally Open at proper level
Ato1_7 = ATO Pump Outlet

Ato1_7 Outlet code:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
Defer 000:05 Then ON
If Condx5 < 34 Then OFF
If Time 00:05 to 06:00 Then OFF
If Time 06:05 to 12:00 Then OFF
If Time 12:05 to 18:00 Then OFF
If Time 18:05 to 23:59 Then OFF
If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF
Defer 000:03 Then OFF
When On > 003:00 Then OFF
If Output Return16 = OFF Then OFF

 

[Greybeard]

I'm no expert, but was doing something sort of similar with my ATO reservoir... I did run into one problem line of code, and I see the same line in your script:

When On > 003:00 Then OFF

This statement, for some reason, doesn't just turn the outlet off and remain in auto mode, it actually turns the MODE to OFF. You have to manually switch it back to AUTO for things to start running again.

Not sure why, but that's what the experts here told me. I had seen my ATOReservoir switched to OFF several times, couldn't figure out why... this was the cause.

Aside from that, I can't offer much assistance.

 

[Biglurr54]

Yes that is the function. I added it as a failsafe. To prevent the ato pump from running dry or dosing too much top off water and flooding the tank.

 

[Biglurr54]

So if that all looks good, then how does this look for AWC. My goal is to have 2 water changes a day. The mount of water can be varied based on the level of the Water Change Float switch and will start out at around 1 gallon. The Water change will initiate immediately after the ATO turns off to ensure that the sump is at the proper height. The drain pump will turn on until the Water change float switch is triggered. The fill pump will pump fresh salt water into the sump until it reaches normal operating height.

Sw1 = Operating sump Level - Normally Open at proper level
Sw2 = High Water Level – Normally Open at proper level
Swx5_2 = AWC Low Level Limit – Normally Closed at proper level
AWCDrain2_4 = Drain Pump Outlet
AWCFill2_4 = Fill Pump Outlet

AWCDrain2_4
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 00:06 to 00:11 Then ON
If Time 12:06 to 12:11 Then ON
If Swx5_2 OPEN Then OFF
If Condx5 < 34 Then OFF
If Condx5 > 35.5 Then OFF
If Output Return16 = OFF Then OFF

AWCFill2_5
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 00:12 to 00:20 Then ON
If Time 12:12 to 12:20 Then ON
If Sw1 OPEN Then OFF
If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF
If Condx5 < 34 Then OFF
If Condx5 > 35.5 Then OFF
If Output Return16 = OFF Then OFF

 

[Sleepydoc]

The "If Time..." statements mean the ATO can only run for 4 minutes (i.e. from 06:01 to 06:04,) but since you also have the "When On>003:00..." statement, the pump can only run 2 minutes and 59 seconds. If it runs 3 minutes, the entire ATO is turned off until you manually turn it on again. Is that what you want? I would be a bit more generous with the time on this. You can get an estimate of how much the pump will need to run by looking at your average water consumption and figuring out how long the pump needs to run to pump that much water. After that, I would at least double the time you expect to need. As long as your sump doesn't overflow and your system doesn't experience an excessive salinity swing, you would still be fine.

I'm not sure why you want to limit the times that it can run to 4, 4 minute periods. 'continuously cycling' is kind of what ATOs are designed to do; forcing it to fill every 6 hours would actually increase the volume and salinity swings which kind of defeats the purpose of an ATO. What I would do instead is add a "Min Time 060:00 Then OFF" Statement. That will keep the ATO from turning on for at least an hour after it has last run.

Below is the code from my ATO:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If SumpLv OPEN Then ON
If Sump_H CLOSED Then OFF
If RODI_L OPEN Then OFF
If Leak_d CLOSED Then OFF
When On > 010:00 Then OFF <- Disables ATO if it runs for > 10 minutes
Defer 000:10 Then ON <- makes sure the water level has been below sensor for at least 10 secs before turning on
Defer 000:04 Then OFF <- forces system to run for at least 4 seconds before turning off
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF <- won't let system turn on again for 30 minutes after it has been on