Heater relay not controlled by proper temperature sensor?
Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 1:01 pm
Hi--
I have three temperature probes in use with an RA+:
T1_PROBE = lights temperature (probe thermally cemented to LED heatsink)
T2_PROBE = room temperature
T3_PROBE = water temperature
I have always had my heater relay (port 6, in this case) tied to T3_PROBE, but recently the relay apparently started responding instead to T1: when the 'lights temperature' exceeded the 'heater-off temperature', the heater goes off. When the lights later turn off and the heatsink temperature drops below the 'heater-on temperature', the heater goes on.
I can verify that each of the 3 probes are reading the correct corresponding temperatures, e.g. the T3_PROBE reading matches the water temperature obtained with a simple bulb thermometer. Since the heatsink is generally much warmer than the water temp when the lights are on, the net effect is that my heater runs continuously during the entire period when the lights are off, and the heater stays off throughout the period when the lights are on.
(FWIW, the overheat function is tied to the T1_PROBE so that the lights turn off if the heatsink gets too warm, and appears to work correctly. The heater does not respond at all to any fluctuations in the water temperature.)
I'm baffled. I've tried re-uploading my code, replacing probes, and even swapped in a spare RA+ board, but get the same effect.
FTR, here is my current working code. Pretty basic, straight off the RA Wizard with the addition of a couple lines changing the Overheat and TempProbe definitions. Does this look correct? Am I doing something stupid in the code, or is this possibly some kind of hardware issue?
Any thoughts? I'd greatly appreciate suggestions or diagnostics.
I have three temperature probes in use with an RA+:
T1_PROBE = lights temperature (probe thermally cemented to LED heatsink)
T2_PROBE = room temperature
T3_PROBE = water temperature
I have always had my heater relay (port 6, in this case) tied to T3_PROBE, but recently the relay apparently started responding instead to T1: when the 'lights temperature' exceeded the 'heater-off temperature', the heater goes off. When the lights later turn off and the heatsink temperature drops below the 'heater-on temperature', the heater goes on.
I can verify that each of the 3 probes are reading the correct corresponding temperatures, e.g. the T3_PROBE reading matches the water temperature obtained with a simple bulb thermometer. Since the heatsink is generally much warmer than the water temp when the lights are on, the net effect is that my heater runs continuously during the entire period when the lights are off, and the heater stays off throughout the period when the lights are on.
(FWIW, the overheat function is tied to the T1_PROBE so that the lights turn off if the heatsink gets too warm, and appears to work correctly. The heater does not respond at all to any fluctuations in the water temperature.)
I'm baffled. I've tried re-uploading my code, replacing probes, and even swapped in a spare RA+ board, but get the same effect.
FTR, here is my current working code. Pretty basic, straight off the RA Wizard with the addition of a couple lines changing the Overheat and TempProbe definitions. Does this look correct? Am I doing something stupid in the code, or is this possibly some kind of hardware issue?
Code: Select all
#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 <Humidity.h>
#include <DCPump.h>
#include <PAR.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
// ReefAngel.AddStandardMenu (); // Add standard menu
ReefAngel.Use2014Screen(); // Let's use 2014 Screen
// Ports toggled in Feeding Mode
ReefAngel.FeedingModePorts = Port3Bit | Port4Bit | Port6Bit;
// Ports toggled in Water Change Mode
ReefAngel.WaterChangePorts = Port3Bit | Port4Bit | Port6Bit;
// Ports toggled when Lights On / Off menu entry selected
ReefAngel.LightsOnPorts = Port5Bit | Port7Bit | Port8Bit;
// Ports turned off when Overheat temperature exceeded
ReefAngel.OverheatShutoffPorts = Port7Bit | Port8Bit;
// Use T1 (light) probe as overheat function and T3 (water) probe as temperature function
ReefAngel.TempProbe = T3_PROBE;
ReefAngel.OverheatProbe = T1_PROBE;
// 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.CO2Control( Port3 );
ReefAngel.DayLights( Port5 );
ReefAngel.StandardHeater( Port6 );
ReefAngel.DayLights( Port7 );
ReefAngel.ActinicLights( Port8 );
ReefAngel.PWM.DaylightPWMParabola();
ReefAngel.PWM.ActinicPWMParabola();
ReefAngel.PWM.SetChannel( 0, MoonPhase() );
////// Place your custom code below here
////// Place your custom code above here
ReefAngel.Portal( "xxx","xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" );
// This should always be the last line
ReefAngel.AddWifi();
ReefAngel.ShowInterface();
}