RKE - Top-off pump control

[tonymac]

Anyone seen this function/menu/device or whatever it would called anywhere in the menu/outputs/inputs???
I do not see it listed anywhere as an option. I only see the sump/skimmer or WMA/B/C/D options.
Is it missing??? or am I missing something?

[drparker]

That's what the micro switch ports are for on the SL1. They would be wired to float switches and would turn off or on a pump to do top off.

[tonymac]

yeah, I know what the switches are for...problem is I cannot get the pump to shutoff when it comes on. There are 2 switches. 1 turns the pump on when water is low. The 2nd turns the pump off when it reaches a set level.
That is the question...I cannot figure out how to set it properly given current configs on the RKE.
I have tried various setups, but am now just completely confused.

[Captain Quirk]

I even set the switch as the input and a socket as the output and I can't get it to work... I can see that the switch is working as I show it on my home screen, but it still won't output to the plug.

Also, one of my pigtails was bad. That took a bit to figure out...

Some of this just doesn't seem to WORK right... And I suspect they're getting a lot of PM's and emails and it will take some time to get around to answering and/or hashing out replacement parts/whatever...

All I wanted for right now was a switch hooked up to a float valve... And I can't even get that to work. I'm definitely a bit frustrated... But, from what I can tell, I'm better off than some. At least mine is turning the fans and lights on when needed...

[drparker]

I don't have the switches yet. But this how I was going to try. Plug the pump into an outlet. Set it as a controller. Then pick device SW1 set the value to 1 and on to low. As a safety set an alarm to the other switch and use that to shut it down if it gets to high.

How have you programmed it?

[drparker]

Might need to reverse the logic of the 1 vs. 0 as I'm not sure if the switch is open or closed when the valve rises.

[tonymac]

that was not working for me...looks like I am hooking up the JBJ ATO again.

[Captain Quirk]

I ended up adding a value of .01 to the target... And now it works.

Device=switchA
Target=001 (this was the change I made - why it's not "on" or "off" (high, low, whatever) is beyond me... It is, after all, a switched input, so it can't BE any value but 1 or 0...).
On when=low (you can either change your float or change this value)

Now I need to add another float sensor for the E cutoff and audible alarm...

Overall, things are going well. And all things considered, I'm a very happy camper!

Take THAT, Aquatronica!

:p

[ScottyS]

I was hoping to eventually hook up a float switch for a top off pump too, bt all this "Target=001" has me totally confused. I hope when the myReef software comes out we can use that to program it, and that it will make it easier.

[Captain Quirk]

Just try it. Simple enough to do... Betcha it works.

But yeah, I'm in agreement, too, that PC software programming would be VERY nice to have...

[Captain Quirk]

I'm having a problem with oscillation, though.

If the float bounces up and down due to waves in the sump, how could I make it where it is only allowed to go on X times per hour?

Anyone?

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12884820#post12884820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Captain Quirk
I ended up adding a value of .01 to the target... And now it works.

Nice work, I didn't get a chance to play with it yet, but I wasn't planning on using if for top off. Nice to know how to program it.
Do you know, is the second switch tied into the fist switch, or can they be used independently?

[Captain Quirk]

I only have the one switch hooked up; the second pigtail is bad so I can't wire in the emergency cutoff...

But yeah, everything I see tells me they're independent...

I just glanced over and was looking at my tank when the sump light went off and I can see the power strip that has the MH on it blinking (the channel it's using, 1). So yeah, very symptomatic of a comms failure... I'll re-seat and see what happens... Pretty frustrating, though...

[tonymac]

Yeah, frustrating, but I want it to work. My problem is that I have 2 switches and it is not able to be programmed the way I want it. I can get it to work with 1 switch, although I do not trust it to turn off. I need the 2nd switch to be the kill or alarm. It wight turn it off, but it is also reading that switch to turn back on, instead of the first switch.
This is the least of my worries as I have another problem I will post in the "bugs" topic.

[drparker]

set an alarm to the 2nd switch and program the outlet to turn off when the alarm is active

[drparker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12886187#post12886187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScottyS
I was hoping to eventually hook up a float switch for a top off pump too, bt all this "Target=001" has me totally confused. I hope when the myReef software comes out we can use that to program it, and that it will make it easier. They are using the international symbols and computer speak for on and off. 0 is off. 1 is on.

[Captain Quirk]

LOL

Actually, it's a binary representation, but yes, 0=false and 1=true.

You can either flip the magnet on the switch or reverse the logic in the programming...

The thing that strikes me as odd is that since you are selecting the switch as the input, your only variable is whether it is off or on; having values of anything other than "off" or "on" doesn't make sense. And, honestly, why even HAVE the need to enter a target? (I suspect I know why, as those program options are there for other items, and changing the menu (or creating an entirely new one for this function) didn't make sense. *I* don't see that it's that big of a deal, but then again, this isn't really my strong point, anyway, so I couldn't say either way. Perhaps Konadog will have some perspective on this...)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12889305#post12889305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drparker
They are using the international symbols and computer speak for on and off. 0 is off. 1 is on.

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12889415#post12889415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Captain Quirk
The thing that strikes me as odd is that since you are selecting the switch as the input, your only variable is whether it is off or on; having values of anything other than "off" or "on" doesn't make sense. And, honestly, why even HAVE the need to enter a target? (I suspect I know why, as those program options are there for other items, and changing the menu (or creating an entirely new one for this function) didn't make sense. *I* don't see that it's that big of a deal, but then again, this isn't really my strong point, anyway, so I couldn't say either way. Perhaps Konadog will have some perspective on this...) I think your right on the program part, it may be the same program for other things too. As far as the 0 and 1, yes it's a binary statement, and the .1 or .01 or .001 is probably just a decimal thing. The code is written one way to be used for multiple functions.

We are just speculating here, so don't take this as Gospel :D but I deal with stuff like this in my industry all the time. It's done for various reasons, but usually it's done for programing space (memory).

[tonymac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12889293#post12889293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drparker
set an alarm to the 2nd switch and program the outlet to turn off when the alarm is active

I have done this. The problem here is as soon as the 2nd switch goes from 1 to 0, the pump turns back on. So the water level never drops back to the 1st switch, where I want the pump to start back. Does that make sense?

[drparker]

So switch one goes from 1 to 0 and pump is goes on. Then switch one goes from zero to 1 pump says on. Switch 2 goes to one and pump shuts off?


Can you see switch one change back to 1?

How do you have the pump and switch programmed?

[tonymac]

What you are saying is correct. And Yes, I can see (used to see RKE display is out right now) the SWa (#1) go from 1 to 0 and turn on, it goes back to 1 as the water fills, pump stays on. SWb (#2) is at 0 and changes to 0, pump goes off. Here is the problem...SWb goes back to 0 as water level falls and pump kicks back on. Pump shouldn't go back on 'til SWa goes to 0.

[drparker]

How do you have the pump set, as a controller? What settings do you have under that?

[drparker]

I finally got some switches had a chance to test it. It works fine. Here's how mine is set.

My RKE shows that the switch ports with value of =1 when they are open and value =0 when closed. I tested with just leads before adding switches.

My switches are closed value = 0 when low and open value = 1 when rasied.

I have Alarm 04 set for switch B to:
Value = 0.00
trip if = above

I have the output where the pump is plugged in set to controller.
Device = switch A
Target = 0.01
Hysteresis = 0.00
on when = Low
Standby= 1&2
If SB = Off
Alarm = alarm 04
if alarm = off

[tonymac]

At this point I do not remember. My display is out, so I can't see it, even if I tried!
I'll try to go by the above...
Device = switch A
Target = 1.00
Hysteresis = 0.00
on when = Low
Standby= none
If SB = Off
Alarm = alarm 02
if alarm = off

DR...what is your alarm. Mine is based on Switch B, when value is 1, pump is tripped (or off from what I remember and understand).

[drparker]

Switch B, value 0, trip if above.

Try changing your target value to only .01 instead of 1.00

[DA_Jack]

drparker is correct on the target value. To use a switch as a controller you will need to have a value between the the high and low. Any value from 0.01 to 0.99 should work.

[Captain Quirk]

Bump

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12886338#post12886338 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Captain Quirk
I'm having a problem with oscillation, though.

If the float bounces up and down due to waves in the sump, how could I make it where it is only allowed to go on X times per hour?

Anyone?

[DA_Jack]

Currently, there is no method to have a controller only operate x amount of times per second.

If you want a device on when a switch goes low, another possible solution would be to make the function a multi-timer. Set all timers to none (so the channel is normally off). Then set an alarm to turn on the channel when a switch is low. See if that is better for oscillation. Hope that helps.

[jtma508]

I'm also trying to figure out how to handle my ATO system. For me, I'd like to trigger my ATO pump when the low-level switch goes to "0" but have the pump run for a specific amount of time (say, 5:30) since my pump delivers a set amount of water per unit time. I thought this would easily be accomplished using a 'timer' but the timers seem to be clocks (requiring DOW and start times). Is there any way to trigger an output to change state for a specific amount of time (like the standbys work) without it being calendar/clock related?