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Thread: Using fmk to turn off my skimmer

  1. #1
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    Using fmk to turn off my skimmer

    Hi all, only been running my apex for a month now but just setup the fmk and would like to use low flow to turn off my skimmer (Vortech) at feeding times.
    Any ideas of the programming needed for this?

  2. #2
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    You can use something like this

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < X Then ON
    If Power Apex OFF 001 Then OFF
    Defer 005:00 Then ON

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

  3. #3
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    Great stuff, thankyou very much

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by zombie View Post
    You can use something like this

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < X Then ON
    If Power Apex OFF 001 Then OFF
    Defer 005:00 Then ON

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

    I'm new at this and trying to wrap my head around this. It seems like I might not be understanding the coding.
    Your 3rd line says if Flow is under X, turn the skimmer on. Shouldn't it be if it is greater than 0, turn on? Or, if Flow is 0, turn off?

    This is what I came up with:

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < 0 Then OFF
    If flow > 1 The ON
    Defer 005:00 Then ON

  5. #5
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    The usual practice is to base the skimmer operation on the state of the return pump output, turning the skimmer output off whenever the return pump is off, and adding a brief delay before the skimmer will turn back on another the return pumps restarts.

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Output ReturnPump = Off Then OFF
    Defer 3:00 Then ON
    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.

  6. #6
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    This is what I came up with:

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < 0 Then OFF
    If flow > 1 The ON
    Defer 005:00 Then ON
    The third line is invalid. Flow cannot be less than zero. If you do this instead of the way I described in my previous post, the value used should be a reasonable amount less that the normal flow measurement. For example, if the normal flow reading is around 500 GPH, I’d use something like If Flow < 450 Then OFF

    The fourth line is not needed. The Set ON already makes the output be on as a normal state, i.e. whenever the If Flow < xxx is not true.
    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.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by RussM View Post
    The third line is invalid. Flow cannot be less than zero. If you do this instead of the way I described in my previous post, the value used should be a reasonable amount less that the normal flow measurement. For example, if the normal flow reading is around 500 GPH, I’d use something like If Flow < 450 Then OFF

    The fourth line is not needed. The Set ON already makes the output be on as a normal state, i.e. whenever the If Flow < xxx is not true.

    Awesome, thanks! Ok so I’ll use the following:

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < 50
    Defer 005:00 Then ON

    The reason I am not using the return pump as a method to control the skimmer is that I’m using a Vectra hooked up to the eco tech backup power supply so I have the pump completely apart from the apex.

  8. #8
    Master Control Freak RussM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jay1982 View Post
    Awesome, thanks! Ok so I’ll use the following:

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < 50
    Defer 005:00 Then ON
    The third line is incomplete. It should be If Flow < xxx Then OFF.

    The value used should be higher - 50 is much too low to get the most benefit. You’d want the skimmer off anytime the return pump output is a reasonable amount less than normal. Note my example above, where the If Flow cutoff is 10% less than the normal rate.
    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.

  9. #9
    Frequent Contributor zombie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jay1982 View Post
    Hey,

    I'm new at this and trying to wrap my head around this. It seems like I might not be understanding the coding.
    Your 3rd line says if Flow is under X, turn the skimmer on. Shouldn't it be if it is greater than 0, turn on? Or, if Flow is 0, turn off?

    This is what I came up with:

    Fallback ON
    Set ON
    If Flow < 0 Then OFF
    If flow > 1 The ON
    Defer 005:00 Then ON
    That was a typo in my post. The form is correct in my post, but it should be

    If Flow < X Then OFF

    Where X is about 75-90% of "normal" flowrate.

    Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

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