need help with automated water change - Page 2

Donw · #26 12/15/2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
hmmm... I have been so ill this week, I can't go to the Holiday Party tonight. I am bummed about it because I have started to identify with reef freaks! Anyway, I currently have an event in the planning stages to be held at my place. I am going to do a fish food making demo. It would be cool if you could join us.

I'll be back into it after the holidays. My kid finally moved out and took my grandson with her. As you can tell I'm pretty board. I'll be working Mojo also.

Don

jnarowe · #27 12/15/2007, 01:09 PM

cool. It will be nice to meet and chat with you. check the forum on RF.

Siffy · #28 12/23/2007, 10:32 PM

I knew I'd seen something capable of this before. Just ran across it again.

Credit goes to the owner of http://www.weatherson.com/index.htm

jnarowe · #29 12/23/2007, 11:04 PM

I built one myself and it works great.

Siffy · #30 12/23/2007, 11:52 PM

What did you build? It'd be nice to let people know in case they're ever looking for something to do the same thing.

jnarowe · #31 12/24/2007, 12:58 AM

Not a great picture but it is a "Weatherson" style top-off box:

activecactus · #32 12/31/2007, 02:06 PM

Thanks to medic29 for helping me with brian@sen schematic, I was able to get it to work.

My next question (and probably harder) is how to connect my LMIII pumps to this switch? I want both pumps to turn off when the lower switch is activated and remain off until I press an auxillary reset switch.

FWIW I checked The Spectrapure forum and they said that it's ok to have their pumps on a relay.

jnarowe · #33 12/31/2007, 02:11 PM

Not sure I can help you, but I have been running my LMIII + Remote Pump connected into my Neptune Controller system. I use the controller to turn it on and off based on sump water level and system pH.

So when the float switch in the sump signals that water is needed, and my pH probe shows that the tank pH is less than 8.30, the LMIII will power on.

The diagrams above and the picture I posted are unrelated to top-off though. These are used for Liquid Level Control (LLC) and I now use a SpectraPure LLC with solenoid to control my booster pump and turn the water flow on and off as needed to maintain my RO/DI storage tank levels.

Donw · #34 12/31/2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by activecactus
Thanks to medic29 for helping me with brian@sen schematic, I was able to get it to work.

My next question (and probably harder) is how to connect my LMIII pumps to this switch? I want both pumps to turn off when the lower switch is activated and remain off until I press an auxillary reset switch.

FWIW I checked The Spectrapure forum and they said that it's ok to have their pumps on a relay.

Use the signal from the lower switch to latch a dpdt relay on and add a reset switch to it.

Don

activecactus · #35 12/31/2007, 02:47 PM

I'm using the main pump for limewater and don't want to shut off the unit.

activecactus · #36 12/31/2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Donw
Use the signal from the lower switch to latch a dpdt relay on and add a reset switch to it.

Don

So just add a second 12v relay? Could it be powered from the first?

Siffy · #37 12/31/2007, 05:02 PM

Have the lower switch trip the GFCI they're plugged into.

medic29 · #38 12/31/2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by activecactus
Thanks to medic29 for helping me with brian@sen schematic, I was able to get it to work.

My next question (and probably harder) is how to connect my LMIII pumps to this switch? I want both pumps to turn off when the lower switch is activated and remain off until I press an auxillary reset switch.

FWIW I checked The Spectrapure forum and they said that it's ok to have their pumps on a relay.

I have an idea, but send me a PM with more specifics; I think it will be really simple if it is what I'm thinking.

medic29 · #39 12/31/2007, 10:21 PM

PM sent....

kcress · #40 01/01/2008, 05:48 AM

What is the point of the top-off reservoir gizmo?

I understand its operation completely..

It's the 'why' I'm missing.

Siffy · #41 01/01/2008, 06:12 AM

I would assume to make the RO/DI unit run longer to extend the RO membrane life. They work better/longer when making large amounts of water. And work best/longest when flushed with each use.

activecactus · #42 01/01/2008, 01:07 PM

Ok, here's what I'm trying to do.
I have two 5 gallon buckets one used to store RO/DI water and the other to mix saltwater for waterchanges. I have my float switches in the saltwater bucket and they control a pump in the freshwater one.

What I would like is for these same switches to cut off power to 2 LMIII pumps used for an automated waterchange while still being able to fill the saltwater bucket.

So, the process would be as follows...
1- saltwater is mixed and ready for waterchange
2- LMIII pumps start waterchange by pressing a button
3- When saltwater is low
a.bottom switch triggers and cuts power to LMIII pumps
b.also turns on freshwater pump
4- a.Top switch turns off pump for freshwater refill
b.also turns on LMIII pumps(but power doesn't reach them until I press a reset switch)
5- The process starts all over again

Sorry for not clarifying.

medic29 · #43 01/01/2008, 03:17 PM

How is your water change going to be controlled?

From thinking about this briefly, the way I'm seeing it, you would basically need as many as 6 float switches, 2 relays, and possibly 3 pumps.

I'll look at drawing up something here in a little bit to show what I'm thinking and if it fits, then you can let me know.

activecactus · #44 01/01/2008, 03:20 PM

The water change is controlled by the Litermeter unit.
It also gives power to the LMIII pumps.
All I need is for the switches to temporarily cut that power.

medic29 · #45 01/01/2008, 03:36 PM

So, if that is all that is needed, what I described to you in PM will work. I'll draw something up here in a little bit.

I'll have to get it done before the game starts...otherwise I might get distracted.

Donw · #46 01/01/2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by activecactus
So just add a second 12v relay? Could it be powered from the first?

Just latch it like you did the first relay, yes they can share the same psu. This is a very simple project with the lm3 should work well.

Don

Siffy · #47 01/01/2008, 07:44 PM

Since you already have a $300 pump that will do automated water changes, why not just program it how much to change per day? Seems like having a large container of NSW hidden in a closet would be less work than adding salt to a 5g bucket every day and pressing a button.

medic29 · #48 01/01/2008, 07:57 PM

Anyone know how hard it is to put a graphic together while watching the Rose Bowl? Especially when your team isn't performing as hoped for!!! ah!!!!!

Maybe they do better if I don't watch. So far a touch down and almost another.

Here is the drawing...

I hope this helps some.

activecactus · #49 01/01/2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Siffy
Since you already have a $300 pump that will do automated water changes, why not just program it how much to change per day? Seems like having a large container of NSW hidden in a closet would be less work than adding salt to a 5g bucket every day and pressing a button.

I have a 29 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump which I have set the LMIII to perform weekly 4.5 gallon waterchanges.

Space is a big concern and the largest container that I can fit in a closet is a 5 gallon bucket. This setup will allow me to be out of town and not worry that the saltwater reservoir will empty and having the other pump drain the sump.

Thanks Rick and Don for helping out. I need to go to Radio Shack tomorrow and pick up an adapter for the LMIII pump. I'll attempt connecting it then.

activecactus · #50 01/01/2008, 11:12 PM

Sorry about the Illini.