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Thread: Turning off skimmer every 3 hours

  1. #1
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    Turning off skimmer every 3 hours

    Hello,

    I am a tad 'rusty' with my apex programming. I wish to turn my skimmer on/off every 4 hours. The program below doesn't quite do the job.

    Any assistance is gratefully appreciated. Many thanks.

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Time 06:00 to 10:00 Then ON
    If Time 14:00 to 18:00 Then ON
    If Time 22:00 to 02:00 Then ON

    Cheers

  2. #2
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    There is nothing in your code that turns the skimmer off. Change the Set ON to Set OFF. That will be the default state and your If Time statements will turn it on.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I467 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
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    Ah yes .... many thanks for the quick response!

  4. #4
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    Hello,

    This is the new command lines but the skimmer is always ON. Is there a command I am missing?

    Fallback OFF
    Set OFF
    If Time 01:00 to 04:00 Then ON
    If Time 07:00 to 10:00 Then ON
    If Time 13:00 to 16:00 Then ON
    If Time 19:00 to 22:00 Then ON

    Cheers

  5. #5
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Did you put the outlet in AUTO?

  6. #6
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    Hello,
    Yes i did ... checked. I tried to turn it off and back to auto, but to no avail.
    Its perplexing.

    Cheers

  7. #7
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    I tried power cycling the apex module ... didn't resolved the issue

  8. #8
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    When you turned the outlet manually to off did it go off?

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Frequent Visitor Torx's Avatar
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    Does the switch work manually, when you switch it to OFF, does it go OFF and ON when ON?
    Did you go back and make sure that the outlet coding updated/save?
    Current: 120 Gallon Peninsula DIY system.

  10. #10
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    I find I often have to move an outlet to ON then then to auto or it does not seen to register the auto switch, I find this with my skimmer switch, my refugium light etc. don't know why but this seemed to get the outlets working on the program, go figure.

  11. #11
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by omykiss001 View Post
    I find I often have to move an outlet to ON then then to auto or it does not seen to register the auto switch, I find this with my skimmer switch, my refugium light etc. don't know why but this seemed to get the outlets working on the program, go figure.
    If there is a Defer in the program, you either have to move it to ON, and then to AUTO if you want it on immediately, or you can change it straight to AUTO and it will turn on automatically after the defer duration has elapsed.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    If there is a Defer in the program, you either have to move it to ON, and then to AUTO if you want it on immediately, or you can change it straight to AUTO and it will turn on automatically after the defer duration has elapsed.
    Good point I'll have to look at my programs and see if I defer statements in all those programs.

  13. #13
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    Hello, Thanks for the replies .... I have an Defer statement in the skimmer program, and I think this is the problem. I will delete it an recheck.
    The OFF-AUTO-ON button is working correctly.

    Cheers

  14. #14
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by marcusbptan View Post
    Hello, Thanks for the replies .... I have an Defer statement in the skimmer program, and I think this is the problem. I will delete it an recheck.
    The OFF-AUTO-ON button is working correctly.

    Cheers
    Don't delete the defer. It is there to keep your skimmer from overflowing by waiting until water level has gone back to normal. Just set it from OFF to AUTO and wait the duration of the defer. That will test your programming in the process.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    Don't delete the defer. It is there to keep your skimmer from overflowing by waiting until water level has gone back to normal. Just set it from OFF to AUTO and wait the duration of the defer. That will test your programming in the process.
    Hello, thanks for that tip. I have reverted to my original command lines to see if there is a problem. I still can get the skimmer to pause at the desired time.

    Any suggestions greatly appreicated.

    Cheers

    Fallback OFF
    Set ON
    If Time 10:00 to 13:00 Then OFF
    If Time 16:00 to 19:00 Then OFF
    If Power EB6_3 Off 005 Then ON
    If Power Apex Off 005 Then ON
    If FeedC 000 Then OFF
    If FeedD 000 Then OFF
    Defer 005 Then ON

  16. #16
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Assuming you want the skimmer to be held off for a few minutes after a power loss or Apex reboot, these lines are incorrect:

    If Power EB6_3 Off 005 Then ON
    If Power Apex Off 005 Then ON

    It should be:

    If Power EB6_3 Off 005 Then OFF
    If Power Apex Off 005 Then OFF
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  17. #17
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    Hello,
    Many thanks for that tip.

    It looks like by following the corrections above, my skimmer is now turning on/off at the appointed time!!

    Problem solved!

    Cheers

  18. #18
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    Hello again,

    I spoke too soon. With

    If Power EB6_3 Off 005 Then OFF
    If Power Apex Off 005 Then OFF

    The skimmer now stays permanently OFF after 5 min being on.

    I wonder if my initial problem, with the skimmer going off at the command time, had something to do with the same above command being ON?

    If I delete the 2 command lines, will my skimmer default to the Defer statement anyway?

    Cheers

  19. #19
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    Hello,
    An update. By deleting
    If Power EB6_3 Off 005 Then OFF (or ON)
    If Power Apex Off 005 Then OFF (or ON)

    The skimmer is stoping and coming on at the right time, including a Defer by 5 mins

    I'm still not sure why these 2 command lines have interfered with the programming? should it be at the end of the commands? Any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated

    Cheers

  20. #20
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    You probably have enabled the Power Monitor option (which is off by default), but don't have the proper conditions for use of that feature. Your Apex probably thinks it is a state of power loss, so the If Power Apex Off 005 Then OFF statement was always TRUE.

    Using the display menu, go to Setup->Misc Setup->Power Monitor. If ON/enabled, turn it to OFF/disabled. Then add If Power Apex Off 005 Then OFF back into your program, and see if it all works as expected.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  21. #21
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    Hello,

    Excellent pick!! The power monitor was enabled, which I have turned off. The Skimmer is in the intended OFF state at the moment and I'll let it run is program and update later.

    Should I also add the If Power EB6_3 Off 005 Then OFF command too? or is it superfluous?

    Many thanks again



  22. #22
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    I cannot say... not enough info. Do you have a UPS? If you do, what is plugged into it?
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  23. #23
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    Hello,

    I dont have a UPS, the EB6 is just running off mains. the Apex control unit is plugged into the EB6.

    Cheers

  24. #24
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Ok, then the If Power EB6 line really is of little value. Stick with just the If Power Apex line - it will come into play after the Apex restarts for any reason - after an actual power loss or after a reboot.
    Please do not send me PMs with technical questions or requesting assistance - use the forums for Apex help. PM me ONLY if the matter is of a private or personal nature. Thanks.

  25. #25
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    Hello,

    Thanks for your suggestion. Skimmer is on with the right Defer of 5min.

    So far all goes smoothly!

    Greatly appreciated.

    Cheers

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