Outlet Programming Issue

tcmfish · 05/05/2012, 10:20 AM

The problem I am having is that I am trying to get my kalk mixing pump to come on 1 minute out of every 6 hours.

Right now my program looks like this:
Fallback OFF
OSC 001:00/359:00/000:00 Then OFF

Which should be right, I think? Now when I watch the pump come on it always comes on at the right time, but sometimes it will stay on for up to four minutes. It never goes off after a minute. I also tried to do "If" "Then" statements and that didn't work either. For example, If Time 6:00 to 6:01 Then ON, and that didn't work either. It would come on and just stay on, even if I had fallback OFF.

What is puzzling is, I have my Auto Top Off set up in a similar fashion and it works fine. It's program is:
Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/001:30/008:30 Then ON
If Outlet Kalk_Ready = OFF Then OFF
If pH > 08.30 Then OFF

The Kalk_Ready virtual outlet program is:
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If Outlet Kalk_Pump = ON Then OFF
Defer 040:00 Then ON

This is so that the ATO won't be on until 40 minutes after the kalk has mixed. Everything works fine except this kalk pump stays on too long. The OSC command works fine with the ATO. It goes off right after that minute 30 is up, however the kalk pump has stayed on anywhere from 2:30 min to 4min.

Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

aquamanic · 05/05/2012, 11:03 AM

Is your mixing pump on outlet 4 or 8? If not, it needs to be.

Mpfaff77 · 05/05/2012, 11:04 AM

Try

Fallback off
Set off
Osc 359:00/1:00/0:00 then on

I think that should work for you kalk stir. The middle numbers are your on times. You just had it switched. As far as if time statements. I think it didn't go off since you didn't have a "set off" statement.

Fallback off
Set off
If time 6:00 to 6:01 then on

tcmfish · 05/05/2012, 11:54 AM

Alan,

Does it have to be one 4 or 8 because of the small time it is on?

I have two metal halides so I thought they had to be on 4 or 8... Really don't want to buy another EB8 just to power a maxi jet...

Mpfaff77 - AFAIK the statement I have is correct. You can use OSC as ON/OFF/ON Then OFF or OFF/ON/OFF Then ON...

tcmfish · 05/05/2012, 12:04 PM

BTW, I should mention I use an autotopoff.com float switch plugged into an outlet (not 4 or 8) on the EB8, not a float switch viz breakout box. The float switch has an aqualifter pump plugged into it.

So I find it weird that one outlet works fine with the float switch/aqualifter and one is sporadic with a maxi jet 600.

bazineta · 05/05/2012, 12:27 PM

Alan's point is that the pump you're using might be of such low power consumption that the non-relay outlets (i.e., those that are not outlet 4 or 8) might not shut off reliably. As a simple test, you could try plugging a lamp or some other high-draw device device there to see visually if that's the issue.

aquamanic · 05/05/2012, 01:39 PM

Your MH lights don't have to be on 4/8 - depends on how much current they draw. If they're below 5A, then they can go anywhere. If they're above 5A, then you don't have a choice and they have to go on 4/8.

If they're turning ON when they should but they don't always turn OFF, then 99% that's the problem. The MJ600 draws 7.5 watts - the cutoff seems to be around 5 for those outlets to work right. So in theory you should be good but you're close - too close to ignore it.

tcmfish · 05/05/2012, 02:08 PM

I have one 250 watt metal halide and one 400 watter. I don't think the 250 watt draws more than 5 amps, so I think I'll switch them.

tcmfish · 05/05/2012, 04:03 PM

Switched outlets and it worked like a charm. Thanks.

aquamanic · 05/05/2012, 04:08 PM

Glad to hear it.

05/05/2012, 10:20 AM	#1
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,603	Outlet Programming Issue The problem I am having is that I am trying to get my kalk mixing pump to come on 1 minute out of every 6 hours. Right now my program looks like this: Fallback OFF OSC 001:00/359:00/000:00 Then OFF Which should be right, I think? Now when I watch the pump come on it always comes on at the right time, but sometimes it will stay on for up to four minutes. It never goes off after a minute. I also tried to do "If" "Then" statements and that didn't work either. For example, If Time 6:00 to 6:01 Then ON, and that didn't work either. It would come on and just stay on, even if I had fallback OFF. What is puzzling is, I have my Auto Top Off set up in a similar fashion and it works fine. It's program is: Fallback OFF OSC 000:00/001:30/008:30 Then ON If Outlet Kalk_Ready = OFF Then OFF If pH > 08.30 Then OFF The Kalk_Ready virtual outlet program is: Fallback OFF Set ON If Outlet Kalk_Pump = ON Then OFF Defer 040:00 Then ON This is so that the ATO won't be on until 40 minutes after the kalk has mixed. Everything works fine except this kalk pump stays on too long. The OSC command works fine with the ATO. It goes off right after that minute 30 is up, however the kalk pump has stayed on anywhere from 2:30 min to 4min. Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

05/05/2012, 11:03 AM	#2
aquamanic WHO DAT?? Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 5,101	Is your mixing pump on outlet 4 or 8? If not, it needs to be. __________________ A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul - George Bernard Shaw When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic - Benjamin Franklin

05/05/2012, 01:39 PM	#7
aquamanic WHO DAT?? Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 5,101	Your MH lights don't have to be on 4/8 - depends on how much current they draw. If they're below 5A, then they can go anywhere. If they're above 5A, then you don't have a choice and they have to go on 4/8. If they're turning ON when they should but they don't always turn OFF, then 99% that's the problem. The MJ600 draws 7.5 watts - the cutoff seems to be around 5 for those outlets to work right. So in theory you should be good but you're close - too close to ignore it. __________________ A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul - George Bernard Shaw When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic - Benjamin Franklin

05/05/2012, 04:08 PM	#10
aquamanic WHO DAT?? Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 5,101	Glad to hear it. __________________ A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul - George Bernard Shaw When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic - Benjamin Franklin

05/05/2012, 11:04 AM	#3
Mpfaff77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 225	Try Fallback off Set off Osc 359:00/1:00/0:00 then on I think that should work for you kalk stir. The middle numbers are your on times. You just had it switched. As far as if time statements. I think it didn't go off since you didn't have a "set off" statement. Fallback off Set off If time 6:00 to 6:01 then on

05/05/2012, 11:54 AM	#4
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,603	Alan, Does it have to be one 4 or 8 because of the small time it is on? I have two metal halides so I thought they had to be on 4 or 8... Really don't want to buy another EB8 just to power a maxi jet... Mpfaff77 - AFAIK the statement I have is correct. You can use OSC as ON/OFF/ON Then OFF or OFF/ON/OFF Then ON...

05/05/2012, 12:04 PM	#5
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,603	BTW, I should mention I use an autotopoff.com float switch plugged into an outlet (not 4 or 8) on the EB8, not a float switch viz breakout box. The float switch has an aqualifter pump plugged into it. So I find it weird that one outlet works fine with the float switch/aqualifter and one is sporadic with a maxi jet 600.

05/05/2012, 12:27 PM	#6
bazineta Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Posts: 448	Alan's point is that the pump you're using might be of such low power consumption that the non-relay outlets (i.e., those that are not outlet 4 or 8) might not shut off reliably. As a simple test, you could try plugging a lamp or some other high-draw device device there to see visually if that's the issue.

05/05/2012, 02:08 PM	#8
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,603	I have one 250 watt metal halide and one 400 watter. I don't think the 250 watt draws more than 5 amps, so I think I'll switch them.

05/05/2012, 04:03 PM	#9
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,603	Switched outlets and it worked like a charm. Thanks.