Chrissu Apex Examples

[chrissu]

ATS Algae Turf Scrubber
The following example is recommended for an owner of an ATS. Using these settings you safely reduce water temp while keeping your algae productive and thriving.

This outlet setting will keep the lights ON if the Temp is less than 80. If the Temp rises above 80 and is still less than 82, the lights will cycle on and off every 30 minutes. If the Temp rises above 82, the lights will turn OFF completely and stay off until the Temp drops back to 82 or lower. If the EnergyBar-8 should happen to lose communication with Apex controller, the Fallback ON statement insures that the Energy Bar-8 outlet stays in the ON position.

Fallback ON
OSC 000/30/30 Then ON
If Temp < 80 Then ON
If Temp > 82 Then OFF

Thanks to Todd, AKA Swearint, for his help with this example.

 

[chrissu]

Automatic Doser
Recommended for an automatic doser.

The outlet runs for 1 minute at the top of each hour, except during a FeedA cycle or if the pH is > 8.35. If the EnergyBar-8 should happen to lose communication with Apex controller, the Fallback ON statement insures that the Energy Bar-8 outlet stays in the OFF position.

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00\001:00\059:00 Then ON
If pH > 8.35 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

If using multiple dosers, consider offsetting the start time so the both dosers run at a different time each hour. For example, here is the same code except the doser will turn on for 1 minute at half past the hour, every hour, as long as the feeder isn't turned on and the PH is less than 8.35.

Fallback OFF
OSC 030:00\001:00\029:00 Then ON
If pH > 8.35 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

 

[chrissu]

One note about the doser outlet config. The Energy Bar 8 (EB8) outlets are not able to sense the small electrical draw of a doser unit. In my first go at it, I find my EB8 outlet cannot reliably turn on and back off per the schedule set. Even when I manually change the status from auto to manual on and back to manual off (or auto), the outlet intermittently stays on longer than if should. The status sorftware does't turn on or off either.

The workaround is to increase the electrical current draw on the outlet and the easiest way to do that is to plug the doser and a small light both into a power strip of some kind and then plug the power strip into the EB8 outlet. Now that I just did this, the outlet is working fine per the programming, as is the status software. This workaround is actually documented elsewhere as I recall reading it a few days bac kI.wanted to mention this issue since it seems to be one of those extra steps everyone with a typical low current doser will have to learn to include in their setup.

 

[connecticut cichlids]

Even if you use outlets 4 or 8?

 

[chrissu]

Hello cichlids. I see what you mean. From the latest ultimate users guide "A couple of notes about the EB8 module. These come with 8 receptacles, numbered 1 - 8. Outlets 4 and 8 are activated with mechanical relays. These have a distinct "click" whenever they switch on/off. Mechanical relays have been around for a long time, are inexpensive and very reliable. They handle both high and low current devices well but are large and bulky compared to solid state alternatives. But, they are known to „arc‟ and have their contacts „pit‟. And, as far as switches go, they‟re relatively slow which is a problem in some applications. Outlets 1-3 and 5-7 are TRIAC (Triode for Alternating Current) solid state outlets. They are silent, compact and capable of hundreds of thousands of on/off cycles. They are very, very fast and can switch in fractions of a second and do that all day long without wearing out like a mechanical switch/relay would. Another advantage that TRIAC switches have over mechanical switches is that they are very good at switching high current, inductive (lighting) loads because they “time” their switch to the point when the current sine wave is at or near zero (what Neptune calls „soft start‟). This virtually eliminates the possibility of “arcing” that can happen with mechanical relays that are indiscriminate about where in the sine wave they open/close. One problem with TRIAC controlled outlets however is that they sometimes cannot detect very low power factor devices and as a result may not switch off correctly. They fail in an „open‟ state. This only happens with very low power devices (i.e. < 4-5 watts). However, if you have any device like that, you might consider putting them on outlets 4 or 8. Dosing pumps are a good example of problematic devices with TRIAC outlets."

I will re-program outlets 3 and 4, switch the plugs so that the doser is now on outlet 4, and give that a try. Long term the arcing issue may surface but I was outlets 4 and 8 anyways so its all a was. Cichlids, thanks again for your help!

 

[chrissu]

RussM noticed that I incorrectly referenced backslashes (\) in the OSC command for the Automatic Doser example. That is my bad. It's supposted to be forward slashes. Here is the corrected example.

Automatic Doser (corrected)
Recommended for an automatic doser.

The outlet runs for 1 minute at the top of each hour, except during a FeedA cycle or if the pH is > 8.35. If the EnergyBar-8 should happen to lose communication with Apex controller, the Fallback ON statement insures that the Energy Bar-8 outlet stays in the OFF position.

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/001:00/059:00 Then ON
If pH > 8.35 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

If using multiple dosers, consider offsetting the start time so the both dosers run at a different time each hour. For example, here is the same code except the doser will turn on for 1 minute at half past the hour, every hour, as long as the feeder isn't turned on and the PH is less than 8.35.

Fallback OFF
OSC 030:00/01:00/029:00 Then ON
If pH > 8.35 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF


Thanks RussM!