Optical AutoTopOff

[blakebark]

I found this sensor on at http://www.autotopoff.com/custom/
I have been looking for some time trying to find an optical level sensor to incorporate with my apex. This on looks like it could be the one with out the hassle of wiring it up myself. I have my on DIY break out box and I was wondering how I could modify this sensor to make it work with the break out box. Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Nice; about time someone made these more generally available. Guessing from the image they have a relay internally to the project box to make the AC connection. Remove the AC cords and wire the contacts to a switch input to the Apex.

I am guessing; I don't have one (yet).

 

[Baba Booey]

I've been using autotopoff.com parts for my ACIII and APEX for years, it's nice to see they have an optical sensor now. I think I might just need to order one....

 

[blakebark]

Thanks Kenargo! I emailed auto top off about there optical sensors, and they said that they draw a maximum current of 40 mA. Do you know how much current the break out box would produce when the switch is closed?

 

[ciphros]

Just in case, here's the info on the sensor itself:

http://fluidswitch.com/pages/OpticalLiquidLevelSensorOS-900.htm

Looks like they have options available for NO or NC (but you have to specify which), and also 5V or 12V DC

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Thanks Kenargo! I emailed auto top off about there optical sensors, and they said that they draw a maximum current of 40 mA. Do you know how much current the break out box would produce when the switch is closed?

I think you might be mixing the circuit with the connection to the Apex. You can't connect the Apex to the sensor but rather the sensor would drive a relay that the Apex connects to.

In the spec sheet for the sensor, see the right-hand drawing; that is what I suspect is inside their box (unless they use a triac in which case you would need to alter the design and add a small relay instead).

 

[pyton]

I emailed them a while ago too about this and I got this back

Pyton, our optical controller is a stand alone unit that you won’t be able to connect to your reef controller.

the optical sensors are a bit of a pain because they require a 12vdc (or 5vdc depending on which model you get) power supply and they are a bit fragile in the sense they can only handle up to 40mA. If you draw too much current through them you’ll break the sensor so you’d need to figure out how much of a current draw of your reef controller is going to put on it. We have to use a special relay with a low current draw in our optical controller. If you want to give it a try you can get the optical sensors here: http://fluidswitch.com/pages/OpticalLiquidLevelSensorOS-900.htm


We did have a customer who was trying to accomplish a similar thing with his apex controller. He said he called Apex to inquire about this and send me back the following info:

“He talked me a bit about the optical as well. It seems like it may be more hassle than what it is worth”

 

[Deleted member 143833]

We have to use a special relay with a low current draw in our optical controller.

If they already have a low-power relay then I'd bet you can rewire the relay contacts to the switch input of the Apex and it would work. Personally, I'l purchase the sensor and wire one up. I was going to do that when I get time, just haven't had the time and my floats are working well enough where I'm not overly motivated to spend $60 for a single sensor

 

[rbredding]

it's fancy.. but I'll stick to mechanical float switches for now..