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Thread: Breakout Box Cabinet Light By-pass

  1. #1
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    Breakout Box Cabinet Light By-pass

    This one should be a challenge.

    My two reef lights are connected to magnetic contacts through a breakout box. When either lid is opened both lights turn off. Both lights are on the same magnetic loop. This works great most of the time. However there are times I would like to open one lid and have the other light stay on. Is there a way to override the breakout box switch with a virtual outlet so the light contained in the lid that is opened will shut off and the one remaining closed will stay on. Would prefer to do this with programing rather than rewire the magnetic contacts.

  2. #2
    Frequent Contributor iamchadster's Avatar
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    Are the lights on separate eb8etc. outlets? If yes then place a defer command in the light that you would like to stay on. If the situation would vary when you'd want it off or on, then a pushbutton type switch could be installed to turn on a vo that would do what you are asking. Programming this to happen would be relatively easy. Just need to know a little more about what exactly you wanna do.
    Chad

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    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    I take it to mean that you have a single switch controlling both lights (on separate outlets). It could probably be done, but it wouldn't be any easier than just setting them manually via dashboard/fusion. And it sounds like you would want to be able to do this for either lid, rather than a specific one.

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    Quote Originally Posted by iamchadster View Post
    Are the lights on separate eb8etc. outlets? If yes then place a defer command in the light that you would like to stay on. If the situation would vary when you'd want it off or on, then a pushbutton type switch could be installed to turn on a vo that would do what you are asking. Programming this to happen would be relatively easy. Just need to know a little more about what exactly you wanna do.
    Yes, these lights are on the same eb8 but separate plugs. The situation would vary. Would like the right light to stay on when the left lid is opened and vise versa. Currently they are both on the same Apex breakout box switch operated by a magnetic contact.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd View Post
    I take it to mean that you have a single switch controlling both lights (on separate outlets). It could probably be done, but it wouldn't be any easier than just setting them manually via dashboard/fusion. And it sounds like you would want to be able to do this for either lid, rather than a specific one.
    That is correct, would like to do this for each lid separately, on occasions like evening work when ambient lighting is not so great. The feature of turning both light off when either lid is opened works great as a standard.

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    Is there a defer statement that does not contain a [duration].

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    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tmduncan View Post
    Is there a defer statement that does not contain a [duration].
    No, that wouldn't have any meaning. The point of the Defer is to delay a set amount of time.

    Now that you have indicated a condition (evening) that can be used, a virtual outlet would be used to alter the behavior of the switch. You haven't given much detail, so I will make a few assumptions/generalizations.

    [Lid_Open] {virtual}
    Set OFF
    If [switch] OPEN Then ON
    If Time XX:XX to XX:XX Then OFF

    [Lights]
    ...
    If Output Lid_Open = ON Then OFF

  8. #8
    Frequent Contributor iamchadster's Avatar
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    Rereading your original post now makes a little more sense. The Apex is never going to know which lid is opened due to the way you have them wired to the BOB. Would it be possible to add another contract switch? Then it would make it a snap.
    Do you have a display module? We could also play around with feed modes activated by pressing the arrows on the display module and could arbitrarily pick a feed mode and program it so one light or the other would follow your desired programming. Other than that you would be stuck turning off and on virtual outlets etc manually based on what side you want to stay on. That kind of defeats the automation IMO.
    Chad

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    Not having any luck with virtual outlet overriding the BOB switch. Guess I may bite the bullet and install wiring to separate the magnetic switches for each lid separately. Thank you for your input.

  10. #10
    Frequent Contributor iamchadster's Avatar
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    Yes a separate switch on each door would really be the way to go to make your life the easiest. Then once that's done the programming is really pretty simple.
    Chad

  11. #11
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    I would think it can be done but would need some manual input, either a VO slider or additional switch for each lid. When you engage the switch or VO slider the last statement in the code would be IF Lid_switch on then on

  12. #12
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    Can you copy/paste the code that you have each light outlet?

  13. #13
    Frequent Contributor iamchadster's Avatar
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    The OP wants a way to automate this process. With a a loop circuit and two switches on the doors, the circuit is broken and the switch will show open regardless of which side is opened. The apex will not be able to tell which side is open. Instead of creating VO that he would have to turn on or off anyway, It would be simpler for him to just plug his lights into 2 eb8/etc. outlets and move the manual slider switch to off instead of creating VO etc and make life more complex than what he wants. Unless he installs another contact switch on his doors I can't see a relatively easy way to automate this.

    If he wanted one side or the other every time then it would be different, but in his scenario he just doesn't have the hardware in place to make what he wants happen.
    Chad

  14. #14
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    Yes, I agree separate switches is the correct solution. But it is possible to get something useful in the interim. Using the VO, he can have original functionality during the day and alternate functionality in the evening.

  15. #15
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Or just rewire the lid contacts. It's only 4 wires.

    You might be an engineer if...You have no life and can prove it mathematically.

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