DIY wavebox success, but need electronician suggest

[jwardana]

Hi all,
Recently after read many thread about tunze wavebox, I have built a DIY one with a small plastic trash bin, powerhead and a timer. For the wave produced, I called it's been done successfully. But for the powerhead used, I need more suggestion for saving its life as it used with on/off mode so many times (every approx 2.5sec).
Testing it with a regular powerhead, a resun SP6800 80w (I dont know whether you have it or not there, bcause I live in Indonesia), as I predicted, the powerhead will be broken in a few period of time. And it's right. After testing it for about 36 hours, the impeller is kinda broken (not broken at all, but it lost a small plastic gear inside - I guess - which when the powerhead is started produced a click sound).

check this out: http://www.geocities.com/jwardana/diywavebox/diywavebox.htm

So now I need some kind of a 'electronic soft starter' for the powerhead, if it's ever possible. Or maybe something else you can suggest.

If you have more q about making this diy wavebox I'll be delightfully to answer.

Thanks, Jim.
PS: pardon my english.

 

[kabboord]

You're english is fine, great idea on the wavemaker.

 

[dattack]

Your link doesn't work.

 

[jwardana]

dattack,
I'd tried it by myself and the link is working. And I've just tried it for the second time, still working. Try again please.

Jim.

 

[jwardana]

dattack,
just learning about yahoo.geocities. I have a limited bandwith, 4.2 Mb per hour. You might just not lucky. Please try again. Thanks, Jim.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

apa kabar?
that is a very nice idea but actually how big is the wave box? seems like it will take up quite a bit of space in the tank

 

[jwardana]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6565829#post6565829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
apa kabar?
that is a very nice idea but actually how big is the wave box? seems like it will take up quite a bit of space in the tank

Hi Sam, kabar baik di sini.

the wavebox is not necesity to be that big. as long it can accomodate the pump and a few amount of water (I'll say 2 litre/ 0.5gal), it can be done.

just yesterday I made another box from acrylic, the size is 15W x 10D x 35H cm / 6 x 4 x 14". and tested it in my tank 52" wide, it works. but the frequency must be adjusted to 0.75-0.8 sec. it creates the wave, but IMO 80" wide tank creates more impressive wave as the second (shorter) tank create unnatural wave frequency (0.75sec), too short time. the corals' tentacles wave back and forth every 1.5sec. looks like they came to a gymn having a workout.

Jim.

 

[jwardana]

Well, no one ever heard about 'soft starter' for diy wavemaker? I've done a lot search about this, but still no clue.

Jim.

 

[bink]

only way I know to change speeds any motor that is single phase is with an SCR...but it will probably get pretty hot and nuke itself since it will be changing the speeds so fast...