Apex controlled DIY ATO - "Min Time" - How long?

[xmas_one]

What are those of you running DIY ATO on your Apex letting the "Min Time" command be? I had mine at 20 min., but that seems way too short, the aqualifter was only coming on for like 10 seconds. I set it to 180 minutes, trying to avoid unnecessary cycling of the ATO relay on my EB8.

 

[solitude127]

Can you give us your programming so that we can better understand how you have it setup?

 

[xmas_one]

Can you give us your programming so that we can better understand how you have it setup?

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw1 OPEN Then OFF
If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF
Defer 002:00 Then ON
Min Time 180:00 Then OFF

Sw2 is an "emergency" switch mounted 2" higher than Sw1.

 

[solitude127]

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw1 OPEN Then OFF
If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF
Defer 002:00 Then ON
Min Time 180:00 Then OFF

Sw2 is an "emergency" switch mounted 2" higher than Sw1.

How long does your ato actually come on for when SW1 is "closed"?
From what your programming looks like, it doesn't even get to the Min time because when SW1 is open, then it'll turn off the pump.

Here's my programming
ATO outlet on EB8
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If ATO CLOSED Then ON
If ATO_BU OPEN Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON
Min Time 010:00 Then ON
If Outlet Timer1_ATO = ON Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

Virtual ATO outlet(timer)
Set OFF
If Outlet ATO1 = ON Then ON
Defer 010:30 Then ON

This programming will have my ATO outlet turn on for 10min and 30sec once my ATO Switch has been activated.

 

[xmas_one]

How long does your ato actually come on for when SW1 is "closed"?
From what your programming looks like, it doesn't even get to the Min time because when SW1 is open, then it'll turn off the pump.

Here's my programming
ATO outlet on EB8
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If ATO CLOSED Then ON
If ATO_BU OPEN Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON
Min Time 010:00 Then ON
If Outlet Timer1_ATO = ON Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

Virtual ATO outlet(timer)
Set OFF
If Outlet ATO1 = ON Then ON
Defer 010:30 Then ON

This programming will have my ATO outlet turn on for 10min and 30sec once my ATO Switch has been activated.

It came on for 90 seconds after being off for 180 minutes.

 

[805reef]

What's wrong with it being on for 90 seconds?

I have my mine time set for 5 minutes, been that way for years

 

[xmas_one]

What's wrong with it being on for 90 seconds?

I have my mine time set for 5 minutes, been that way for years

Mine isn't set to come on for a given amount of time. It's set to stay off for a given amount of time. So, with it being off for 180 minutes, the aqualifter has to run for 90 seconds to make up for the 180 minutes of evaporation. I'm trying to eliminate needless cycling of my pump and relay, so I think I'll just keep pushing my "Min Time" (the amount of time I'm forcing the pump to be off between on cycles) until it's only coming on a couple times a day. Maybe 6 hours?

 

[805reef]

Mine isn't set to come on for a given amount of time. It's set to stay off for a given amount of time. So, with it being off for 180 minutes, the aqualifter has to run for 90 seconds to make up for the 180 minutes of evaporation. I'm trying to eliminate needless cycling of my pump and relay, so I think I'll just keep pushing my "Min Time" (the amount of time I'm forcing the pump to be off between on cycles) until it's only coming on a couple times a day. Maybe 6 hours?

That's how mine is. It is set to be off for at least 5 minutes before turning back on. It stays on for however long it needs until the float switch changes.

I'm not sure what you consider needless cycles... but if you want to minimize the cycles then see how long it takes to fill it up and only run it for that long once a day.

 

[xmas_one]

That's how mine is. It is set to be off for at least 5 minutes before turning back on. It stays on for however long it needs until the float switch changes.

I'm not sure what you consider needless cycles... but if you want to minimize the cycles then see how long it takes to fill it up and only run it for that long once a day.

Can you post your program? How many times a day is your pump turning on/off? My goal in this is to minimize wear/tear on my relay and pump, maybe it's a non-issue, but it just goes against my grain to cycle the heck out of electronics for no good reason.

 

[805reef]

Can you post your program? How many times a day is your pump turning on/off? My goal in this is to minimize wear/tear on my relay and pump, maybe it's a non-issue, but it just goes against my grain to cycle the heck out of electronics for no good reason.

[ATO]
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 OPEN Then OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw2 OPEN Then OFF
If Outlet Limit_ATO = ON Then OFF
Min Time 005:00 Then OFF
If Outlet Maintenance = ON Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON

[Limit_ATO]
Set OFF
If Outlet ATO = ON Then ON
Defer 020:00 Then ON


The limit ato is to let me know when the reservoir is empty. A quick look at my graph and my ato comes on between 10 and 15 times a day... I guess that's a lot. Maybe I should look into having it run less often also

 

[babyjess210]

Here is mine


Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Ato CLOSED Then ON
If Ato OPEN Then OFF
If AtoEr OPEN Then OFF
Defer 015:00 Then ON
Min Time 010:00 Then OFF
If FeedA 005 Then OFF
If FeedB 005 Then OFF
If FeedC 005 Then OFF
If FeedD 005 Then OFF

 

[xmas_one]

Cool deal, I'm running mine now every 6 hours and it runs for ~4 minutes to open the bottom float. This is on a 66g SCA with a 20 long sump, no fans (yet), 4x24w ATI, tank temp hovering around 78 degrees.