Apex Heater Programming???

[cemyth]

Okay I am working on programming my 2 heaters connected with a (Y) adapter to one outlet on my Apex.

Does this programming sound about right?

If not what should I change?

Fallback ON
Set OFF
If Temp < 78.0 Then ON
If Temp > 79.8 Then OFF
Defer 002:00 Then ON
Defer 001:30 Then OFF
If Temp < 75.0 Then OFF

Should I have both heaters thermostats set to 80 or have one set to 80 and the other to 79 as a backup? So confusing.

 

[Dr. Reef]

i dont think last command If Temp < 75.0 Then OFF is required.

 

[cemyth]

So something more like this.

Fallback ON
Set OFF
If Temp < 78.0 Then ON
If Temp > 79.8 Then OFF
Defer 002:00 Then ON
Defer 001:30 Then OFF

What about the heaters themselves?
Should I have both heaters thermostats set to 80 or have one set to 80 and the other to 79 as a backup?

 

[cemyth]

Double post

 

[Dr. Reef]

it looks fine now and i have mine same way but i have 4 heaters on 4 different controlled outlets and i have 2 set at 79 and 2 on 80 so not all heaters come on at same time and overload/trip the breaker.

 

[thegrun]

I would just use the standard heater program where you only need to set the on and off temperatures but if you use the advanced I would have it look more like this:
Fallback OFF
(you do NOT want the heater to reset itself to the ON position if you loose power)
Set OFF
If Temp < 78.0 Then ON
If Temp > 78.5 Then OFF
(tighten up the range, no need to heat to 79.8 if you you can live with a 78 degree turn on temperature)
(eliminate the defer program)
(eliminate the if 75 degree off program)
I have my second heater set to come on 0.2 degrees lower than my primary and also turn off 0.2 degrees lower than the primary

 

[cemyth]

Would you have the Fallback to OFF even if the heaters have their own thermostat?
My thought is if the EB8 lost connection with the controller the heaters would heat the tank and control the temp themselves.

With the defer command I thought it would help keep the heaters from turning on and off constantly.

Just a little confused as to what to set.

 

[schatzi]

You don't need the defer command because it will take time for the temp to drop before they kick back on. If you go with thegurn's suggestion the heaters shut off at 78.6 and won't turn on again until 77.9.

I have my fallback to off, as everybody suggests, but you make a good point so just be sure you know what temp the heaters are set at.

 

[cemyth]

Defer command removed.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I now have a starting point and can tweak it from there.

 

[drock59]

Just saw that you are using a Y adapter to run both heaters on 1 outlet. Is this safe?

 

[cemyth]

I don’t think it’s going to be a problem as long as it doesn’t exceed the amperage recommended by the factory that makes the (Y) adapter. For example my heaters are only using 4amps total and the (Y) adapter can handle 10amps according to the manufacturer. These are then plugged into the apex EB8 that is connected to one outlet on a single circuit. With everything running the total amperage is under the recommended total amperage a single circuit (15amps) can handle. So to answer your question is “I hope it’s safe.” If not I hope my houses breaker box will let me know and trip.

I am no electrician so if I am incorrect I hope someone else will chime in and I will rearrange my outlets.

 

[drock59]

That makes sense, but as you said, I am no electrician.

 

[James77]

There would also be the max amp draw on each individual channel on the EB4 as well, but you are still fine. Channels 1-3 and 57 are max 5 amps each, 4 and 8 are 10 amps each with a max draw of 15 amps on the whole strip./

 

[Mark Bianco]

"i dont think last command If Temp < 75.0 Then OFF is required."

You are correct its not needed for regular control, but if or should I say when the temp probes bad it will read incorrectly and a temp reading of 50 or below is not out the question. If you have a statement like above on the last line then you do not have to worry about a bad probe causing a fish bake... Granted you heater controller should keep it off. But the more safe gaurds the better.

 

[cemyth]

There would also be the max amp draw on each individual channel on the EB4 as well, but you are still fine. Channels 1-3 and 57 are max 5 amps each, 4 and 8 are 10 amps each with a max draw of 15 amps on the whole strip./

That is what I thought too. As always Jim thanks for your input. EB4 not EB8