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Thread: Program outlets to be on for less than a minute

  1. #1
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Program outlets to be on for less than a minute

    I am trying to program an outlet to turn on a "dumb" powerhead (Hydor Koralia) to be on and then off for less than a minute.
    Any wisdom is greatly appreciated.
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  2. #2
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Use Powerhead Control Type, and set the on/off timing as desired.
    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.

  3. #3
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RussM View Post
    Use Powerhead Control Type, and set the on/off timing as desired.
    But how do I make this control type to come on on specific intervals throughout the day.

    I have been able to use programming in the "output configuration" area to do what I needed, but the problem seems to be that I can't make it turn on for less than one minute. The minimum is a one minute time frame of being on. Please take a look at my code below and tell me what's wrong with it?


    Fallback OFF
    Set OFF
    If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
    If Time 08:01 to 10:00 Then OFF
    If Time 10:00 to 10:01 Then ON
    If Time 10:01 to 12:00 Then OFF
    If Time 12:00 to 12:01 Then ON
    If Time 12:01 to 14:00 Then OFF
    If Time 14:00 to 14:01 Then ON
    If Time 14:01 to 16:00 Then OFF
    If Time 16:00 to 16:01 Then ON
    If Time 16:01 to 18:00 Then OFF
    If Time 18:00 to 18:01 Then ON
    If Time 18:01 to 20:00 Then OFF
    If Time 20:00 to 20:01 Then ON
    If Time 20:01 to 22:00 Then OFF
    If Time 22:00 to 22:01 Then ON
    If Time 22:01 to 08:00 Then OFF

    Output Config.jpg
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  4. #4
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    You don't need the If Time... OFF statements. The Set OFF takes care of that. Add a Defer xxx:xx Then ON command at the very end to deduct time to result in the desired duration. For instance:

    Fallback OFF
    Set OFF
    If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
    Defer 001:40 Then ON

    This would result in a 20 second duration because the If Time command is actually creating a 2 minute duration.

    The better way is to use the OSC command to create recurring intervals.

    Fallback OFF
    OSC 000:00/000:20/119:40 Then ON
    If Time 22:00 to 07:59 Then OFF

    This would turn On for 20 seconds over a 2 hr cycle. And keeps it OFF from 10:00 pm until 8:00 am.

  5. #5
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 2mk View Post
    But how do I make this control type to come on on specific intervals throughout the day.

    I have been able to use programming in the "output configuration" area to do what I needed, but the problem seems to be that I can't make it turn on for less than one minute. The minimum is a one minute time frame of being on. Please take a look at my code below and tell me what's wrong with it?


    Fallback OFF
    Set OFF
    If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
    If Time 08:01 to 10:00 Then OFF
    If Time 10:00 to 10:01 Then ON
    If Time 10:01 to 12:00 Then OFF
    If Time 12:00 to 12:01 Then ON
    If Time 12:01 to 14:00 Then OFF
    If Time 14:00 to 14:01 Then ON
    If Time 14:01 to 16:00 Then OFF
    If Time 16:00 to 16:01 Then ON
    If Time 16:01 to 18:00 Then OFF
    If Time 18:00 to 18:01 Then ON
    If Time 18:01 to 20:00 Then OFF
    If Time 20:00 to 20:01 Then ON
    If Time 20:01 to 22:00 Then OFF
    If Time 22:00 to 22:01 Then ON
    If Time 22:01 to 08:00 Then OFF

    Output Config.jpg
    Here is an example for 30 seconds every 2 hours during the time frame of 8am to 10pm.

    Fallback OFF
    OSC 000:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
    If Time 23:00 to 07:59 Then OFF

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

  6. #6
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    With that said it sounds wasteful to use a pump that little. It would make more sense to do like 30 seconds on 5 minutes off or something along those lines.

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

  7. #7
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd View Post
    You don't need the If Time... OFF statements. The Set OFF takes care of that. Add a Defer xxx:xx Then ON command at the very end to deduct time to result in the desired duration. For instance:

    Fallback OFF
    Set OFF
    If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
    Defer 001:40 Then ON

    This would result in a 20 second duration because the If Time command is actually creating a 2 minute duration.

    The better way is to use the OSC command to create recurring intervals.

    Fallback OFF
    OSC 000:00/000:20/119:40 Then ON
    If Time 22:00 to 07:59 Then OFF

    This would turn On for 20 seconds over a 2 hr cycle. And keeps it OFF from 10:00 pm until 8:00 am.

    Thank you . that is exactly what I need

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    Here is an example for 30 seconds every 2 hours during the time frame of 8am to 10pm.

    Fallback OFF
    OSC 000:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
    If Time 23:00 to 07:59 Then OFF

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

    Thank you too. Exactly what I need.
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  8. #8
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    With that said it sounds wasteful to use a pump that little. It would make more sense to do like 30 seconds on 5 minutes off or something along those lines.

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

    Reason such an short on interval between a long pause is because I do have other power heads running. This one I am doing this to is because its really powerful for a 35G tank. But it does have the capacity to stir the sand bed surface to keep sediments from hanging on the bottom while at the same time not creating havoc for for all corals in the tank. I might just adjust the time interval a bit to see what works best. Your are right, that it might be a bit wasteful use of pump. Thanks for the insight.
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  9. #9
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    Here is an example for 30 seconds every 2 hours during the time frame of 8am to 10pm.

    Fallback OFF
    OSC 000:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
    If Time 23:00 to 07:59 Then OFF

    You might be an engineer if...You have no life and can prove it mathematically.
    Can you decipher what "119:30" means?

    Also, I assume the "000:00/000:30" part mean on for 30 seconds in this case.

    So will a 10 minute on time be: "000:00/010:00" ?
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  10. #10
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    The OSC has the format of OFF/ON/OFF when using Then ON. So to keep on a constant 2 hour cycle, you want the OFF and ON times to equal 120 minutes.

    OSC 000:00/010:00/110:00 Then ON would turn On for 10 minutes out of a 2 hr cycle. The first parameter is an offset from Midnight.

  11. #11
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd View Post
    The OSC has the format of OFF/ON/OFF when using Then ON. So to keep on a constant 2 hour cycle, you want the OFF and ON times to equal 120 minutes.

    OSC 000:00/010:00/110:00 Then ON would turn On for 10 minutes out of a 2 hr cycle. The first parameter is an offset from Midnight.

    Let me run this back to you to see if i understood this correctly.

    000:00 means 12am
    010:00 means on for 10 minutes
    110:00 means Off for the next 110 minutes, in the 2 hour time frame

    hence 10 min + 110 minutes equal 2 hours between ons / offs ?

    If I want the interval to be less than 2 hours, then it would read: 000:00/010:00/050:00 ?

    which translates into on for 10 min at one hour intervals?
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  12. #12
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    yes.

  13. #13
    Frequent Visitor 2mk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd View Post
    yes.
    Thank You. I believe You just taught me how to read "Latin"
    When You're a NOOB, You need lots of help all the time

  14. #14
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    You're welcome. Just to be clear, this is not a requirement, it's just what people usually want. You can set up any cycle you want. You can even use multiple OSC commands to create irregular cycles, though it won't ever be random.

  15. #15
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd View Post
    though it won't ever be random.
    You can get pretty darn close if done right. I used an old computer algorithm a while back to pick numbers for multiple OSC statements to create a pseudo random set of patterns that take over 1000 years to start the pattern over exactly. Granted this used profiles which made the process significantly easier.

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

  16. #16
    Frequent Visitor Todd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    You can get pretty darn close if done right. I used an old computer algorithm a while back to pick numbers for multiple OSC statements to create a pseudo random set of patterns that take over 1000 years to start the pattern over exactly. Granted this used profiles which made the process significantly easier.

    You might be an engineer if...You have no life and can prove it mathematically.
    Cool. I had looked at using three OSC statements, but abandoned it once I saw that it would take more effort than it was worth to me to get something good.

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