2 float ATO program help

[fio1022]

I'm thinking about adding a ATO with a high and low float set up.Low float to turn on and high to turn off.I don't want to use a single float because I dont want pump to cycle too much.I currently have a diy version of this that works with a couple of relays.
I know this could be a whole lot cleaner with the apex but have no idea how to program it.Very new to programming but learning.
Also,a breakout box and 2 floats all that is needed to achieve this?
Thanks
Apex Newbie

 

[SPotter]

where are you placing the float switches?

the program would be something like this for the low switch if that switch is monitoring your water level in your sump.

if switch1 closed then on
if switch1 open then off

When the water level drops enough it will turn on your ato pump and when the water reaches your desired level, the float will rise and turn off the pump.

The official and unofficial user guide that you can find in this forum is very helpful with programming codes.

 

[MrSandman]

Why not set your feed pump to OSC for 15 minutes every 180 minutes or so? However, it will only turn on if the float switch is closed (on).

This way you can use the 2nd float switch as an emergency stop in case the 1st one sticks on.

Not sure if the Apex is different but here is how my AC3 is programmed:

OSC 015/150 ON/OFF Then DOS OFF
If Switch1 OPEN Then DOS OFF
If Switch2 OPEN Then DOS OFF

Where DOS is my dosing pump which i use for my topoff.

So my understanding of how it works is every 150 minutes the AC3 checks the state of float 1. If float 1 senses low water in the sump, then it runs the DOS pump for 15 minutes. Depending on how low the water is, it might only run for 5 minutes or less. Either way, once float 1 levels off, the pump will stop immediately. This way you won't have to worry about your pump cycling too often.

Just keep in mind that depending on what pump you are using, you may need to either shorten or lengthen that 15 minutes. Another benefit to this way is that the pump will only run for a maximum of 15 minutes at a time max. So if for some reason the float were to stick on, it would take a very very long time to get the water level up to float 2 since its a low flow dosing pump and it only turns on 15 minutes every 150. Its almost foolproof.

 

[aquamanic]

I agree with Sandman. If you have 2 floats (recommended) then one float controls both high and low. The second float mounted just 1/2" or so higher is your safety and would normally be down or closed. If it were to go up/open then it means that either the bottom float has failed or something else (like your return pump is off and the sump has filled) has happened. Have the second float turn things off and send you an email. Also, by limiting when the float can activate your ATO either with 'If Time' statements or 'oscillate' statements, you get around the constant on/off that would happen without those limiting statements.

 

[fio1022]

Thanks for the replies.
The more I think about it, the more I realize how expandable the apex can be.
I thinking of re configuring my diy (coordinated timers and floats) auto water changer also.
here is my senerio-just me planning it out.
pump 1(fresh SW) turns on at a set time on
pump 1 turns off at set time off
when pump 1 times off,pump 2(aqualifter) turns on
and or
float HI(water change level) closes,turns off pump 1,turns on pump2
float Lo(normal sump level) closes,turn off pump 2
Can I have the off timer from pump1,turn on pump 2?How?
Also the float Lo would be the trigger float for ATO
Hope you guys don't mind me asking.Trying figure it if can be done on paper first.

 

[Hawkdl2]

I use two floats to control ATO and automatic NSW exchange. I don't trust two pumps to always operate at the same flow rate, so i will not use time to control a 2-pump process. A third float serves as an emergency high water trigger .

During most of the day one of the two floats acts as the ATO control. To prevent rapid opening and closing, I use a Defer statement of 10 minutes or so. During a specific time period (about 90 minutes) 3 days a week, the ATO is disabled and the system starts an NSW exchange. NSW is pumped in from a remote tank until the second float opens (normally closed). That triggers the first pump to turn off and it turns on a second pump that removes OSW to a drain until the first float closes (it's OPEN while underwater after the NSW addition). When that first float closes after enough OSW is drained, the second pump turns off. I could at that point re-enable the first float as the ATO control and be done with the water exchange, but since the CLOSED state of the first float is also the activation state for the ATO, the post-NSW exchange state is also a low water level state and the system would want to add RO/DI. After enough NSW exchanges, my salinity would drop. Instead of letting the system add RO/DI, I have the system pump in a bit more NSW to the OPEN position of the first float. This returns the tank to the exact water level I had before the NSW exchange began. Then I enable the first float as the ATO control.

This has worked like a dream without fail for over a year with virtually no drift in salinity.