Serial Port Commands
- Thread starter kimoyo
- Start date
kimoyo
Active member
Hi Curt,
- I would like to do a statement like "If Timer PM1 = OFF Then COL OFF" so that whenever I shut off the return pump the chiller with be cut also. But I don't see an "If Timer" statement on my ACII list. Do I need a firmware upgrade? If so, how do I do it? I already have the serial to pc cable.
- When I do a feed cycle the temp could raise a little bit while the fish are feeding. I'm setting up the ACII so that it cuts off the Halides when it gets above a certain temp. Usually this won't happen because the chiller is on but I have to cut it off when the return pump shuts down. So is there anyway for me to leave the states the same only during the feeding cycle and say 5-10 mins after? I don't want to halides to cut off for no reason.
- Conversely,is there anyway for the feed cycle to be cut short if anything drastic happens like a 5 degree temp increase (I know it is very unlikely but curious).
- Lastly, if I always want to have my return running, would the correct statement be 'If Time > 00.00 Then PM1 ON'?
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Thanks.
Paul
I pm'd you my email address in case you need to send me something.
kimoyo
Active member
Hey Curt,
I plan on getting an inverter/charger and battery as a power backup for my system and having my DC8 be connected thru it. My ACII will be running off the main power. In the case of a power failure I will be able to keep power to the DC8 but I would like to have my chiller, return pump, one t5, and halides all shut off for the duration of the power outage but come back on once power is restored. I know I can do a power failure command to shut them off but how do I get them to come back on when the power comes back? I have two stream pumps in my tank that only use 45W and my t5 54W. This could be OK for many hours on the UPS. How would I program for this?
Assuming I didn't have the inverter/charger, in the case of a power out is there anything I should worry about restarting or what should I do to make sure everthing restarts okay? Is there a built in max code for DC8 when power outs occur? And does a general max code (for halides for example) work regardless if its a powerloss or just the ACII turning the outlet on/off?
Thanks again.
Paul
I plan on getting an inverter/charger and battery as a power backup for my system and having my DC8 be connected thru it. My ACII will be running off the main power. In the case of a power failure I will be able to keep power to the DC8 but I would like to have my chiller, return pump, one t5, and halides all shut off for the duration of the power outage but come back on once power is restored. I know I can do a power failure command to shut them off but how do I get them to come back on when the power comes back? I have two stream pumps in my tank that only use 45W and my t5 54W. This could be OK for many hours on the UPS. How would I program for this?
Assuming I didn't have the inverter/charger, in the case of a power out is there anything I should worry about restarting or what should I do to make sure everthing restarts okay? Is there a built in max code for DC8 when power outs occur? And does a general max code (for halides for example) work regardless if its a powerloss or just the ACII turning the outlet on/off?
Thanks again.
Paul
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kimoyo
Active member
Curt,
I will just keeping posting my questions until you get back.
I would like to use the
If Sun 000/000
Then T51 ON
statement but I would also like to have the t5's go off when the metal halides come on, at 11:30-1:30. I tried to put a time statement after the If Sun but they run first so it didn't work. How would I go about getting the t5's to follow the seasonal schedule but turn them off for a few hours each day?
Thanks.
I will just keeping posting my questions until you get back.
I would like to use the
If Sun 000/000
Then T51 ON
statement but I would also like to have the t5's go off when the metal halides come on, at 11:30-1:30. I tried to put a time statement after the If Sun but they run first so it didn't work. How would I go about getting the t5's to follow the seasonal schedule but turn them off for a few hours each day?
Thanks.
I'm back.
1. The AC2 does not have the timer statement.
2. You could just add a 'If Feed Cycle Then LT1 ON'
3. No, there is no way to automatically stop a feed cycle.
4. Yes, use 'If Time > 00:00 Then PMP ON' if you want something always on.
Just add a 'If Power Fail Then PMP OFF' to shut off things during a power failure. When power is restored everything will go back to normal operation.
You can't mix time and seasonal statements, so you are not going to get the desired result. Without the timer statement there is not a way to do this.
Curt
1. The AC2 does not have the timer statement.
2. You could just add a 'If Feed Cycle Then LT1 ON'
3. No, there is no way to automatically stop a feed cycle.
4. Yes, use 'If Time > 00:00 Then PMP ON' if you want something always on.
Just add a 'If Power Fail Then PMP OFF' to shut off things during a power failure. When power is restored everything will go back to normal operation.
You can't mix time and seasonal statements, so you are not going to get the desired result. Without the timer statement there is not a way to do this.
Curt
kimoyo
Active member
Thanks Curt for the responses.
Thanks again.
Paul
But the ACjr and AC3 do? Is there anyway to upgrade to enable this function? I'm only concerned about this because if I every turn the pump off to do cleaning and forget about the chiller and walk away I don't want to damage my chiller.clp said:
But what if they halides aren't on when I do the Feed cycle? When I feed my fish everyday the halides are on during on cycle and off during the other. My feed cycles are sometimes longer because I do my sump cleaning during them.clp said:
Thanks again.
Paul
kimoyo
Active member
Curt,
I would really like to figure this out.
I would like my t5's to run for 11-12hrs and my halides to run for 3 hrs around midday. When the halides come on I want the t5's to go off (I am running phoenix 14k's and think the color is perfect alone). I would like to follow the seasonal lighting schedule so how do I do this?
Because I have my chiller on a different outlet than my return pump I don't want to damage my chiller if my return pump is off. If for whatever reason my return pump is shut off how can I automatically have my chiller cut at the same time?
Paul
I would really like to figure this out.
I would like my t5's to run for 11-12hrs and my halides to run for 3 hrs around midday. When the halides come on I want the t5's to go off (I am running phoenix 14k's and think the color is perfect alone). I would like to follow the seasonal lighting schedule so how do I do this?
Because I have my chiller on a different outlet than my return pump I don't want to damage my chiller if my return pump is off. If for whatever reason my return pump is shut off how can I automatically have my chiller cut at the same time?
Paul
I don't know of anyway to do exactly what you desire without the timer statement. You can do things similar, but not exactly as you requested.
Yes, the timer statement could be added to the AC2. Most of the development work has been done; it has not been tested at all. We currently have a lot of projects under development, so I can't commit to if or when this feature will be added.
Curt
Yes, the timer statement could be added to the AC2. Most of the development work has been done; it has not been tested at all. We currently have a lot of projects under development, so I can't commit to if or when this feature will be added.
Curt
kimoyo
Active member
Curt,
But wouldn't this be a common issue to many aquarists? I think the timer statement is very important. Many people don't want all their t5's running at the same time as their halides but would like to still use the seasonal program. And no one wants to ruin their chillers. Had I know this programming wasn't available I would have thought about getting the acjr or ac3. Could you possible make a poll to see how many people might be interested in this, I mean you guys must have added to the acjr and ac3 for a reason? Thanks.
Paul
But wouldn't this be a common issue to many aquarists? I think the timer statement is very important. Many people don't want all their t5's running at the same time as their halides but would like to still use the seasonal program. And no one wants to ruin their chillers. Had I know this programming wasn't available I would have thought about getting the acjr or ac3. Could you possible make a poll to see how many people might be interested in this, I mean you guys must have added to the acjr and ac3 for a reason? Thanks.
Paul
It is not common - most do not shut down lights in the middle of the day. Why not add a 'If Feed Cycle' statement to the chiller? It seems that is the only common reason for shutting down the main pump. The timer command was only put into our controllers starting in Feb. of this year. For the first 9 years we shipped controllers without this command, and rarely was the feature such a feature requested.
If you purchase the controller within 30 days, you can exchange it for a different model. Call or email - please include the serial number of the controller, and the purchase date.
Curt
If you purchase the controller within 30 days, you can exchange it for a different model. Call or email - please include the serial number of the controller, and the purchase date.
Curt
kimoyo
Active member
Curt,
Again, I'm not shutting down my lights in the middle of the day. I am turning off one set of t5 supplemental lights and turning on my halides. Just read the numerous t5 threads in the lighting forum and you will understand how powerful the t5s are. I do not want to have 500W of halides and 216W of t5s running at the same time. Here is a huge t5 thread if your interested in the issues with t5's, http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=602732&goto=newpost. I've seen countless of people with halides and supplemental lights so I can not see how you can say this is uncommon.
Are there ACII's that have the timer function? Or are you saying exchange it for an acjr or acIII?
Both the ACjr and ACIII have this command, so I don't think it is unreasonable for me to ask about getting this for the ACII. I got an aquacontroller for its flexibility and security and this will further both.
I got my ACII on 8/15/05.
Thanks
Again, I'm not shutting down my lights in the middle of the day. I am turning off one set of t5 supplemental lights and turning on my halides. Just read the numerous t5 threads in the lighting forum and you will understand how powerful the t5s are. I do not want to have 500W of halides and 216W of t5s running at the same time. Here is a huge t5 thread if your interested in the issues with t5's, http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=602732&goto=newpost. I've seen countless of people with halides and supplemental lights so I can not see how you can say this is uncommon.
I have but is the feed cycle the only case you could envision shutting down your return? So what happens if you shut down the return for cleaning (which I hope many of us do) but forget about the chiller. I don't have a fish room (maybe a lot of you do) so I have to take whatever I'm cleaning to the bathroom where I can't hear the chiller click on. Its very possible to lose an $800 piece of equipment this way. How can you not see this as a reasonable and common request.clp said:
Are there ACII's that have the timer function? Or are you saying exchange it for an acjr or acIII?
Both the ACjr and ACIII have this command, so I don't think it is unreasonable for me to ask about getting this for the ACII. I got an aquacontroller for its flexibility and security and this will further both.
I got my ACII on 8/15/05.
Thanks
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It is quite uncommon that I get a request to shut down a set of lights in the middle of the day. Maybe more people want to do it, but I don't hear about it. If you have multiple T5 ballasts, then could do something like this:
If Sun 000/000 Then T51 ON
If Time > 8:00 Then T52 ON
If Time > 12:00 Then T52 OFF
If Time > 12:00 Then MH1 ON
If TIme > 15:00 Then MH1 OFF
If Time > 15:00 Then T52 ON
If Time > 18:30 Then T52 OFF
With this configuration you get the seasonal lighting, with the lights doing basically what you want.
Yes, I'm saying exchange it for a different controller. It is not unreasonable to ask for the feature. I do think it is unreasonable to expect every feature of newer generation controller to be available on an older generation. I could just promise the feature and not deliver, but I'm not going to do that. It is definitely on our list of things to do, but it isn't scheduled for testing yet and may never be.
Curt
If Sun 000/000 Then T51 ON
If Time > 8:00 Then T52 ON
If Time > 12:00 Then T52 OFF
If Time > 12:00 Then MH1 ON
If TIme > 15:00 Then MH1 OFF
If Time > 15:00 Then T52 ON
If Time > 18:30 Then T52 OFF
With this configuration you get the seasonal lighting, with the lights doing basically what you want.
Yes, I'm saying exchange it for a different controller. It is not unreasonable to ask for the feature. I do think it is unreasonable to expect every feature of newer generation controller to be available on an older generation. I could just promise the feature and not deliver, but I'm not going to do that. It is definitely on our list of things to do, but it isn't scheduled for testing yet and may never be.
Curt
kimoyo
Active member
Yep this is the configuration I have, I was just hoping to make it a little better.clp said:
I didn't realize that the ACII was an older generation. When I brought my ACII 2 months ago I had to wait several weeks for you guys to send the shipment out, so I assumed (incorrectly) you were still making that model and it was current.clp said:
clp said:
Will there be any upgrades with the ACII in the future or are you phasing out that line? How can I go about getting those updates? Are you working on developments for the ACII anymore or just newer models that will be coming out? If the ACII is being phased out I would have opted for different model, but as you know I got my controller a little under 2 months ago.clp said:
If demand stays high for the AC2, then we will continue to manufacturer them. Right now demand is pretty good so they are still being made. I definitely want to do a firmware update for the AC2, but currently there are other projects that must be completed first, to keep our product line competitive.
My offer still stands on trading in your AC2 for a different controller. Call me if you want to do that.
Curt
My offer still stands on trading in your AC2 for a different controller. Call me if you want to do that.
Curt
JAANDGC
New member
Curt,
I would also like to be on the list to get a firmware upgrade that contains the "if time" command with the ACII. I did apply to be a beta tester some months back, for Neptune but never heard anything back. If it would not destroy the ACII, I would be willing to help test it.
Jerry
I would also like to be on the list to get a firmware upgrade that contains the "if time" command with the ACII. I did apply to be a beta tester some months back, for Neptune but never heard anything back. If it would not destroy the ACII, I would be willing to help test it.
Jerry
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