My first ATO program

[vresor]

I find the Neptune Apex manual too light and the Unofficial Guide so deep that I get lost in the detail. Paul at Neptune is great, but it's Sunday morning, so I"m starting here. My first attempt at an ATO program is this:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch2 CLOSED Then OFF
Min Time 010:00 Then OFF

Will the Switch2 statement over ride the Switch1 statement? On my level switch rack, both switches are normally open and close when the float floats as the level rises. Switch1 is the lower primary switch and Switch2 is the higher backup switch.

So what happens if the level rises to the point Switch2 closes? That would mean the program is telling output 1 (powering the Aqualifter) to be on because Switch1 is closed and output 1 to be off because Switch2 is closed. I'm confused.

 

[cobra9]

Try the neptune forums.

 

[Mark Bianco]

When programming for an Apex the last true statement in the routine over rides the other statement.

From the way you have this worded it appears that you are trying to keep the water level inbetween the two floats?

Why not try this, have switch1 be the level you want the water level to stop at and use switch2 as a backup / safety. Most floats states can be changed / changing state by removing the clip and flipping the float around then reinstalling the clip. So switch1 is closed when down and switch2 is closed when down. I added a Defer command this will keep the pump from turning on if they are slight variations in the water level water sloching ect...

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If switch1 Closed Then ON
Defer 005:00 Then ON
If switch2 Open Then OFF
Min Time 010:00 Then OFF

Hope that helps. You can PM me if you have any other questions.
Mark

 

[vresor]

Thanks Mark. That makes a lot of sense and the Defer statement is a great addition. I hadn't realized that NO switches can be converted to NC by simply inverting the float. Very cool. Mine are the generic ones sold by autotopoff.com. I may not have communicated my goal to well above. I am trying to control water level at Switch1 (the bottom switch) and use Switch2 as a backup safety to kill the ATO pump if the bottom switch sticks on. And after thinking about it a bit more, I do understand the value of using a NC switch for the safety cutoff since that handles switch or wiring failures too. Thanks again.