countdown timer for pump

[mcurl98]

I've heard of some people using a countdown timer on their main pumps when feeding. Basically, this would be a countdown timer modified to turn the pump back on after being off for a few minutes. I've found the wall timers at HD but the only way I can figure out how to make it work would be to splice the electrical cord from the pump to run it through the timer. Anyone have a set up like this?--turn the dial to, say 5 minutes-the pumps shuts off and then comes back on when the 5 mins has elapsed

 

[oldsaltman]

there was a post here recently about someone who made one from those parts. I don't have good search access so maybe someone else can help you.

 

[Z-Man07]

I'll be tagging along for this one.

 

[magma01]

you need a timer that is single pole double throw which will allow for reverse action. meaning it will count down. most of the hardware stores just have SPST. Intermatic makes SPDT wall timers. IntermaticTimer FD32HW woud work. I have the FD34HW.

http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/infdencointi21.html

 

[oldsaltman]

The original post I saw on this was that same timer and it was altered by moving or reversing something inside the timer. I searched again and don't find it. I was going to make one but never got around to it. It was an easy mod with the HD or lowes attic fan timer. Sorry that's not much help.

 

[bink]

If it were me... I would grab an on-delay DPDT timer and a normally closed momentary push button. An on-delay timer doesnt change the contacts state until the selected time has passed after a "start" signal is present.

I would wire the normally closed push button thru the coil(or start input) of the timer(just jumper this off the hot wire in the cord). I would then wire the hot through on of the normally open contacts and the neutral thru the other normally open contact and tie the grounds together with a wire nut.

So...when the push button is pressed the timer drops out and the pump turns off. When the push button is released the timer begins counting and changes states(pump turns back on) after the dialed in time has passed.

Only crappy thing about doing it this way is fact that the pump will not turn on immediately after initially plugging the thing in the wall. It will wait until the dialed in time has passed as well.

Ohh, since you dont want to cut the existing cord on the pump...go buy a short extension cord and splice that.

This is just a quick and dirty way to do something quick...I would probably hang someone if I opened up a panel and saw this at work...were money is no object apparently.

 

[george1098]

I just did it. Its pretty easy, I'll try to describe what I did.

I bought a simple 60 minute timer from Home Depot, the regular dial knob kind. You need a weird star screw driver to take it apart, the smalles size. It's not a common screw driver, so you may have to buy it as well while your at the hardware store. anyway, take the cover off and pull the watch mechanism out (the thing with all the gears). you don't do anything with that, so just leave it as is. You will then have to remove another two screws and another face plate to get to the actual switch mechanism.
The way the mechanism works is when the dial is turned, it turns a white plasic wheel with a small triangular notch in it's side. The switch (a copper strip) rests in the wheel's notch untill the dial is turned. The switch is pushed out of its rest position by the wheel and into the electrode, which completes the circuit and turns the light (or pump or whatever you want) on.

Of course, we want the opposite effect

Basically you want to reverse this: while the switch is resting in its rest position, it is in contact with the top electrode. When the dial is turned, the white wheel pushes the switch away from the electrode which breaks the circuit and kills your pump.
It is quite sumple to do. All you need is two pairs on needle nosed pliars and about 5 minutes.

-take the top electrode out of the plasic molding. you will probably have to wiggle it out with your pliars
-use your pliars to bend the little arm of the electrode in a "Z" shape (see pic below)
-you may also have to bend the switch to get a perfect fit.
-pop the electrode back into the plastic molding.

the switch should be in contact with the electrode while it is in rest position. when you turn the wheel, the switch should be pushed away from the electrode


simple!

here's my timer mounted on the front of my aquarium stand. I have it pluged into my closed loop pump (a Dart) and my return pump (Gex X something or other). I usually turn the pumps off for an houre or so after lights out. the corals polyps extend like crazy to get a meal

If you're not sure how to wire the switch into an electrical socket (which you should also pick up at home depot while you're there), remember to alwais break your hot wire, which is the white one (not black or green or red).
any questions, please let me know

 

[999sterling]

NICE MOD!!!

Affordable. Easy. and Effective. Three of my favorite features for equipment.
It looks good installed too!

Some-how I never guessed that those timers would be so simple on the inside.

 

[george1098]

they are, just ingnoor the clock assembly. when i first opened it up and i saw all the little gears I was worried I bit off more than i could chew, but luckely you don't have to touch those!

 

[scott324]

If you're not sure how to wire the switch into an electrical socket (which you should also pick up at home depot while you're there), remember to alwais break your hot wire, which is the white one (not black or green or red).

I hope this was a typo. The 'hot' should always be the BLACK. The white wire is the neutral, green ground, and red normally reserved for a switch leg. You should always break the hot(BLACK) wire as stated above though.

 

[mcurl98]

Wow! Thanks for all the help. I'll give it a shot.

 

[george1098]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8646601#post8646601 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott324
I hope this was a typo. The 'hot' should always be the BLACK. The white wire is the neutral, green ground, and red normally reserved for a switch leg. You should always break the hot(BLACK) wire as stated above though.

Hmm, nope it wasn't a typo, that doesn't mean i'm not wrong though. I was told to break the white. .. I am by no means an electrician, I just asked a freind of mine. Maybe things are different up there in Canada perhaps we could get a third oppinion on the subject?

 

[oldsaltman]

remember to alwais break your hot wire, which is the white one (not black or green or red).

You have this wrong! Black should be hot and white should be neutral.

 

[douggiestyle]

white = neutral

 

[waucedah_joe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8644819#post8644819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by george1098

If you're not sure how to wire the switch into an electrical socket (which you should also pick up at home depot while you're there), remember to alwais break your hot wire, which is the white one (not black or green or red).
any questions, please let me know

Have to agree with the others black=hot, white=neutral, green=ground.

 

[scott324]

Canada may have a different electric code as opposed to the US. So not sure, and I didn't realize you were in Canada so didn't mean accuse you of being wrong.

Those are the guidlines dictated by the NEC (Nat'l Electric Code), which is the authority in the US.

 

[george1098]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8649968#post8649968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott324
Canada may have a different electric code as opposed to the US. So not sure, and I didn't realize you were in Canada so didn't mean accuse you of being wrong.

Those are the guidlines dictated by the NEC (Nat'l Electric Code), which is the authority in the US.

Chances are Canada and the US are sincronized in their electric codes. They are in most systems. You've convinced me, white - neutral, black = hot. The point is break your hot wire.
thanks guys for correcting me!

 

[oldsaltman]

It was a great mod to the timer just a little trouble with the black-hot and white-neutral issue.

 

[george1098]

in the words of Micheal Jackson, it doesn't matter if it's black or white

 

[ex3004me]

RK2 if you could come off of this $$