a/c power manual off, auto-on with timer

B

bwells

New member
When I feed my fish, I most of the power heads off so the food is less likely to fly around the tank and get stuck in the rocks (using a standard surge protector). Problem is I sometimes walk away and forget to turn my power heads back on. So I want a switch for 110v A/C current that I can manually turn off (push button, flip switch, etc) and then as soon as the power is turned off, a timer starts so the power is automatically turned back on after 5 or 10 minutes. I cannot find such a switch anywhere. I am thinking of building one myself, but I would rather not. Do you have any ideas? It seems like something lots of reefers would like to have.

Thank you
 
Or, arduino, one button, one SSR for switchng the power. Have the SSR setup so power is always on to your devices. Then when you press the button, SSR is switched and a timer on the arduino starts. Once timer finishes, SSR is switched back and devices start again. No need for RTC, on power loss, all devices will start straight away when power comes back and you can set the time to whatever you want and even code it so the timer is controlled by how many times you press the button or switches back on if you hold the button.

Not seen any off the shelf solutions that turn things off for a given time, so if you buy a switch like the one linked above, you're still going to have to use a relay or SSR, so why not use an arduino? Probably works out cheaper :)

Tim
 
you can get a timer switch like they use in storage units so the light won't get left on and wire it into n/c relay
 
Why not get a used RKL? They sell for less than $100 and control your lights, your heaters, etc... Simply putting it in standby mode can perform any function that you want for as much or as little time as you want. For example, you can hit standby and it will automatically turn off your power heads for 10-15 minutes. You can set it to also turn on your lights for that time period at the same time if they aren't already on in case you got home late or something.
 
wavemaster pro has marine and reef mode push button in reef feed mode return pump is of for 30 min, push in marine mode return stays on internal powerhead of for 30 min, so after time expires all pumps are back on
 
Personally - the arduino is going to work out the cheapest and since you have to code it, it'll work how you want. How can anything off the shelf compare?

And that's before you start thinking about what else the arduino can do for you :)

Tim
 
I wired my main pump into a normally closed timer from a big box. I give the knob a crank, up to one hour (360 degree crank) later the pump is back on.
 
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viper12775 said:
you can get a timer switch like they use in storage units so the light won't get left on and wire it into n/c relay
Click to expand...
+1

This option and a 5 dollar relay. Timer switch turns the relay to the NO position and your power equipment is wired to the relays NC terminal.

brackishdude said:
I wired my main pump into a normally closed timer from a big box. I give the knob a crank, up to one hour (360 degree crank) later the pump is back on.
Click to expand...

This would be ideal as long as it can handle all the power, I've never seen a NC timer like this, got a link? You could wire it into a box to turn off power to the outlet all your pumps you want off during feeding are plugged into.

Ether way you have to do some wiring.
 
I noticed several people recommended a switch that automatically turns OFF after being manually turned on. So I need the opposite of this and have it turned on automatically after I manually turn it off. There was a suggestion of using this plus a relay to flip the effect.

I see on this page I can get the power switch tail either Normally Open (NO) or Normally Closed (NC).

http://www.powerswitchtail.com

So with this and my Arduino, I think I will have the safest and easiest solution; even if not the least expensive.

Thanks again to everyone!
 
zachts said:
+1

This would be ideal as long as it can handle all the power, I've never seen a NC timer like this, got a link? You could wire it into a box to turn off power to the outlet all your pumps you want off during feeding are plugged into.

Ether way you have to do some wiring.
Click to expand...

Mine looks like this one, and though on amazon I can't see that this model has a normally closed circuit, I believe it does.

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-FF...=1396403273&sr=1-4&keywords=intermatic+spring

I wired a short appliance grade extension cord to it after mountin g it in a plastic gang box, with the female end of the cord just sticking out of the box. I mounted the box inside the stand and plugged the pump into it. It's mounted in the corner just inside the stand door.
 
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heres a pic

20140401_204354_zps65724c77.jpg


The black cords are not a part of this circuit.
 
brackishdude said:
Mine looks like this one, and though on amazon I can't see that this model has a normally closed circuit, I believe it does.

http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-FF...=1396403273&sr=1-4&keywords=intermatic+spring

I wired a short appliance grade extension cord to it after mountin g it in a plastic gang box, with the female end of the cord just sticking out of the box. I mounted the box inside the stand and plugged the pump into it. It's mounted in the corner just inside the stand door.
Click to expand...

"60 Minute - 125-277 volt - SPST - Springwound - In-Wall - Auto-Off "

It will be wired with a Normaly Open single pole single throw relay and won't be able to switch around to work Normally Closed, though it may be possible to replace the relay. Still going to need a second relay to make this work for "auto on" after the countdown reaches zero.
 
Then there is a similar auto-on model with the same appearance.

several models are available on amazon. I can't do all the leg work!

I will say that I've been very happy with this setup.
 
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