ATO dual sensors

[kl3377]

I have a Water Level Sensor in my sump that when DRY activates my Drive Port Pump to add top off water. Today I added a sensor to my RODI bucket to lmk when the water level drops too low. I am unable to figure out how to have the RODI sensor shut the Drive Port Pump off when the sensor goes dry. Temporarily I have set up a Generic Output to alarm when the RODI goes dry. Any help much appreciated.

 

[Carlos]

What type of OUTPUT are you using to activate the Drive Port Pump? What preset? You probably need to change the type of OUTPUT to a Generic and then use 2 INPUTS.

 

[kl3377]

Type=ATO

 

[kl3377]

I am struggling to figure out the correct settings using Generic with 2 inputs to achieve my desired result.

Involved Items
ATO Sensor (Input) - Measure sump level
ATO Reservoir (Input) - Measure RODI level
ATO Pump (Output) - Drive Port 1 pumps from RODI to Sump

Goal
ATO Sensor goes Dry ATO Pump turn On until ATO Sensor Wet
ATO Reservoir goes DRY ATO Pump turns Off until ATO Reservoir Wet (Manual refilled by me) - Also ATO Sensor turns off or does not alarm (or alarms only one time)

Not sure if this can work

 

[Danny]

I don't have an optical sensor in my DI tank but if I did it would be set to active when wet. Also make sure and use the AND combiner type.

 

[kl3377]

Thank you Danny. Followed the above but added the ATO Pump (Drive 2) in the drop down for Output device and everything seems to be working ok. Sump level goes low and pump turns on, reservoir level goes low when sump level is low and does not turn on. However, I can not figure out how to make it alarm if the Reservoir goes dry and ATO Pump does not turn on.
I did set up a separate Output that does alarm when the Reservoir Sensor goes dry (this certainly serves the same purpose)

 

[Danny]

Thank you Danny. Followed the above but added the ATO Pump (Drive 2) in the drop down for Output device and everything seems to be working ok. Sump level goes low and pump turns on, reservoir level goes low when sump level is low and does not turn on. However, I can not figure out how to make it alarm if the Reservoir goes dry and ATO Pump does not turn on.
I did set up a separate Output that does alarm when the Reservoir Sensor goes dry (this certainly serves the same purpose)

Sounds good. I also use some of the advanced settings on my ATO. It is a peristaltic pump so it pumps at around 60ml per minute. You would have to use different times depending on the pump type and size of the tank. I have the minimum off time set for 30 minutes And max runtime set for 4min and 15seconds. So it will stay off at least 30min before the next fill. I have run past max on time set to off. If my sensor gets stuck the pump will only run for 4min and 15sec then it will send an alarm and stop Instead of continuing to try and fill the sump with DI. I also have the minimum on time set for 2min so the pump will run at least 2min before stopping. Sounds like you have you reservoir empty alarm figured out.

 

[osvaldogarza21]

Hi, I’m in the same boat here. Today I woke up to a empty DI reservoir and the small DC pump running. I don’t have the sensor to place in the DI reservoir but I’m trying to configure the “Advace Settings” don’t know if I’m correct I set the minimum run time to 5 seconds, maximum run time to 35 seconds with the minimum off time 0 and maximum off time 0 is this a correct setting ? At least till I order the sensor and configure it like @kl3377

thanks in advance.

 

[Danny]

With set that way it will run for only 35 seconds before stopping and sending an alert. The minimum run time you have is 5 seconds. Those settings will depend a lot on your tanks needs and the flow rate of the pump you use. If setup that way the pump will stop after 35 seconds if the DI runs dry.

 

[osvaldogarza21]

I see! so then if I understand correctly if the “Advanced Setting” is enabled it overrides the normal operating cycle from which it would be in if the “Advanced Setting” was disabled?

If so I will then disable it and leave it back to original operations until I get the sensor that i order today.

I guess what I was looking to accomplish is to have it operate normally and in the event that my DI reservoir ran out of water and the pump was running it would shut off after a certain time on.

 

[Danny]

I would think you would want a maximum on time set and a minimum on time set. I even have a maximum off time set. If the maximum off time is exceeded I will get an alert. Also if the maximum on time is exceeded I will get an alert. Once you know that the max on time is a little higher than you normal time needed to refill it will keep the ATO from running if there is an issue. It is like a backup for the level sensor also. The minimum on time keeps it from cycling on and off too often. The times are something that is dependent on you tank and the pump. I just tweaked mine one way are the other until I got them set where I liked it. If max is too low you will get alerts when there is not an actual issue but you can just increase the time a little each time till you stop getting max on time has been exceeded alarms.

 

[Danny]

I forgot I also have a minimum off time setup also so it only adds water every 30 minutes.

 

[markk96]

Here is my ATO with two inputs and the type is set to Genric.

 

[osvaldogarza21]

Would the following programing be correct in stopping the ATO from running if the RODI Reservoir Sensor is Dry?
I Have two inputs.
#1 ATO Sensor which is in my tank sump area.
#2 RODI Sensor which is now in my RODI reservoir lowest point that I consider safe for the pump.

I follow the instructions only thing that confused me is if its going to be active when the RODI sensor is Dry or Wet in order to stop the ATO from running.

I am under the impression that it is active when RODI Sensor is Wet, allowing the ATO Sensor to activate when it is Dry in order to top off what ever amount evaporates (normal operation) and in the occasion that RODI Sensor is Dry it will not let ATO Sensor activate when Dry????

Then once I have this Generic output correct I go back in to my ATO output and program it to depend on this generic output that way it ties it all together and prevents the ATO from Toping off if the RODI Sensor is Dry.

Hopefully this is the correct programing.

Attached are the RODI Sensor output and the ATO Sensor output.

 

[Danny]

You don't need the ATO sensor in the RODI sensor output for it to work since it is already on the ATO output. The RODI output is like a backup that will stop it if the RODI had a low level. You can add other inputs such as leak detectors and sump high sensors to that output if you want also. Also you can use the depends on on the RODI sensor and set it to your return pump and turn that of if return is off. The Sensors look correct the way they are setup. Make sure and check it to make sure it works the way you want it.

 

[osvaldogarza21]

Ok perfect I was overthinking this. Good point in the adding of additional inputs I like the idea of adding the leak detector and a sump high sensor as well for redundancy.

Thank You @Danny

 

[Danny]

No problem anytime. Looks like we are in the same state. How did it go getting through the rolling blackouts we had. Some of the people in my area lost everything in their tanks. I guess I got lucky I did not loose any fish or corals. I did have the rolling blackouts for several days. I did have battery backup for my flow pumps. I think the longest we were without power at any one time was 4 hours. The 4 on and 4 off went for the better part of a 24hr period.

 

[osvaldogarza21]

Oh yeah, well I'm in McAllen Tx I was worried because I have a Nano Tank, mostly Zoanthids and Rock Flower Nems and I had 2 Gonis that were doing great then the blackouts came in and they closed up. We had 4 hour blackouts too but for the most part with fewer intervals of "no power" guess we got lucky. My friend was completely out of power for two days. He had a generator running his tanks. He has a Nano and a 80 Gallon. He thought he had lost a few corals but I was checking his tank out this week and everything bounced back. As to my two Gonis after two weeks in my tank hoping they would bounce back I gave them to him. He placed them in a frag rack in his 80 gallon tank and they bounced back better than they were in my Nano. I have prepared myself with a generator since and now I'm ready for hurricane season.

 

[Danny]

I am just northwest of Austin so I don't normally have to worry about hurricanes. You cannot get much father south than you are and still be in the state. Glad to hear everything made it though the blackouts ok. It got down to 6 degrees outside one night during the blackouts. It was below 32 for a little more than a week. I don't remember that ever happening in this area since I have been here. We moved to Austin in 67 from Victoria. There it very seldom got below 32 but it rained a lot except for the summer.