auto feeder to use with a controller?

[reefme]

Originally Posted by subman

I looked at the ehiem one but there will always be a discrepancy in clocks, I really want it to be controlled by the profilux.
I found this one
http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html

Looks like it will work just never heard of it

I have one of this: http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html
Planning on order one more but $50.00 for shipping is too much.
If any anyone in Edmonton want to do a group buy I am in.
You can use a controller or a timer to controll it.

[sphelps]

Thought I'd post this little mod for those interested in running an auto feeder on an external controller.

I used an old Rena LG100 fish feed that I had lying around.



Removed the back, unplugged circuit board (not needed), cut off harness (not needed).



There is a limit switch at the top (black wires). Originally wired in the normally closed position. I rewired it so it's normally open, there's an extra tab on the switch, simple as cutting off one wire and soldering it to the other tab.

Once that was done I used a 9VDC power supply (one that comes with it) and wired it up as follows:



Note for demonstration I wired a simple manual switch in place of the relay (red button, yellow wires). The Relay needs to be normally open and simply allows you to plug it into a socket from an external controller like profilux. 1-2 seconds is enough to trigger it, it will complete one rotation and stop. Activate an many rotations as desired using 1-2 seconds on, every 10 seconds.

Now an exciting video.

[lastlight]

nice work steve! you should sell refurbished units =) i dig the halide bake on the top of yours lol.

[sphelps]

Yeah it's seen a few halides in it's day.

The LG100 has a built in heater to reduce moisture by rasing relative humidity. You can wire it straight up to the 9VDC power supply as well by the looks of things. Going to leave it connected for a bit to see if it overheats.

[lastlight]

just put another halide above the unit instead lol.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by lastlight

just put another halide above the unit instead lol.

But the halide would heat up everything including the air outside the feeder, so that wouldn't really work. Plus maybe slightly less efficient.

[The Grizz]

WOW at an engineers wage that is one expensive auto feeder