Diy: Temp/Ato/Main Pump, Controller

[Jennifer]

Ok I finally got around to typing all of this in.
I made this about 6 months ago. It has been controlling my tank ever since. I just figured I would test it before I told everyone how great I thought it was.

Let me know what you guys think. I like feedback even the crappy kind. LOL
http://home.comcast.net/~jennyleep/Diycontroller.htm

I may need to get more detailed on the instruction if anyone thought it was cool enough to try to build themselves.

After 6 months in use it still works perfect and would not change a thing. Except a thermostat that switched between heat and cool by itself.

 

[Scott]

I like feedback even the crappy kind. LOL

OK you asked for it...I can't stand blue on black!

I'll try read it anyway.

 

[Jennifer]

I can change That. NO Prob.

 

[Jennifer]

Fixed Thanks Bonz.

Now how about the controller?

 

[Scott]

ah, thanks. Will take a little longer to digest the actual content.

 

[Jennifer]

Well I am overwhelmed with all of the responses so far. sheeeesh

Must be a slow night. LOL

 

[willray]

Excellent job.....very nice work.

 

[Jennifer]

Thanks Willray!!!

 

[Scott]

Well I am overwhelmed with all of the responses so far. sheeeesh

Must be a slow night. LOL

Nice to meet you at the meeting yesterday, Jennifer.

What I meant in my previous response was that I really wanted to actually read through it before responding. I guess I should have said "looks cool!" too.

Anyway, I've now read it. Impressive solution. You did get a lot into a little box.

Manually switching from heating to cooling is asking for trouble, I think. The whole idea is to get the error-prone person out of the equation.

Instead of the $100 home thermostat that automatically switches between heating and cooling, could you instead use two separate inexpensive thermostat switches? One to control the heaters, and the other to kick in a fan and maybe even turn off the lights.

This is what the expensive controllers do, right?

I have an ATO system in place now but what gives me nightmares is the overflow stuff failing, causing a flood. I may try to tackle just the pump shut-off portion some time. Please give this thread a bump if you get the other wiring diagrams posted.

thanks for sharing this. I love seeing DIY cookbook instructions like this.

 

[JCheung]

Wow cool! Sweet rig!

 

[pvh]

Jennifer, great job. So I guess you're an Electrical Engineer or something similar to that huh?

BTW could you provide a Bill of Materials you used? Thanks.

 

[Miller]

Way to go Jennifer, thats awesome. I saved it for later, might have time to put one together in the summer.

 

[Frag Freaks]

thats pretty cool. Nice Job.

 

[RayD]

I'd need an awful lot of duct tape.

 

[Jennifer]

Jennifer, great job. So I guess you're an Electrical Engineer or something similar to that huh?

BTW could you provide a Bill of Materials you used? Thanks.

Nope, I actually am a general contractor I have my own company.
I do have a vocational degree in electronics.

I have to go through some receipts fro 6mo ago. I had planned to keep track of that stuff, but I never got around to it. I would figure I spent $150 or so for every thing. I am planning on putting a lot of that stuff on the web page. Running a business takes up a lot of my time.

Ray039 I'd need an awful lot of duct tape.

Duct tape is some pretty handy stuff. LOL



Thanks for the kind words guys!!!

 

[ReeferMedic]

Impressive! Please keep this thread updated as to how this is working. This is something i could use in a big way. I had my 72 overflow because of a partial obstruction in the drain. Luckily, my son was home early for school because of an exam that got cancelled and I only lost about 10 or so gallons on the floor of my basement. It could have my whole sump(100 gallons)which would have killed 4 heaters, my return pump, and 3 pumps on my skimmer in the process. Do you work for frags?

 

[Jennifer]

I have had it up and running for 6 mo now. So far it works perfect, I even pulled the u-tube out of the overflow to see what would happen. Sure enough the float switch tripped the relay and no overflow. The warning buzzer went on (loud should wake me up from a dead sleep) Though I imagine if it actually went off at night I would prob run into a wall trying to get to the tank in a half awake state. LOL Restart the syphon, push the restart button and the return pump comes back on.


Really Lucky your son was home. I might work for frags.