ATO didn't shut off. Please check code

[fickle1]

I just setup my ATO on my Apex today. I followed Ken's template and everything seemed to be ok. A few hours later, I get an email saying that my SumpHigh alarm was triggered. When I got home, sure enough my high sump switch was completely submerged. Here is my code:

Fallback OFF
If Outlet NeedWater = ON Then ON
If Outlet NeedWater = OFF Then OFF
If Outlet Ret_Pump = OFF Then OFF
If Outlet SumpHigh = ON Then OFF
If Outlet ATOWaterLow = ON Then OFF
Min Time 015:00 Then On

I am pretty sure it is my Min Time that got me. Looking at the outlet log, the ATO outlet appeared to run for 15 minutes. My intention was that the outlet can only run once every 15 minutes, but it appears that I have that backwards. I am still not clear about the code, but once the SumpHigh switch triggered on, shouldn't that have turned the pump off? Or did my Min time statement keep that from happening as well?

 

[aquamanic]

Your Min Time statement is fine although I would put a 'Set OFF' statement right after the Fallback OFF to initialize the outlet.

What outlet are you running your ATO on? Should be either 4 or 8. If not, that could be your problem.

 

[fickle1]

The more I read about it The more it looks like it should be

Min Time 015:00 Then Off

instead of

Min Time 015:00 Then On

I have read through the guide about 10 times, but for some reason, I still can't grasp the difference between these two.

It is an aqualifter pump on outlet 4.

 

[Hawkdl2]

you're correct, the Min Time statement is wrong and as written will keep the pump on for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Min Time 015:00 Then OFF will keep the pump off for 15 minutes.

An alternative approach is to use the defer statement as:

Defer 015:00 Then ON

This will prevent a splash or other momentary movement of the float from triggering the ATO, and requires the float to be ON for 15 minutes before triggering the ATO.

 

[jeffhaag]

I'd definately put your ato on outlet 4 or 8 if it's not there yet. I had an issue with the TRIAC not shutting off my Maxijet 1200 for ato before. Fortunately my reservoir was properly sized to prevent disaster. It only takes one failure though to create a serious issue.

 

[swearint]

Min Time 015:00 Then Off

instead of

Min Time 015:00 Then On

I have read through the guide about 10 times, but for some reason, I still can't grasp the difference between these two.

Keep in mind that neither Min Time nor Defer act on their own, they require another statement to set the state. Also, it helps to ignore the 'Then', so once set to OFF, Min Time 15:00 ... OFF will hold the outlet in that state for at least 15:00 minutes before another condition can change it to ON. And vice versa.

Defer is slightly different, it effectively causes a delay between when a condition becomes true and the outlet is changed. For example, Defer 0:30 Then ON would require that the outlet code evaluate to ON for 30 seconds or more before it would change to that state.

Todd

 

[fickle1]

Okay, it is starting to make more sense. Thanks for the help. Can min time OFF and ON be used together? Say I wanted to let the outlet turn on only once every 15 minutes that would be

Min Time 015:00 Then Off

Then say that once the outlet turns on, I want it to run for a minimum of 1 minute. Could I add

Min Time 1:00 Then On

I am not sure if there would be a better/easier way of accomplishing what I want here.

 

[swearint]

Yes, that will work. You just don't want duplicates, ie multiples with the same state.

Todd