Apex Neptune Triacs & Low draw dosing pumps

coryjac0b · 03/21/2018, 06:35 AM

One of my relay outlets is being used by a BRS 50ml/min for topoff and that leaves me with one relay outlet for dosing pumps.

Since the triacs aren't really good for low draw equipment, will adding a 2-way splitter to one of the Triacs with one female end to a doser and the other to a small desk lamp (20w bulb) cause enough draw for the triac to turn off successfully?

homer1475 · 03/21/2018, 06:40 AM

When I ran the BRS dosers they worked just fine on the triacs. My reefbrite strips on the other hand.....

coryjac0b · 03/21/2018, 08:10 AM

I've read mixed reviews, some say they work fine. Then others talk about a horror story. I just hate to take the chance.

mcgyvr · 03/21/2018, 08:25 AM

Did they use triacs on all the relay outlets? Or do you only have 2 and both are triac?
If not swap equipment around so that heaters or whatever are on the triacs and put the dosers/low current stuff on the regular relay outlets..

Of course I would say to try it first.. Dosers should require enough juice that the small leakage shouldn't be an issue..

n2585722 · 03/21/2018, 01:27 PM

The issue is low power inductive loads emit a back EMF pulse when power is removed. Unfortunately this may be enough to turn the triac back on. If it does it will keep cycling like this and appear that the power remains on but it is actually turning on and off at a very high rate. Using a surge protector with a 330 volt clamping voltage will usually prevent this from happening. Also a non inductive load on the same output will also take care of it like illuminated power strip liberators.

d0ughb0y · 03/23/2018, 12:19 PM

I would not risk connecting a doser to a triac outlet, whether you add a load or not.
use the relay outlet or get a stand alone doser.

MHG · 06/03/2018, 10:39 AM

Funny. for 8 years I have had my dosing pumps on an EB8 with no issues. I rebuilt my system and added a new EB8 and I have the problem where the trial turn on for no reason. Since my system is new I don't need to dose yet, but its all set up and ready to go. But twice in the past month I have found my dosing pump on. I have logging turned on and they don't show up in the log because they have never been turned on. I ready and Neptune tells me that sometimes stick on but I haven't even gotten that far yet. My one pump turn ON all an its own.

I was considering adding a small light or some other load to see if that helps.

mcgyvr · 06/03/2018, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MHG

Funny. for 8 years I have had my dosing pumps on an EB8 with no issues. I rebuilt my system and added a new EB8 and I have the problem where the trial turn on for no reason. Since my system is new I don't need to dose yet, but its all set up and ready to go. But twice in the past month I have found my dosing pump on. I have logging turned on and they don't show up in the log because they have never been turned on. I ready and Neptune tells me that sometimes stick on but I haven't even gotten that far yet. My one pump turn ON all an its own.

I was considering adding a small light or some other load to see if that helps.

AFAIK (I don't have the eb8 but remember others talking about it)... only 2 of the outlets are triacs.. The others are relay controlled and don't have this issue.. Switch to another outlet on the eb8..

Member No. 1 · 06/04/2018, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

AFAIK (I don't have the eb8 but remember others talking about it)... only 2 of the outlets are triacs.. The others are relay controlled and don't have this issue.. Switch to another outlet on the eb8..

On an EB8 1-3 & 5-7 are Triacs, 4&8 are relays.
On an EB4 - All 4 outlets are relays.

03/21/2018, 06:35 AM	#1
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 823	Apex Neptune Triacs & Low draw dosing pumps One of my relay outlets is being used by a BRS 50ml/min for topoff and that leaves me with one relay outlet for dosing pumps. Since the triacs aren't really good for low draw equipment, will adding a 2-way splitter to one of the Triacs with one female end to a doser and the other to a small desk lamp (20w bulb) cause enough draw for the triac to turn off successfully?

03/21/2018, 06:40 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	When I ran the BRS dosers they worked just fine on the triacs. My reefbrite strips on the other hand..... __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/21/2018, 08:25 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Did they use triacs on all the relay outlets? Or do you only have 2 and both are triac? If not swap equipment around so that heaters or whatever are on the triacs and put the dosers/low current stuff on the regular relay outlets.. Of course I would say to try it first.. Dosers should require enough juice that the small leakage shouldn't be an issue.. __________________ Who me?

06/03/2018, 10:39 AM	#7
MHG Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,919	Funny. for 8 years I have had my dosing pumps on an EB8 with no issues. I rebuilt my system and added a new EB8 and I have the problem where the trial turn on for no reason. Since my system is new I don't need to dose yet, but its all set up and ready to go. But twice in the past month I have found my dosing pump on. I have logging turned on and they don't show up in the log because they have never been turned on. I ready and Neptune tells me that sometimes stick on but I haven't even gotten that far yet. My one pump turn ON all an its own. I was considering adding a small light or some other load to see if that helps. __________________ MHG (LIRA Member) 60G Cube, Kessil 360's

03/21/2018, 08:10 AM	#3
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 823	I've read mixed reviews, some say they work fine. Then others talk about a horror story. I just hate to take the chance.

03/21/2018, 01:27 PM	#5
n2585722 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Tx Posts: 1,072	The issue is low power inductive loads emit a back EMF pulse when power is removed. Unfortunately this may be enough to turn the triac back on. If it does it will keep cycling like this and appear that the power remains on but it is actually turning on and off at a very high rate. Using a surge protector with a 330 volt clamping voltage will usually prevent this from happening. Also a non inductive load on the same output will also take care of it like illuminated power strip liberators.

03/23/2018, 12:19 PM	#6
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	I would not risk connecting a doser to a triac outlet, whether you add a load or not. use the relay outlet or get a stand alone doser.