Can't get waterbug to work w/ Apex

[jcgso]

I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I have the Waterbug WB200 hooked up to the Neptune breakout box, going to my Apex. Pardon my very crude diagram. I know the WB has power and I've set up the WB as Switch 6 on the Apex. I thought my wiring was correct, but maybe not. The statement in alarm 1 and e-mail is If Switch6 closed Then On. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jcgso]

After reading through many posts here about the waterbug, I created a vitual outlet.

Set OFF
If Switch6 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch6 OPEN Then OFF

My audible alarm and e-mail alert are the same.

If Outlet waterbug_B1 = ON Then ON

With the wiring shown in my above diagram, and these settings, the alarm is going off and I'm getting e-mail alerts.

 

[schwaggs]

Make sure you have the correct switch outlet and the input is working by:

Disconnecting the waterbug from the breakout box
Connecting a wire from ground to switch 6 input.
Monitor the status of your virtual outlet to make sure it turns on and off when you connect input 6 to ground and remove the wire.

Also, you are working with the switch inputs on the Apex Base Module, not a probe module, correct?

 

[jcgso]

schwaggs,

I am working with switch inputs, not probe modules.

I tried the wire from switch6 to ground. Its on when connected and off when disconnected.

Not sure what to do now.

Thanks!

 

[aquamanic]

I am working with switch inputs, not probe modules.

What Jon was getting at is the naming convention of the switches is different if the BB is connected to an expansion module vs. the base module.

 

[jcgso]

Alan,
Does my naming/programming above look correct? I have the waterbug set on a virtual DC4 module, with only 1 outlet as waterbug_B1, with the following statement.
Set OFF
If Switch6 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch6 OPEN Then OFF

 

[aquamanic]

Does my naming/programming above look correct?

I'm not clear on what the problem is. In post #2 you say you're getting the alarm and email alerts. What exactly is not working?

 

[jcgso]

Last night with the above statements I was getting alarms/alerts. It should not have been doing that, since the WB was in it's normal open state. Today after taking everything apart and rewiring to make sure all connectione are good, the alarm is not going off, but if I make the contacts wet, I still don't get an alamr.

 

[coralcruze]

can't you just take your sensor and plug it into your #6 and ground on your I/O breakout box??? have you tried that? I don't think you need the WB200 unit. I may be wrong but I think if the contact is closed (water on floor) than the neptune will sence this and you can set up an alarm ect.

 

[jcgso]

The sensor will only work hooked up to the WB2oo, which then goes to switch6 and ground. Yes, the sensor is normally open and when it senses water closes. But I don't get alarm or e-mail if I get the sensor wet.

can't you just take your sensor and plug it into your #6 and ground on your I/O breakout box??? have you tried that? I don't think you need the WB200 unit. I may be wrong but I think if the contact is closed (water on floor) than the neptune will sence this and you can set up an alarm ect.

 

[coralcruze]

The sensor will only work hooked up to the WB2oo, which then goes to switch6 and ground. Yes, the sensor is normally open and when it senses water closes. But I don't get alarm or e-mail if I get the sensor wet.

I see in that case i will need to purchase the wb200 also as i only picked up the sensors thinking its a simple closed or open loop. i just haven't goten a chance to sit down and hook up the sensors yet.

since I will be in the same boat as you I will be sticking around to find out what I need to do to get alarms and e-mails. i hope there is an answer to this.

have you tried contacting curt at neptune?

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Been using a WaterBug for a long time; no issues but I do notice a few things...

* The WB MUST be powered; the WB contacts close when power is lost
* You need WB base unit + power + sensor; you cannot use the sensor alone; it needs the WB base to operate
* When wetted you will hear a definite click from the WB; it not then something is wrong; no click, no change the Apex will be told about the leak

I'll see if I can post pics of my setup if that would help.

Power + 2 sensors + connection to Apex

 

[coralcruze]

Been using a WaterBug for a long time; no issues but I do notice a few things...

* The WB MUST be powered; the WB contacts close when power is lost
* You need WB base unit + power + sensor; you cannot use the sensor alone; it needs the WB base to operate
* When wetted you will hear a definite click from the WB; it not then something is wrong; no click, no change the Apex will be told about the leak

I'll see if I can post pics of my setup if that would help.

That would definatly help... myself included. thank you for your thorough info./description.

I wonder if you have to plug the water bug wb200 into the eb8 or another outlet? if its in the eb8 than could you have the eb8 re-open the contacts? or is this a physical/manual thing that you must do yourself?

 

[Deleted member 143833]

You don't want the power to the WaterBug unit to go off else the contacts close signaling the same as if there was a leak.

This is the code I use for the wiring above:

If Switchx8_6 OPEN Then OFF
If Switchx8_6 CLOSED Then ON

 

[coralcruze]

You don't want the power to the WaterBug unit to go off else the contacts close signaling the same as if there was a leak.

This is the code I use for the wiring above:

If Switchx8_6 OPEN Then OFF
If Switchx8_6 CLOSED Then ON

your photo above and this info will be a great help when it comes time for me to hook it up. thanks

 

[krjackso]

You don't want the power to the WaterBug unit to go off else the contacts close signaling the same as if there was a leak.

This is the code I use for the wiring above:

If Switchx8_6 OPEN Then OFF
If Switchx8_6 CLOSED Then ON

Thanks for the info here. I was able to get my waterbug going in minutes here. Thanks for the pics. But just for my own clarification...I understand the premise of what you are saying here, but can you help explain your code? I am assuming the "x" is the number of the switch your waterbug is plugged into from your Breakout Box, right? And the "8_6" in this example is the outlet which your WB-200 is plugged into the EB8? Do you just program this on that actual outlet that it is plugged into, or are you doing some type of virtual outlet here?

 

[aquamanic]

I am assuming the "x" is the number of the switch your waterbug is plugged into from your Breakout Box, right?

No. That nomenclature is for a breakout box that's attached to a module as compared to the base unit. The module number (on the bus) would be 8. The switch number then is 1 - 6 . In the example it's switch 6. The 'x' is always there if the BB is attached to a PM1, PM2 or PM3. If the BB was attached to the base module the switches would simply be 'switch1' - 'switch6'.

 

[krjackso]

ahh I think I see. Thank you for bearing with these simpleton questions. So I have a DIY breakout box connected to the base unit (so no need for extra coding?), and the WB-200 connected to switch port 1 on my Breakout box. so my code on the outlet (regardless of which one) that the WB-200 is plugged into would just be...

If Switch1= Open Then Off
If Switch1= Closed Then ON

?

So then my next question is this. Doesn't the WB-200 need power to detect whether or not the sensor gets wet? Then in turn signal the APEX? So how would it know when it "closes" to turn "ON" if it normally sitting there off? Or am I still not getting something?

 

[aquamanic]

You got it.

Yes, the WB needs its own power that I don't think is sold with the unit. I think it's a simple 12vdc transformer but you need to check.

 

[krjackso]

Hey Alan,

So I understand that it needs power. I have it powered and wired just like Kenargo.

But I guess I should clarify my question...

Doesn't the WB-200 need power to detect whether or not the sensor gets wet? So if I entered the code

If Switch1= Open Then Off
If Switch1= Closed Then ON

The APEX outlet would normally be OFF (no power) since the waterbug sensors are normally OPEN.
So how would it know when it "closes" to turn "ON" if it normally sitting there off?

Secondarily, back to the OP question, not sure what is happening, but when I enter the above code and plug in my WB200, it cycles on and off every second. (I have my return pump set to turn off when switch 1 is closed), but when I just have it plugged directly into the wall, always on and powered, it works great. Any ideas there too?