Automated Ball Valve - Apex Controlled

[MaddyP]

If I'm not mistaken, these ball valves only use electricity when it is moving. In other words, it's not normally open or normally closed. It simply stays where it was last set by the motor. A solenoid valve will consume power continuously to either stay open (NC) or stay closed (NO). I have been looking at stainless ball valves that are motorized. They can be bought a lot cheaper than these pvc valves, but I can only find them in 304. However, many manual ball valves have the mounting points so you can add the motor to the top of them.

I understand your thinking. These prtocular ball valves do have a limit switch for both directions. Once the limit is achieved, the power is cut to the motor until the opposite rotation is energized. It may not be beneficial electrically to use a relay, but the reduction of one outlet makes it worthwhile for my application.

 

[kattz]

You should always try to go to a valve that has a spring or mechanically-actuated return to a state - normally-open or normally-closed. Always set up to fail in the position that does not endanger the system or the house.

 

[MaddyP]

You should always try to go to a valve that has a spring or mechanically-actuated return to a state - normally-open or normally-closed. Always set up to fail in the position that does not endanger the system or the house.

Valid worry, however, on a mixing station of two equally sized container a failure event will do nothing more than cause the pump to run dry if the valve fails in the incorrect position.

 

[MaddyP]

Thanks to @Greybeard for the excellent recommendation! I've received a SPDT relay to implement into the valve wiring. This should allow control through one outlet instead of two and simplify the Apex programming a tad. I thought I had a project box laying around suitable, but I'll need to order one.

 

[kattz]

That's not really SPDT... Technically, yes, but that's a pilot relay. So you can have one output normaly open and the other one is normally closed. You want one like an Omron LY4N and a socket base. This is because there are usually two N/O and two or three N/C sides of the relay. So you would wire your Apex 120V to the coil (A1 and B1) and your 120V hot from the power source to the N/O contact and a jumper wire to the other one so one output connects power to both valves.

 

[MaddyP]

Finished up the plumbing this weekend! This is extremely simplistic, if the tanks were larger I would put in manual ball valves for maintenance. In this case, I'll just need to drain one or both of the tanks in the case the pump or valve breaks down.

I'll be posting most of the details for this mixing station on my build thread, more details over there.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/75g-rimless-crystal-dynamic-build-thread.296722/

 

[MaddyP]

I've finished the mixing station and updated my build thread for those interested!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/75g-rimless-crystal-dynamic-build-thread.296722/

 

[MaddyP]

That's not really SPDT... Technically, yes, but that's a pilot relay. So you can have one output normaly open and the other one is normally closed. You want one like an Omron LY4N and a socket base. This is because there are usually two N/O and two or three N/C sides of the relay. So you would wire your Apex 120V to the coil (A1 and B1) and your 120V hot from the power source to the N/O contact and a jumper wire to the other one so one output connects power to both valves.

I noticed the same once I had it in hand and contemplating how to wire. In the end I decided to stick with the two outlet configuration as I have the outlets to spare.

 

[MaddyP]

It has been a long time coming, but I finally took a video of the water transfer to mixing tank! Although I've used the manual "Transfer" button, I have this system setup automatically. When the saltwater tank hits the low float switch, it triggers a refill of the RODI tank. Once the RODI tank hits the top float, the transfer is initiated. At the end of the transfer, I am sent a notification to add salt. After adding the salt, I hit a virtual switch to reset the system and the saltwater tank begins mixing the new saltwater for 2 hours. The system then continues with normal water changes of 4000ml per day.