Push Button Maintenance

[ataller]

I understand that you can set a feed cycle to turn off all your pumps, powerheads, etc for a given amount of time. And I understand you can use that to do maintenance.

My problem is that when a do a WC it doesn't take a set amount of time.

I am wondering if I can somehow set up my apex to turn off my powerheads, MH, and return pump, turn on my actinics, UNTIL i push the button again?

So push button, do water change, push button, everything comes back on.

Thanks.

Adam

 

[swearint]

It would be easy to do if the switch latches. I assume by push button, you mean a momentary switch which would make it difficult. You would have to use two seperate momentary switches. Easiest would be to use a toggle switch. Then it is a matter of defining a virtual outlet to monitor the switch:

[Maintenance]
Set OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON

[Pump]
.
.
.
If Outlet Maintenance = ON then OFF

You really wouldn't even need to use a virtual outlet, it just makes it more readable and you can see it on the status page.

Todd

 

[kurt_n]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but...

Why not just set up the maintenance (feed) cycle for some amount of time that you know you'll never exceed, and then just cancel the feed cycle when you're done with the maintenance.

 

[jrpark22000]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but...

Why not just set up the maintenance (feed) cycle for some amount of time that you know you'll never exceed, and then just cancel the feed cycle when you're done with the maintenance.

+1, simple and easy.

 

[djkms]

+2 thats what I do

 

[ataller]

How do you change the duration of a feed cycle.

I know how to delay the switching back on of things after the feed cycle is over (by including 010 in the line for example).

I am not sure however, how to change FeedA to 50 minutes though for example.

 

[RussM]

How do you change the duration of a feed cycle.

In the menu via the display head:

Setup->Outlet Setup->Feed Interval

 

[ataller]

Perfect. This is the exact functionality I was looking for.

 

[fickle1]

I was looking at setting up a similar toggle switch to do maintenance and I ran across this thread. It appears that the built in feed function does the same thing as listed above. In the unofficial manual it states:

"Note that if you cancel a feed cycle, the delay variable (005 in the above example) is currently ignored - all outlets are immediately processed and set to whatever state their programs dictate."

Am I reading this correctly. If I set my feed cycle for 60 minutes with a few minute delay start on the skimmer, then when I cancel the feed cycle, everything will turn back on at once? Is there a way to avoid this using the feed cycle?

 

[aquamanic]

Am I reading this correctly. If I set my feed cycle for 60 minutes with a few minute delay start on the skimmer, then when I cancel the feed cycle, everything will turn back on at once? Is there a way to avoid this using the feed cycle?

You are correct and no there's no way using the feed cycle to avoid that (future software update).

What many folks do is create their own feed cycle using virtual outlets. Lacks the push button activation but you can enable/disable at will and use the defer command to function as the delay.

 

[fickle1]

You are correct and no there's no way using the feed cycle to avoid that (future software update).

What many folks do is create their own feed cycle using virtual outlets. Lacks the push button activation but you can enable/disable at will and use the defer command to function as the delay.

Hmm so in that case then a physical toggle switch connected to the breakout box would work. I could assign the virtual outlet to the physical switch and setup the defer command this way?

 

[aquamanic]

That would work. You just have to reference the VO in the various outlet programs you want to affect.