Float switch help?

[rogergolf66]

Ok I have never programmed a float switch. Heck is 6 months I never used my breakout box so have to connect that too. Anyways I added a float switch and I want to turn a pump off if it is tripped. How do I do this?

Thanks
Roger

 

[Ted_C]

Lol - my breakout box is coming Tuesday (I tried to make my own and failed trying to get a 8 pin round mini-din). I'll let you know my program then.

otherwise - this is from the manual

The status of switches cannot be displayed on the Display Screens, only outlets and probes are allowed. To solve this, setup a Virtual Outlet that turns on and off in response to the switch. Take for example, you have a float switch in the sump to measure sump level that you would like to display on a Status Screen. You could create a Virtual Outlet called Sump_Low and program it as follows:

Virtual Outlet Sump_Low

If Switch1 = CLOSED Then OFF
If Switch1 = OPEN Then ON

 

[rogergolf66]

Thanks Ted. Now I have to figure out how to create virtual outlets. Have had the apex for 6 months and haven't used any of the fancy stuff it does yet

 

[jerm_kozac]

I am dying here. I'm not dumb. And I swear I have searched around for an answer. Every time I think I have found the answer, I try it, and it doesn't work.

Until this morning I have only used on float switch in my sump for my ATO. I just used a when open on, and had a min time of 15 minutes. This has worked fine for a year now(luckily), but now I would like to add some redundancy.

I have now added 2 more float switches at higher heights. All I want to do is make it so if either of these float switches close, it will stop the pump. I still want it to run for 15 minutes and stop(15 minutes won't make the middle float switch close).

I have tried defer statements, min times, I just cant get it to do what I want. Either it stops when the bottom switch closes, or doesn't stop when the upper switch closes.

And just to say before anybody tries to string me up, I do have the bottom switch opposite so it fails closed not open. Just wrote it that way for ease of understanding, for me and you.

 

[Mark Bianco]

Here is what I have just using the float switches with a delay to make sure it does not cycle as the sump circulates..

Set OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
Defer 005:00 Then ON
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch2 OPEN Then OFF
Defer 000:10 Then OFF

 

[jerm_kozac]

Ah, I see what you're doing. That is kind of the opposite of what I was trying to go for. I wanted the pump to go on the second my switch 1 closed. not wait, and then pump up my sump.

How often does your pump run?

It seems like it would very briefly and quite often this way since it is pumping it up right till the switch opens, waits for enough evap to cause it to open(which wouldn't be much in my case), wait 5 minutes, and then pump it up again.

I am not trying to say you are doing anything wrong, I am reallt just trying to undersatnd it better.

thanks for the quick response.

 

[Mark Bianco]

About every 2 hours for 6 minutes each time using a small Toms Aqualifter pump. I have a 100gl sump connected to my 210gl tank upstairs.

One thing that will kill a pump quick on and off cycling. The on and off of a float switch is about 1/4" from on to off. Thats why I use the Defer statement. Also keeping that water level makes my skimmer work well.

I can see your way but I have to ask if I can run a 300gl system, and my ATO with a small aqualifter 6 minutes every 2 hours, What size system and Ato pump do you have that needs to run 15 minutes to raise the level a 1/4" Just couroius...

Since the Apex processes commands from top to bottom. You could use this for your way. However if 15 minutes of the pump running overflows the floats / sump you have a problem...

Set OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch2 OPEN Then OFF
Min Time 015:00 Then Off

 

[jerm_kozac]

yea no. I am using the aqualifter, I guess I was just trying to have some redundancy. I actually switched my programming to be more like yours. Makes more sense to me. thanks again.