Problem with heater code

I have some heater code based on the code from the Multiple Heater Programming thread. But I'm having a really odd problem with it.

The backup heater keeps turning on, running for the maximum time, and then shutting off. What I cannot understand is why. The other two heaters don't turn on in this instance, and they should have if the trigger was correct.. so something odd is happening here... the other two heaters appear to be behaving normally. Just the backup is turning on all the time..

As a side note, is it possible to find out what RT currently is, or do I have to calculate it?

Code:

---

[Heater1Left]
Fallback OFF
If Tmp < RT+0.0 Then ON
Defer 001:15 Then ON
If Tmp > RT+0.1 Then OFF
If Time 16:00 to 03:59 Then OFF
If Tmp < RT+-0.1 Then ON
If Output Heater2On030 = ON Then ON
If Tmp > 80.0 Then OFF
If Tmp < 70.1 Then OFF
If Output LeftReturn = OFF Then OFF
If Output LeakDetected = ON Then OFF
When On > 060:00 Then OFF

[Heater2Right]
Fallback OFF
If Tmp < RT+0.0 Then ON
Defer 001:20 Then ON
If Tmp > RT+0.1 Then OFF
If Time 04:00 to 15:59 Then OFF
If Tmp < RT+-0.1 Then ON
If Output Heater1On030 = ON Then ON
If Tmp > 80.0 Then OFF
If Tmp < 70.1 Then OFF
If Output RightReturn = OFF Then OFF
If Output LeakDetected = ON Then OFF
When On > 060:00 Then OFF

[BkupHeaterR]
Fallback OFF
If Tmp < RT+-0.2 Then ON
Defer 000:30 Then ON
If Output RightReturn = OFF Then OFF
If Output LeakDetected = ON Then OFF
If Tmp > 80.0 Then OFF
If Tmp < 70.1 Then OFF
If Tmp > RT+0.1 Then OFF
When On > 045:00 Then OFF

---

What is this line for? Is it a virtual Outlet?

If Output Heater1On030 = ON Then ON

The When command is probably causing your issue. If I recall correctly it will change your slider to OFF and it will stay that way until you manually change it back to Auto. It is used as an emergency shutoff.

The RT value can be found in the seasonal table. It will be somewhere between the previous and next value on the table.

Yes, those are virtual outlets that basically tag the heater as having run too long on one side, and brings in the opposite heater for help.

My problem is not the fact that it shuts off, my problem is that the backup heater turns on all by itself without either of the other two turning on. Take a look at the following log as an example. All heaters were off at the beginning of this timespan:

12	2018-11-23 03:22:32 -0700	BkupHeaterR	ON
13	2018-11-23 04:07:22 -0700	BkupHeaterR	OFF
14	2018-11-23 06:53:19 -0700	Heater1Left	ON
15	2018-11-23 07:23:18 -0700	Heater1On030	ON
16	2018-11-23 07:24:38 -0700	Heater2Right	ON
17	2018-11-23 07:48:16 -0700	Heater1Left	OFF
18	2018-11-23 07:48:16 -0700	Heater1On030	OFF
19	2018-11-23 07:48:16 -0700	Heater2Right	OFF

Unless I've screwed up the time statements maybe, there is no reason for the backup to have turned on all by itself there. It should have been accompanied by one of the other two..

Or maybe it's my defer's being different?

It's probably the defer. You might have had a short temp drop that lasted for 30 seconds and the backup brought it back up before the longer defer time.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

These two lines are redundant then.

If Tmp < RT+-0.1 Then ON
If Output Heater1On030 = ON Then ON

They both are to turn the heater on if the other is not keeping up. Delete the second one. The first will turn on the heater if the temp falls below 0.1 of your desired temp.

The backup heater should turn on is your temp falls below 0.2 of your desired temp. Is the temp dropping to that point?

BTW, I use this code and it works. Below is an explanation from the author of the code, wihch is pasted from another thread.
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/sho...665#post153665



10-25-2018

#14

rkpetersen
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/ima...er-offline.png
NSI Memberhttps://forum.neptunesystems.com/ima...tation_pos.pnghttps://forum.neptunesystems.com/cus...tar15574_1.gifJoin DateJun 2017LocationSeattlePosts640

Fallback ON
If Tmp < RT+-0.2 Then ON <-- This would turn on the heater when Temp is at 77.3 if seasonal temp in local chart is set at 77.5 Not quite. It would turn on at 77.2.
Defer 001:20 Then ON <-- defer for a minute and 20 seconds before turning on. Yes
If Tmp > RT+0.3 Then OFF <-- this would turn it off if temp is at 77.8 77.9.
If Time 04:00 to 15:59 Then OFF <--- this would mean the heater is off from 4am to 4pm. Yes, but only if one of the next commands isn't true.

If Tmp < RT+-0.2 Then ON <--- WHY did you repeat this command here??? I don't understand the need

It's not a repeated command in mine. It is 0.1 degree lower. And it is positioned after the If Time command on purpose. What this does is turn on the heater if the temp drops too low during it's 'off' or 'secondary function' time. So if the other heater is already going, but not quite keeping up, this heater will kick in. And then the same thing happens with the other heater during the other half of the day.

If Output Heater1On030 = ON Then ON <-- this would turn on heater 2 when heater 1 is on for 30 mins If heater 1 is still running after 30 minutes (obviously struggling), heater 2 will kick in.

If Output HeatersOn045 = ON Then OFF <-- this would turn off both heaters if they run for 45 mins Safeguard; should never happen under normal use. If so, my house is too cold! (or one of them has failed.)

If Tmp > 78.7 Then OFF <-- is this for backup or emergency if the heater is stuck on??? Yes

If Tmp < 70.1 Then OFF <--- why this???

When a temperature probe fails, if often gives an impossibly low number. Depending on whether your heaters have internal thermostats and if so, what they're set to, you can cook a tank if the feedback loop has failed.

If Output RetPump_2_3 = OFF Then OFF <--- if return pump is off then off. Yes
If LD_SMP CLOSED Then OFF <-- if leak turn off Yes I like to combine all my leak detectors into one VO.
If LD_STN CLOSED Then OFF <--- if leak turn off Yes
If Power Apex Off 001 Then OFF <---- I put this in so I don't overload my UPS. Good idea. :)