ATO Solenoid Question

[144HalfRound]

I have 2 dosing pumps I am using for 2 part solution, each plugged into outlet 4 and 8. So I'm plugging the Solenoid into open outlet 6. As described in many threads, I guess the solenoid does not pull enough power to actually shut off when the outlet is suppose to shut off. I plugged a power strip into outlet 6 and plugged a small fan and the solenoid into it. This seems to work. Will this be reliable? If the fan goes off, does that guarantee that the solenoid is also shutting off? Do I have other option?

 

[swearint]

If the fan shuts off, that indicates that the outlet has in fact turned off. However, assuming you are using a Normaly Closed type solenoid, it relies on a spring to close it when power is removed. So, it is possible, though unlikely, that the solenoid could jam and remain open. Depending on how redundant you want to be, you could install a second solenoid in-line. The two together might even pull enough current to eliminate the fan.

Todd

 

[144HalfRound]

If the fan shuts off, that indicates that the outlet has in fact turned off. However, assuming you are using a Normaly Closed type solenoid, it relies on a spring to close it when power is removed. So, it is possible, though unlikely, that the solenoid could jam and remain open. Depending on how redundant you want to be, you could install a second solenoid in-line. The two together might even pull enough current to eliminate the fan.

Todd

I like this idea, especially since I have a spare solenoid.

Thanks,

 

[slief]

All of my solenoids are on relay circuits. Sounds like you found a decent workaround though.

As a side note, not sure what kind of solenoid you are using but I use normally closed solenoids for my ATO. That way if they fail, they fail closed instead of open. I think most are normally closed but I also have some normally open solenoids for other projects that I have yet to implement.

 

[144HalfRound]

I have 2 open and 1 closed. I plan to use the 2 closed for my ATO as you suggested. The open 1 I have as a fail safe for PH and eventually high water level water. I have it set to close the feed line to the kalk reactor if PH is above 8.4. Once I get the high level water float in place, I will have it programmed to close if the float is activated by high water. I'm hoping this will give me some added redundancy and fail save backup.

 

[swearint]

I am not sure you should use the NO valve as you indicated. If it is critical that it shut off, I would want it to close when power is lost rather than open.

Todd

 

[144HalfRound]

All 3 solenoids will be in line on the same water feed from my RO/DI. The 2 closed solenoids will control the amount being fed into the tank. The open solenoid is only a fail safe if both the opens failed and allowed to much ato/kalk into the tank. When using a dosing pump in the past I had this issue. The dosing pump failed and allowed kalk to run for 2days straight while I was gone. It was a bad scene.

 

[144HalfRound]

I'm trying to program a float switch to shut off my ATO as a back up if my solenoids ever fail. I have 2 solenoids in line both on the same outlet with an OSC cycle of off for 3 hrs on for 5 min. I have a 3rd solenoid that stays opened. I've plugged the float switch in Outlet 5 call in High_Water_5. What I want to happen is if the float is pushed up from high water to turn on the solenoids 3rd solenoid, which would put it in the closed position. I'm not plugging anything directly into the float switch. I was hoping that if apex detects a change in outlet 5 (the float switch) it will power the 3rd solenoid.

Can I do this. What would the code look like?

Thanks,

 

[swearint]

[Solenoid_3]
Set OFF
If Switch5 CLOSED Then ON

If the water rises high enough to close the float switch, it will activate the solenoid and close it. As additional backup, you can also add the following to the other solenoid outlet:

If Switch5 CLOSED Then OFF

Todd