AC Jr. amd Aqua lifter Pump not working correctly

frezel · 09/20/2008, 07:28 PM

ok heres what i wanted to do.

i wanted to connect brand new aqua lifter pumps to my dc8 so that they would pump ALK and CA supp from a container.

So i made CAL AO4 and ALK A05
the code was
If time > 1200 then ALK on
If time > 1201 then ALK off

If time > 1300 then CAL on
If time > 1301 then CAL off

and heres what happened at 1200 nothing and at 1201 pump came on. Also when i go into manual control i can not turn off the pump manually.

SO...... I deleted all the code and all the names shut everything off unplugged everything, and reprogrammed everything.

After reprogramming i have to wait to see if they turn on tommorow at teh set times, but i did try to manually turn them on and it worked but once again cannot turn them off. What gives am i missing something?

So i took my sump light and threw it on the port and i can control this on and off at will, so why cant i operate these aqualifter pumps?

all these lifter are new, i tried 3 of them, also i use these lifter on a float switch for ATO and they work flawlessly. It seems that the ports on the DC* are not shutting off, i tried port 4 and 6 both the same thng

So i tried yet another thing just now i hooked up a powerstrip to the port 4 and plugged the lifter to that and now i can turn the pump on and off at will.

But plugged straight to the controller it will turn on but not off
\
please help
Filip

SWINGRRRR · 09/20/2008, 08:23 PM

Put the Aqua lifter on a relayed switch. Sometimes the amps aren't enough to trip the triacptic plugs. Or you could try to plug in a night light.

frezel · 09/20/2008, 08:43 PM

i currently had it on port 4 which i thought was a relay switch and still nothing, the powerstrip i plugged in had a light maybe that oosted the power?

the Lifter says 115 volts AC 60 hz and 3 watts.

Im scared that somehow it will not be reliable, after all it will be dosing alk and CA and if it doesnt shut down it could crash my system which is currently packed with expensive corals.

SWINGRRRR · 09/20/2008, 09:13 PM

Yeah. Sorry, I didn't read you hole post. Im kidnda 3 sheets. Anyway, my tank has 2 Aqualifters programmed to come on dependent on Ph, but they are plugged into a DC4HD. Alot different.

I will read post in the am. Pr0mise.

SWINGRRRR · 09/20/2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by frezel
i currently had it on port 4 which i thought was a relay switch

Depends on serial number. I think. See above.

kenargo · 09/20/2008, 10:32 PM

Yes, I think the SN must be above 9000. If it's below 9000 then all ports are triac controlled and you would need to use an additional load to get the AquaLuft to work (e.g., a nite lite)

frezel · 09/21/2008, 06:48 AM

according to the sn on my dc8 its 86*** series which will really stink if that is the case.

frezel · 09/21/2008, 07:20 AM

do you think they would swap me out my DC8 for one that has relays if that really is the case? i am concerned that if these ALK and CA are on 2 separate ports of one of them not shutting off. I mean i can put the ALK pump with some code about if ph gets to high but as far CA ph is not effected.
Also how do i hook up a night light to the dc8 especially since there is such limited space on there.ANd how reliable will this be? what if bulb breaks or dies?

Also the powerstrip that i has a lit powerbutton that seems to make it work but then again how stable is this method.
i would feel safer considering that i paid good money for this unit and have relay switchs

kenargo · 09/21/2008, 12:33 PM

I don't think there is a swap program but you could call and ask. There is a way to get it working; it involves a night-lite pluged into the same outlet with the AquaLuft. The light draws enough to keep the triac working correctly. The method is very stable!

frezel · 09/21/2008, 05:57 PM

i tested this method today, and FYI if the bulb blows out it no longer works(i tried a good and bad bulb). and considering my son has a night lite and i chew threw these lights like crazy , i would not trust it, so instead i used a powerhead. Anyway thanks so much for the walkaround to this problem i will call them and ask.

SWINGRRRR · 09/22/2008, 06:35 AM

If you can find one, you want the nite light with a plug on the face. That way you can plug the pump into the nite light, then the nite light into the DC8.

JR's Reef · 09/24/2008, 03:41 PM

I maybe wrong but dont the > have to be one way for on and the other way for off.

kenargo · 09/24/2008, 04:30 PM

If you are referring to the 'time' statements above then no, it doesn't. Time is somewhat special; it rolls over and actually you cannot have a statement 'If Time <' because that is implied by the roll over.

09/20/2008, 07:28 PM	#1
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 584	AC Jr. amd Aqua lifter Pump not working correctly ok heres what i wanted to do. i wanted to connect brand new aqua lifter pumps to my dc8 so that they would pump ALK and CA supp from a container. So i made CAL AO4 and ALK A05 the code was If time > 1200 then ALK on If time > 1201 then ALK off If time > 1300 then CAL on If time > 1301 then CAL off and heres what happened at 1200 nothing and at 1201 pump came on. Also when i go into manual control i can not turn off the pump manually. SO...... I deleted all the code and all the names shut everything off unplugged everything, and reprogrammed everything. After reprogramming i have to wait to see if they turn on tommorow at teh set times, but i did try to manually turn them on and it worked but once again cannot turn them off. What gives am i missing something? So i took my sump light and threw it on the port and i can control this on and off at will, so why cant i operate these aqualifter pumps? all these lifter are new, i tried 3 of them, also i use these lifter on a float switch for ATO and they work flawlessly. It seems that the ports on the DC* are not shutting off, i tried port 4 and 6 both the same thng So i tried yet another thing just now i hooked up a powerstrip to the port 4 and plugged the lifter to that and now i can turn the pump on and off at will. But plugged straight to the controller it will turn on but not off \ please help Filip

09/20/2008, 08:23 PM	#2
SWINGRRRR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pcola FL Posts: 2,569	Put the Aqua lifter on a relayed switch. Sometimes the amps aren't enough to trip the triacptic plugs. Or you could try to plug in a night light. __________________ Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI

09/20/2008, 09:13 PM	#4
SWINGRRRR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pcola FL Posts: 2,569	Yeah. Sorry, I didn't read you hole post. Im kidnda 3 sheets. Anyway, my tank has 2 Aqualifters programmed to come on dependent on Ph, but they are plugged into a DC4HD. Alot different. I will read post in the am. Pr0mise. __________________ Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI

09/20/2008, 10:32 PM	#6
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	Yes, I think the SN must be above 9000. If it's below 9000 then all ports are triac controlled and you would need to use an additional load to get the AquaLuft to work (e.g., a nite lite) __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.

09/21/2008, 12:33 PM	#9
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	I don't think there is a swap program but you could call and ask. There is a way to get it working; it involves a night-lite pluged into the same outlet with the AquaLuft. The light draws enough to keep the triac working correctly. The method is very stable! __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.

09/20/2008, 08:43 PM	#3
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 584	i currently had it on port 4 which i thought was a relay switch and still nothing, the powerstrip i plugged in had a light maybe that oosted the power? the Lifter says 115 volts AC 60 hz and 3 watts. Im scared that somehow it will not be reliable, after all it will be dosing alk and CA and if it doesnt shut down it could crash my system which is currently packed with expensive corals.

09/21/2008, 06:48 AM	#7
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 584	according to the sn on my dc8 its 86*** series which will really stink if that is the case.

09/21/2008, 07:20 AM	#8
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 584	do you think they would swap me out my DC8 for one that has relays if that really is the case? i am concerned that if these ALK and CA are on 2 separate ports of one of them not shutting off. I mean i can put the ALK pump with some code about if ph gets to high but as far CA ph is not effected. Also how do i hook up a night light to the dc8 especially since there is such limited space on there.ANd how reliable will this be? what if bulb breaks or dies? Also the powerstrip that i has a lit powerbutton that seems to make it work but then again how stable is this method. i would feel safer considering that i paid good money for this unit and have relay switchs

09/21/2008, 05:57 PM	#10
frezel Moved On Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 584	i tested this method today, and FYI if the bulb blows out it no longer works(i tried a good and bad bulb). and considering my son has a night lite and i chew threw these lights like crazy , i would not trust it, so instead i used a powerhead. Anyway thanks so much for the walkaround to this problem i will call them and ask.

09/22/2008, 06:35 AM	#11
SWINGRRRR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pcola FL Posts: 2,569	If you can find one, you want the nite light with a plug on the face. That way you can plug the pump into the nite light, then the nite light into the DC8. __________________ Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI

09/24/2008, 03:41 PM	#12
JR's Reef Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: AL Posts: 871	I maybe wrong but dont the > have to be one way for on and the other way for off.

09/24/2008, 04:30 PM	#13
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	If you are referring to the 'time' statements above then no, it doesn't. Time is somewhat special; it rolls over and actually you cannot have a statement 'If Time <' because that is implied by the roll over. __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.