Timers

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by spreerider

i use the noma ones now and just plug a power bar into them to control more than one device.

Jaws we will have to see how mine works out first then i may put them into production depending on the prices i can get all the components for and labour times.

Great idea with the power bar hooked to the Noma timer. If I understand correctly he'd like the Tunzes to run on a 2 hour alternating cycle. I'm not sure what he uses the Mag 3 for but I don't think he'd want his lights cycling off and on every 2 hours, that's why I mentioned he'd need more than one Noma timer to run the equipment he listed. I've often wondered why someone hasn't come up with a cost effective interface with associated software to use with a computer. Lots of controllers out there these days, but most are proprietary, costly and designed to work only with one particular company's hardware. It will be interesting to see how your system develops spreerider. I understand what a contactor is, but what's a "160 output/input PLC"??

[spreerider]

a PLC is a Programmable Logic Controller, its like a small computer that you can program via a regular computer and have it take inputs from any source and then output to any source, the ones i have are 24VDC or 120VAC - 208Vac - 250VAC
PLCs are used in all factories and such to control the machinery, the ones i have access to are older units but 160 inputs and 160 outputs should be enough for any sized fish tank. It is also possible to piggyback 8 of these units together and have them operate as one large one but it really slows their decision making down alot, and greatly reduces the amount of programming steps that can be used.