please tell me about your osmocontroller...

[hahnmeister]

How does it work? I cant read the little bit of text in the catalog, but I am interested. Its shocking how little selection there is for auto-top-off controllers in this hobby. Tunze and Ultralife were the only good ones until Jalli came along...and who knows about that yet. It seems like every euro mfg has them for sale...but nobody in the states.

So tell me more....give me the sales pitch...

[elosusa]

Hahn,
It won't be much of a sales pitch but I will try to explain what I know. The osmocontroller II was introduced right after I left Italy and I have only had a few conversations about it. I will have them in on the 19th and I can give you much more detail. The one thing we talked about was redundancy and I asked why there is only one float switch. In the past Elos has used up to 3 float switches and this is a style that we wanted to get away from. The new controller assumes that "sh#$ will happen" and the controller is designed to prevent this. Much like heaters, it has almost become standard practice to use a temp controller (i.e ranco) to protect against the inevitable problem with a heater even if it has a built in temp controller. We put float switches in the same category. While great attention has been given to our float switch (blown glass, silicone impregnated suction cup, etc), this will inevitable be the "weak link" in any top off system. So instead of adding more "weak links" we designed a "float switch controller" to go along with the small pump and float switch included in the osmocontroller II. The controller allows you to set a duration for the top off (to prevent flooding) and it will not top off until the float switch is "open" for 5 sec. so waves do not effect the float switch and thus prevent the "constant stop and start" caused by small fluctuations. I will go into more detail after I get more information on the controller. I apologize for being so vague but I don't want to misinform you about anything and this is one product that I have no personal experience with since it is so new. The other thing that I can add is the Elos controller, the biotopus II has this feature built into it with the new firmware. Also these are included in every system price. I will post again when I find out more. Thanks, Jesse

[elosusa]

Just got off the phone back to Italy and I will have the manual sent on Monday. What I said on my last post does this product no justice. The computer inside of this controller does a lot more than what I understood from my previous discussions about this product. The setup procedure is pre-programmed for our SUMP 1000 but you can go through setup steps to allow the controller to "learn" the minimun and maximum levels of your sump. It also does things like audible alarms if the switch is on for too long and it shuts off the pump. It also gives audible alarms if it is off for too long so you can check the float and the pump. When you are setting up it also gives you "feedback tones" that are different so you can position the float exactly were you need it. I have a small shipment coming in today with one of these controllers and I can take a few pictures to add to this forum. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions. Jesse

[TheMoneyPit]

Sounds like something I can't live without. Sign me up for one.

[hahnmeister]

I think I like what I am hearing as well...a 'smart float switch'. But is that the pump I have to use? What if I want to use a dosing pump/larger pump?

Other than that, since its italian, can I get one in Ferrari Red?

[elosusa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7135373#post7135373 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
I think I like what I am hearing as well...a 'smart float switch'. But is that the pump I have to use? What if I want to use a dosing pump/larger pump?

Other than that, since its italian, can I get one in Ferrari Red?
Just got back from the air cargo and I have one in my hands. I'm really angry it is not the Ferrari red that I ordered:p The pump is a low voltage pump that is connected to the controller and you must use this pump otherwise it will void the warranty. This pump is replaceable.Having said that I am sure there is a DIY'er out there that will find another solution. That same guy maybe able to help with the red, too.

[sixliner6]

How much are they?

[elosusa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7161363#post7161363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sixliner6
How much are they?
$270

[hahnmeister]

Ok, can you send me a catalog or something w/ more info on the ATO?

[elosusa]

hahn,
The catalog can be downloaded on the website or on this forum but the description is pretty basic. I have them in stock now and I will scan the instructions for you. PM me your email address and I will send that over. I have read through the instructions and I have talked to the engineer on this thing and it is pretty neat. I actually have one that I can use and I haven't had time to set it up. It is pre-programmed for our SUMP 1000 but it can obviously be set for any sump. There is a pretty neat set up feature that makes two distinct tones so you know when it is open and closed so you can perfectly set the water level. On another topic, I was readiing your post on Sanjay's thread. I gave him one of our bulbs to test out if he has the time. Are you going to get the equipment you guys were talking about?