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AC III program

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chase33

I'm setting up my AC III and want to know if this program looks good. I've read many threads on Reef Central and I think I have it. I noticed a few members from here have posted in the Neptune thread there so to keep the information on our site I'm posing my question here as opposed to Reef Central. Please comment.

Timer names:

MH1 - A01 (2 - 250w MH lamps going into a 2 outlet socket expansion and then into the DC8)
VHO - A02 VHO lights
Fug - A03 Fuge light
LED - A04 Moon lights
Top - A05 Aqualifter top off pump & auto-topoff unit
Kal - A06 Kalk reactor stirrer
Het - A07 Heaters

I know there needs to be a symbol after each timer name. As you guys know there are symbols for lights, heaters, pumps, etc. The symbols are assigned accordingly.
Fan - A08


If time > 15:30 then MH1 on 2 MH lamps going into 2 outlet socket expansion

If time > 23:30 then MH1 off Lights come on at 3:30 pm and go off at 11:30 pm.

If time > 15:15 then vho on

If time > 15:45 then vho off Vho's come on at 3:15, off at 3:45,on again at 11:20

If time > 23:20 then vho on and off again at 11:50

If time > 23:59 then vho off

If time > 1:00 then LED on

If time > 12:00 then LED off

If time > 00:05 then fug on Fuge light

If time > 8:10 then fug off

If time > 00:00 then Kal on Kalk stirrer - stirred 4 times daily

If time > 00:05 then Kal off

If time > 01:00 then Top on auto top off (through kalk reactor)

If time > 05:55 then Top off

If time > 06:00 then Kal on

If time > 06:05 then Kal off

If time > 07:00 then Top on

If time > 11:55 then Top off

If time > 12:00 then Kal on

If time > 12:05 then Kal off

If time > 13:00 then Top on

If time > 17:55 then Top off

If time > 18:00 then Kal on

If time > 18:05 then Kal off

If time > 19:00 then Top on

If time > 23:55 then Top off

I can't find my temp probe so I'll have to order another. For the time being I want to attach the heaters to the DC8. Can I run a statement such as this:

"If time > 00:00 then HET on"

This should allow me to keep the heaters on according to the controller and controlled by the heaters thermometer. In another words it should work no differently than plugging them into a regular socket. As soon as the temp probe arrives I will modify the statements for the heaters and create them fans.

How does it all look? Am I in the ballpark?
 
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stcreef

Seems fine enough. Only problem that stands out it, I have had problems controlling the Aqualifters from the DC8. They don't pull enough current and will continue to run even after the DC8 is signaled to shut off. DC8's are solid state not relays and the leak current is enough to continue driving the Aqualifter. Atleast mine are, so YMMV
 
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chase33

Thanks for your response and help.

I don't think I have to worry about it turning off as the aqualifters are plugged into a topoff unit from autotopoff.com. The top off unit is plugged into the DC8. Once the sump has reached its desire level of top off water the top off unit should disable the aqualifter or at least this is what I expect. What do you think?

Anyone else out there using aqualifters with this specific topoff unit and the ACIII?
 
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pgordemer

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
If you are not locked into the Kalk stirring at exactly the times you want, and you are looking for KALK to stir for 5 minutes every 4 hours, you can do it with 1 line.

OSC 005/235 ON/OFF Then KALK OFF

Translates to run KALK for 5 minutes on and 235 minutes off with the startup default state of KALK to be off.
 
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chase33

No it doesn't have to run at the time that I have set but I want to be sure it is not running when the Top off is. I want to give the kalk time to settle before going into the tank.
 
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pgordemer

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
You can set up a dummy timer for the ATO to check that is set by the Kalk

Off the top of my head (Syntax may not be perfect):

STR - E01 (dummy variable)

OSC 005/235 ON/OFF Then STR OFF
If Timer STR=ON then ATO OFF
If Timer STR=ON then KALK ON
If Timer STR=OFF then KALK OFF

Placement of the code is important, this should appear AFTER any If Time statements as its evaluated top to bottom, the last TRUE condition wins.

You might want to run this through Ken Argo's, great AC code simulator available here: http://www.kenargo.com/software/software.htm
 
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pgordemer

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
stcreef said:
Seems fine enough. Only problem that stands out it, I have had problems controlling the Aqualifters from the DC8. They don't pull enough current and will continue to run even after the DC8 is signaled to shut off. DC8's are solid state not relays and the leak current is enough to continue driving the Aqualifter. Atleast mine are, so YMMV
Click to expand...

As an aside, DC8's with serial numbers > 9000 have Relays on socket 4 and 8. Low power profile devices will work on those sockets correctly.

Annother way to solve the problem is plug a load like a nightlight into the same socket with the aqualifter. That adds enough load to help the Triacs trigger.
 
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chase33

Based on information found in this thread I reduced the time for the ATO (TOP) to run to one hour. If there is a problem hopefully it won't be as big with the ATO running for a smaller amount of time. I also added the following line at the end of the program:

If pH > 8.50 Then ATO OFF
Max Change 010 M Then ATO OFF
 
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