Water Level expansion starting and stopping intermittently

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 3:29 pm

Working on getting my Water Level Expansion working. I have used the code that has been posted.
It seems to be turning on intermittently. I'm using the ATO pump I ordered from RA. I have tried the code below on ports 1, 5 and 8 and they all do the same thing so I assume I have done something wrong. The pump has never ran uninterrupted for the 300 seconds. Even when the water level reads 62, the ATO will start and stop for 5-10 seconds.
I have also tried a water level of 81-83 and it does the same thing. I haven't noticed it turning on as long as the level stays above 63. What am I missing?

Code: Select all

void loop()
{
    ReefAngel.StandardHeater( Port3,772,778 );
//    ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port8,300,61,63);
    ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port1,300,61,63);

    ReefAngel.DosingPumpRepeat( Port6,30,120,1 );
    ReefAngel.DosingPumpRepeat( Port7,0,60,2 );
    ////// Place your custom code below here

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 3:53 pm

Do you have the float switches connected?
Are you using them?

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:18 pm

No float switches. Just the water level sensor.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:59 pm

The way the function works is it will only turn on when level is below 61 and will only turn off when it reaches 63.
So, it is not supposed to turn on when it is above 63%.
Do you have any other function using the same port?
Can we see the entire code?

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:34 am

I used the wizard to generate the code below and I removed the float ATO code and cut and pasted the water level expansion code from one of your post.

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#include <ReefAngel_Features.h>
#include <Globals.h>
#include <RA_Wifi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS1307RTC.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_NokiaLCD.h>
#include <RA_ATO.h>
#include <RA_Joystick.h>
#include <LED.h>
#include <RA_TempSensor.h>
#include <Relay.h>
#include <RA_PWM.h>
#include <Timer.h>
#include <Memory.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_Colors.h>
#include <RA_CustomColors.h>
#include <Salinity.h>
#include <RF.h>
#include <IO.h>
#include <ORP.h>
#include <AI.h>
#include <PH.h>
#include <WaterLevel.h>
#include <ReefAngel.h>

////// Place global variable code below here


////// Place global variable code above here


void setup()
{
    // This must be the first line
    ReefAngel.Init();  //Initialize controller
    // Ports toggled in Feeding Mode
    ReefAngel.FeedingModePorts = 0;
    // Ports toggled in Water Change Mode
    ReefAngel.WaterChangePorts = Port1Bit | Port2Bit | Port5Bit | Port6Bit | Port7Bit | Port8Bit;
    // Ports toggled when Lights On / Off menu entry selected
    ReefAngel.LightsOnPorts = 0;
    // Ports turned off when Overheat temperature exceeded
    ReefAngel.OverheatShutoffPorts = Port3Bit;
    // Use T1 probe as temperature and overheat functions
    ReefAngel.TempProbe = T2_PROBE;
    ReefAngel.OverheatProbe = T1_PROBE;
    // Set the Overheat temperature setting
    InternalMemory.OverheatTemp_write( 820 );


    // Ports that are always on
  //  ReefAngel.Relay.On( Port1 );
    ReefAngel.Relay.On( Port2 );
    ReefAngel.Relay.On( Port4 );

    ////// Place additional initialization code below here
    

    ////// Place additional initialization code above here
}

void loop()
{
    ReefAngel.StandardHeater( Port3,772,778 );
//    ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port8,300,61,63);
    ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port1,300,61,63);

    ReefAngel.DosingPumpRepeat( Port6,30,120,1 );
    ReefAngel.DosingPumpRepeat( Port7,0,60,2 );
    ////// Place your custom code below here
    

    ////// Place your custom code above here

    // This should always be the last line
    ReefAngel.Portal( "Endaar" );
    ReefAngel.ShowInterface();
}

void DrawCustomMain()
{
    int x,y;
    char text[10];
    // Parameters
#if defined DisplayLEDPWM && ! defined RemoveAllLights
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawMonitor( 15, 14, ReefAngel.Params,
    ReefAngel.PWM.GetDaylightValue(), ReefAngel.PWM.GetActinicValue() );
#else // defined DisplayLEDPWM && ! defined RemoveAllLights
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawMonitor( 15, 14, ReefAngel.Params );
#endif // defined DisplayLEDPWM && ! defined RemoveAllLights
    pingSerial();

    // Salinity
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText( COLOR_DARKKHAKI,DefaultBGColor,15,54, "SAL:" );
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText( COLOR_DARKKHAKI,DefaultBGColor,39,54, ReefAngel.Params.Salinity );
    pingSerial();

    // Water Level
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText( COLOR_DARKGOLDENROD,DefaultBGColor,75,75, "WL:" );
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText( COLOR_DARKGOLDENROD,DefaultBGColor,99,75, ReefAngel.WaterLevel.GetLevel() );
    pingSerial();

    // Main Relay Box
    byte TempRelay = ReefAngel.Relay.RelayData;
    TempRelay &= ReefAngel.Relay.RelayMaskOff;
    TempRelay |= ReefAngel.Relay.RelayMaskOn;
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawOutletBox( 12, 95, TempRelay );
    pingSerial();

    // Date and Time
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawDate( 6, 122 );
    pingSerial();
}

void DrawCustomGraph()
{
}

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:38 am

Is the red status LED on?
Did you try clearing ATO timeout?
The code looks good.

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:51 am

The red status light was not on. I tried clearing it anyway.
I will see if it did anything.

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:43 pm

Roberto,
The ATO is still coming on intermittently. I'm currently at 61 and the pump just cam on for a few seconds then stopped for a minute and ran for a few more seconds.
Any ideas?
Ant

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:51 pm

I would extend your range between the 61 and 63.

The water level sensor bounces around +/-1 or so.. So could easily be hitting unhitting the target numbers..

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:53 pm

Is your level showing up and down on your screen?
Could it be that it did hit 63% and that's when it stopped?

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:01 pm

It's bouncing between 61 and 62 on the screen. If it is at 61 it should run for several minutes before it shuts off since your ATO only does 200mL/min.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:03 pm

When that 1 minute pause happens, did you check on screen what color port 1 is?

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:40 pm

It seems to run continuously if it is under 61 when it gets to 61 it stops and the 1 on the screen shows the relay in the off position. when it is above 61 and it does the start and stop the relay toggles on and off. So it isn't the pump.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:44 pm

I would still suggest trying 60, 70 as a test.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:49 pm

What libraries version are you using?
It's not making sense...

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:52 pm

1.0.3

alexwbush · Post by **alexwbush** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:31 pm

I was just getting ready to come on here and post the same problem, but I realized I had my low and high levels mixed up. Your symptom would make perfect sense if you accidentally used:

Code: Select all

ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port1,300,63,61);

Since the function is:

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ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port,ATOtimeout,ATOlow,ATOhigh);

But in your case, I am just as puzzled as roberto.

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:18 am

Using the code I have above if I set port 1 to off with the Portal which is the ATO, should it stay in the off position? I had it set to off when I went to bed and woke up this morning to the sound of the ATO running. So it seems the RA reset itself again. The screen locked up like the post above and pushing the controller twice had no effect. Could there be a problem with my head unit?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:08 am

The controller will always reset itself when it detects something abnormal.
The ATO and the reset are two different issues. They are not related.
I think the screen scrambling is just the screen, which we can easily replace.
But, if you want to send the whole head unit for replacement, please PM for RMA.
That will still not resolve the issue with the ATO.
Like alexbush mentioned, it would make sense if the values were inverted, but this is not the case for you.
So, let's try another route.
Remove this:

Code: Select all

    ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port1,300,61,63);

And use this instead:

Code: Select all

  if (ReefAngel.WaterLevel.GetLevel()>63) ReefAngel.Relay.Off(Port1);
  if (ReefAngel.WaterLevel.GetLevel()<61 && ReefAngel.WaterLevel.GetLevel()>0) ReefAngel.Relay.On(Port1);

Let us know what happens.

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:51 am

I changed the code and it still stops once the level reaches 61, but this time it is only momentarily a few times then continues running until it goes above 63.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:56 am

That just is not making sense...
Are you sure that in these momentary stops the port turns red on the screen?
Are you also sure that in these momentary stops, the level is displaying something below 63?

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:20 am

Yes to both. I wish I was making it up.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:28 am

Are you able to make a video showing the screen when one of these momentary stops happen?

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:37 pm

Roberto,
Here is a video. After it stopped the second time it never came back on.
Also when I went to the RA the screen was frozen again and i had to unplug it to get control back.
Ant

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:06 pm

Finally. had to shrink it down. In 32 seconds it repeated the on/off twice and stayed off with the display at 61.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:53 pm

What happens if we increase the range and do this:

Code: Select all

ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port1,300,60,66);

It almost looks like you are hitting the 63%, but it is so fast that it doesn't have a chance to display it.

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:11 pm

Does the same thing only worse. Seems the same as it was then we had it at ReefAngel.WaterLevelATO(Port1,300,61,63); The if/ten does it less frequent.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:36 pm

I want to see what kind or reading you are getting....
Can you add this line to the loop():

Code: Select all

  byte l = ReefAngel.WaterLevel.GetLevel();
  if (l>63) ReefAngel.Relay.Off(Port1);
  if (l<61 && l>0) ReefAngel.Relay.On(Port1);

  if (now()%20<10)
  {
    Serial.print(l);
    Serial.print("\t");
    Serial.println(ReefAngel.Relay.Status(Port1));
  }

Don't forget to remove the other functions from loop().
Then, open Serial Monitor and make sure it is set to 57600 baud.
It will print every 10 seconds.
Paste the results here.

Endaar · Post by **Endaar** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:13 pm

I wasn't sure how long you wanted me to run it?

Code: Select all

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:16 pm

That was good, but I wanted you to try to catch that momentary stop, just like you did in the video.
64 is the % and 0 is port 1 off.

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