Topping off with float switches
- Thread starter cm11599ps
- Start date
swearint
New member
There are a few ways to do it. The easiest is:
[ATO]
Set OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
That tends to short cycle right at the float level. You could then add Defer ON/Defer OFF to stretch it out a bit. In otherwords, it would delay when the ATO turns ON or OFF creating a 'zone' around the float level.
I use this approach:
[ATO_Allow]
OSC 000:00/030:00/450:00 Then ON
[ATO]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet Sump_NOM = OFF Then ON
If Outlet ATO_Allow = OFF Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then ON
If the sump level is low (Sump_NOM = OFF) the ATO could turn ON; however, there is the ATO_Allow outlet that only permits it to do so within a 30 minute window every 8 hours. Within that window of time, it will turn off when Sump_NOM changes to ON. I did this because I have snails in my sump and they occasionally camp out on the float and cause false low events.
Todd
[ATO]
Set OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
That tends to short cycle right at the float level. You could then add Defer ON/Defer OFF to stretch it out a bit. In otherwords, it would delay when the ATO turns ON or OFF creating a 'zone' around the float level.
I use this approach:
[ATO_Allow]
OSC 000:00/030:00/450:00 Then ON
[ATO]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet Sump_NOM = OFF Then ON
If Outlet ATO_Allow = OFF Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then ON
If the sump level is low (Sump_NOM = OFF) the ATO could turn ON; however, there is the ATO_Allow outlet that only permits it to do so within a 30 minute window every 8 hours. Within that window of time, it will turn off when Sump_NOM changes to ON. I did this because I have snails in my sump and they occasionally camp out on the float and cause false low events.
Todd
aquamanic
WHO DAT??
I've got mine to come on when called for by the low float and run as long as it needs (with a high float as safety shut-off). I don't use oscillate. I've also got a Defer for 60 minutes meaning that even if it wants, it won't top-off for another hour. This keeps the cycling down as Jon points out.
cm11599ps
New member
Does it matter what wires you hook up to the BB? I just installed 2 float switches in my sump. One for top off, the other as an emergency shutoff/alarm in case the lower one fails.
On my lower float it is coded as If Switch5 CLOSED Then ON. That works fine.
For my alarm outlet it's coded as If Switch4 CLOSED Then OFF
I wanted to get help before I started moving things around. In my limited programming knowledge it would seem like I wired switch4 wrong and should simply switch the ground and input #4 around.
On my lower float it is coded as If Switch5 CLOSED Then ON. That works fine.
For my alarm outlet it's coded as If Switch4 CLOSED Then OFF
I wanted to get help before I started moving things around. In my limited programming knowledge it would seem like I wired switch4 wrong and should simply switch the ground and input #4 around.
swearint
New member
Each float should have one wire attached to Ground, then the other wire will go to the desired Switch. It does not matter which of the two wires is Ground. So Float1 would be wired to Switch1 and GND, Float2 will be wired to Switch2 and GND, and so on.
If I understand your intent, the code for Switch4 is incorrect. You want the Alarm to come ON when CLOSED.
Todd
If I understand your intent, the code for Switch4 is incorrect. You want the Alarm to come ON when CLOSED.
Todd
cm11599ps
New member
Now that I've had a good nights sleep I can tell you that I found my fuge light to be in manual on so that's why it wasn't responding to the float switches. Sometimes you get so worked up about things you overlook the obvious.
Next problem.
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
I have the above code for my fuge light simply to test the switches out. With this code my light goes on once the float switch goes down. When my float switch rises to where the wires are then the light goes off. Is it just me or is it doing the opposite of what I want? Shouldn't the switch be considered closed once it gets pushed up towards the wires?
Next problem.
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
I have the above code for my fuge light simply to test the switches out. With this code my light goes on once the float switch goes down. When my float switch rises to where the wires are then the light goes off. Is it just me or is it doing the opposite of what I want? Shouldn't the switch be considered closed once it gets pushed up towards the wires?
swearint
New member
It depends on how the float is configured. If you want the opposite operation, remove the small clip on the bottom of stem. Remove the float and flip it 180 degrees, replace, and reattach the clip.
Todd
cm11599ps
New member
So I'm NOT going crazy? :fun4:
I just flipped one of them around and it's now working as intended, I was getting ready to pull my hair out thinking I was nuts.
THANK YOU!
pyton
New member
No the Apex default state is OPEN so you always want it OFF when it is OPEN. If the BB fails or the cable comes unplugged, the Apex will see that it is OPEN.
If cable came unplugged while you had it set as OPEN Then ON your ATO would run until you noticed the cable was unplugged.
So this programming would be the one I recommend
Code:
Fallback OFF
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
Defer 030:00 Then ONIf you have a high and low switch I would use this (Switch 1 being low Switch 2 being high):
Code:
Fallback OFF
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch2 CLOSED Then OFF
Defer 030:00 Then ONcm11599ps
New member
Thanks guys. This has been driving me nuts but it looks like I have it correct now.
Switch 1 should signal my top off pump to fill my sump until the water pushes the switch up. Switch 2 is my emergency switch and should shut my top off pump off it the float gets pushed up.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch2 CLOSED Then OFF
Do I have that right now?
I'm still working on things but I plan to put a pump in my sump for water changes and it will be connected to a drain line. I also was thinking about putting the following code on my drain pump.
If Switch2 closed then ON
If Switch1 Open Then Off
This should hopefully prevent my sump from flooding over, right? I would place some time actions in the above code but since I'm still learning I haven't included them above.
If the drain pump was ever needed for any other reason then a water change then I realize it could really screw up my tank. Even if the drain pump wasn't installed then all the excess RO water would wreck havoc on the tank anyway, right? I figure I'd rather prevent any water damage to my house and do damage to my tank if the worst ever happened.
How's it sound?
Switch 1 should signal my top off pump to fill my sump until the water pushes the switch up. Switch 2 is my emergency switch and should shut my top off pump off it the float gets pushed up.
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Switch1 OPEN Then OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON
If Switch2 CLOSED Then OFF
Do I have that right now?
I'm still working on things but I plan to put a pump in my sump for water changes and it will be connected to a drain line. I also was thinking about putting the following code on my drain pump.
If Switch2 closed then ON
If Switch1 Open Then Off
This should hopefully prevent my sump from flooding over, right? I would place some time actions in the above code but since I'm still learning I haven't included them above.
If the drain pump was ever needed for any other reason then a water change then I realize it could really screw up my tank. Even if the drain pump wasn't installed then all the excess RO water would wreck havoc on the tank anyway, right? I figure I'd rather prevent any water damage to my house and do damage to my tank if the worst ever happened.
How's it sound?
swearint
New member
Couple things:
1) You don't need to use Set OFF. It doesn't hurt, just redundant since there is an ON and OFF condition based on Switch1.
2) I would change Switch2 to OPEN Then OFF for the ATO for the default state failsafe, ie if disconnected, the ATO stays OFF.
Here is a thread regarding a water change procedure:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2008586
Todd
1) You don't need to use Set OFF. It doesn't hurt, just redundant since there is an ON and OFF condition based on Switch1.
2) I would change Switch2 to OPEN Then OFF for the ATO for the default state failsafe, ie if disconnected, the ATO stays OFF.
Here is a thread regarding a water change procedure:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2008586
Todd
cm11599ps
New member
I bought the floats with the splash guards. I've had it set for a few days and it only comes on about once an hour for a few seconds (10-20) but I was thinking about having it go longer between fill ups to save the pump.
I did create the virtual outlets and have some of them set already. You can see them on my reeftronics page.
I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of this. Hope I didn't just jinx myself.
