Reef Discussion

daveH · Dec 22, 2012

Here is the fix for the board, solder some short wires where I've marked the red lines. It will work after that - no problems.

firechild · Dec 22, 2012

Thanks Dave. Unfortunately, in some units it may be just 1 socket that is causing the problem but as I said, there is no way to differentiate between the good and bad ones.

rockerpeller · Dec 22, 2012

firechild said:
Thanks Dave. Unfortunately, in some units it may be just 1 socket that is causing the problem but as I said, there is no way to differentiate between the good and bad ones.

Wouldn't daves fix still work on a normal socket? Seeing as the middle pin would be blank on a normal socket and isn't connected to anything (well here's hoping).

chimaera · Dec 22, 2012

Thanks both. As rocker says, if this fix will work whichever the defective pin is then I have a chance at fixing. Still need to buy a solder iron, but I am sure it will come in handy one day ... and it would be a shame to abandon the unit given it is otherwise ready to rock.

daveH · Dec 22, 2012

rockerpeller said:
Wouldn't daves fix still work on a normal socket? Seeing as the middle pin would be blank on a normal socket and isn't connected to anything (well here's hoping).

That's right. If you put the patch on all pins it won't matter if they're one or the other. That will make them all work the same.

firechild · Dec 23, 2012

rockerpeller said:
Wouldn't daves fix still work on a normal socket? Seeing as the middle pin would be blank on a normal socket and isn't connected to anything (well here's hoping).

Absolutely. My comment was more due to the fact that even if it is only 1 socket that causes the issue, you will need to solder all 5 (unless you solder 1, test, solder the next, test, etc) rather than just the "faulty" socket.

daveH · Dec 23, 2012

I'm still trying to work out why my unit flooded my tank twice after not cutting off.
I'm thinking of putting a separate cutoff switch as a backup, somehow.

firechild · Dec 23, 2012

Are the float switches sticking? It's odd that it would happenconsidering the 2 switch system is designed specifically to avoid that problem.

daveH · Dec 23, 2012

They don't seem to be sticking, they feel quite free when I test them, but I'm usually in such a mad panic when it happens that I don't notice if they are stuck or not.

Joshwaaaa · Dec 23, 2012

Yup had to do something similar to get mine working. Did my head in to begin with as I used soldered connections and thought I stuffed one up. Spent ages going over everything.

But all go now. Just have to make up some proper brackets for my float switches as what I have is rather dodgy

daveH · Dec 23, 2012

Well, it looks like I have at least one crappy sensor. After much much testing, it seems that one of the sensors will stay on regardless of whether the float is up or down but only intermittently. So when the good sensor shuts off the crook one keeps pumping. So whether I get some more sensors or go for a different setup I'm not sure.
Bugga!

daveH · Dec 26, 2012

I think I've got the ATO working properly, I found some better float switches at Jaycar, they were slightly more expensive but much more solid than the others I was using which seemed a bit flimsy.
I just made simple bracket out of leftover acrylic. Seems to be working a treat. (still very wary though)

Meller · Jan 1, 2013

daveH said:
I think I've got the ATO working properly, I found some better float switches at Jaycar, they were slightly more expensive but much more solid than the others I was using which seemed a bit flimsy.
I just made simple bracket out of leftover acrylic. Seems to be working a treat. (still very wary though)
View attachment 10497

I was going to mention it earlier when you posted a pic of your original floats. I had the same floats as them originally and suffered the same consequence.... intermittent switching resulting in 60L ATO RO dumps into the DT. I replaced the floats with these ones and haven't had a problem since.

daveH · Jan 1, 2013

The one you just showed is the same brand as the ones I had trouble with. In fact, that is the one I still have as a cutoff in the RO tank.
The ones I got from Jaycar are much sturdier and the float works way better without catching.

MagicJ · Jan 1, 2013

I have been using one of these from Jaycar for 2 years without a problem.

[Broken External Image]:http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_9428.jpg

daveH · Jan 1, 2013

Yeah, I looked at those ones also. Ended up going with the others. I think available room was the decider and they dropped too far before actuating.

Meller · Jan 1, 2013

daveH said:
The one you just showed is the same brand as the ones I had trouble with. In fact, that is the one I still have as a cutoff in the RO tank.
The ones I got from Jaycar are much sturdier and the float works way better without catching.

Argh... dont i feel like an idiot now lol. I mistook rockerpellers? photo of the ebay ones with yellow wires for yours... my apologies.

Now you've got me worried about my RS ones....:confused:

Joshwaaaa · Jan 1, 2013

Haven't had any dramas just yet fingers crossed. Sump can probably handle the 25L of ro if it does get stuck but would definitely be better if it didn't happen.

This is my sketchy setup. I'll make a proper proper one one-day

ai182.photobucket.com_albums_x146_DR_JOSHUA_20130101_213128.jpg

Joshwaaaa · Jan 9, 2013

Had one stick today, but the secondary stopped it no worries. I stirred up all the crud in my sump and something must have got caught in it. Cleaned it out and it's running fine again

rockerpeller · Jan 10, 2013

Haven't had one stick yet. The top up container i use is only 10L which lasts a couple days, so if one does stick it's not a biggy.
I am looking at a few other switch types though. Found some infra red liquid sensors, which will go great on the arduino controller when it's finished so switching them out could be a worthwhile option.