Help with floats and solenoids. Clueless??

[Branespikin]

Hi Guys, im almost done and should have my tank up and running. Trying to figure out how i can make this work. Never used apex breakout box or float switched or solenoids. What i want to do is put a solenoid on my water line that is feeding my rodi. I have a acrylic ato container in which i want to put a float on the bottom to turn the solenoid on when water is low and then have a float on top to turn it off when it fills up. It will be a 10g ato most likely i have a 5 gallon now. Please can someone tell me what i need and how to hook this up thru my apex?? I have the rodi under my sink a few feet away from my tank. I can use regular float and i have Automatic shut off valve installed but i want it to auto fill instead of manual.

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

You can do that easily with a Hi-Lo Controller, and it doesn't require the Apex.

 

[Branespikin]

Ok where can i get this hi-lo controller? Just saying apex because i have extra floats and breakout box on hand. I already purchased this so thought this would be easiest way.

 

[ngvu1]

OK, so the solenoid is close, no water going to the ATO reservoir, when power is not applied to the solenoid correct? The solenoid is using an AC adapter I assume. From what given, you want to be able to turn on the solenoid adapter when the water in the ATO reservoir low changing the float switch reading correct?
Also I assume the other side, your RO/DI, has been set up correctly already, just the apex side withe break out box and the float switch(es) you are not sure about.

 

[twilliard]

Here is a schematic

 

[Branespikin]

OK, so the solenoid is close, no water going to the ATO reservoir, when power is not applied to the solenoid correct? The solenoid is using an AC adapter I assume. From what given, you want to be able to turn on the solenoid adapter when the water in the ATO reservoir low changing the float switch reading correct?
Also I assume the other side, your RO/DI, has been set up correctly already, just the apex side withe break out box and the float switch(es) you are not sure about.

Pretty much thats it. I dont have the solenoid yet because i dont know which one to get. I assume it should have a regular plug at the end and i plug it in my eb8. Than with the float switches that are connected to breakout boxes it would send commands to turn on and off designated eb8 switch? I read something about latched relays? Autotopoff has something like this with double floats thst have latched relay? I dont know.
My rodi is all hooked up and working properly with auto shut off valve and all under my sink. Used to be in basement filling brute container when i had larger tank.

 

[Branespikin]

Here is a schematic

I saw this but does not make much sense to me. I dont have pump but directly from my cold water line under my sink. I have the adapter to hook up the rodi with a ball valve to open an close it. Id like to keep that valve open at all times and hook up that solenoid on that 1/4" blue tubbing before it goes into my rodi. So i would need a relay and a solenoid? Also what kind of solenoid? I have red sea reefer 25o 65g so im assuming it will evaporate a gallon a day and i plan on having 10g ato so it would turn on and fill every week and a half. Its a 90g a day rodi

 

[ngvu1]

The bottom float switch, is it close or open in this position? Anyway you can find out the current value once hook up to the apex. Hook 4 wires of the float switches to the break out box (note the ports number) and for the outlet that you have the a/c adapter for the solenoid, have something like this code. Put your feed back and we will continue working with you along the way
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw2 OPEN Then OFF

You can also do some safety feature later on like defer a bit before turning on the thing or turn iitt off if it is on for too long. Or turn if off when doing some maintenance.....

Defer 002:00 Then ON
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
If Outlet MaxTime = ON Then OFF

 

[ngvu1]

I don't see the top float switches so I can't be sure. Anyway, you can play with the switches to see how they changes states and modify the code accordingly...

 

[Branespikin]

The bottom float switch, is it close or open in this position? Anyway you can find out the current value once hook up to the apex. Hook 4 wires of the float switches to the break out box (note the ports number) and for the outlet that you have the a/c adapter for the solenoid, have something like this code. Put your feed back and we will continue working with you along the way
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON
If Sw2 OPEN Then OFF

You can also do some safety feature later on like defer a bit before turning on the thing or turn iitt off if it is on for too long. Or turn if off when doing some maintenance.....

Defer 002:00 Then ON
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
If Outlet MaxTime = ON Then OFF

Ok this is starting to make some sense now. I cant try any if this out yet i have not setup my apex yet hoping to get this done next week. I just purchased the gold and am debating wether to sell and buy the new one. Thx for the help. Ill get this going next week and let you know how it worked out.
Thx

 

[twilliard]

I saw this but does not make much sense to me. I dont have pump but directly from my cold water line under my sink. I have the adapter to hook up the rodi with a ball valve to open an close it. Id like to keep that valve open at all times and hook up that solenoid on that 1/4" blue tubbing before it goes into my rodi. So i would need a relay and a solenoid? Also what kind of solenoid? I have red sea reefer 25o 65g so im assuming it will evaporate a gallon a day and i plan on having 10g ato so it would turn on and fill every week and a half. Its a 90g a day rodi

The pump is your sylenoid

 

[twilliard]

These are easy to come by

 

[Branespikin]

These are easy to come by

Ok ill look it up. It should have a regular plug at the end to plug into the eb8 correct?

 

[ngvu1]

No it does not

It should have a regular plug at the end to plug into the eb8 correct?

 

[Branespikin]

No it does not

Then how do i power it?

 

[ngvu1]

@twilliard

LoL there must be a way. I just know that thing takes 24V input. That means it either comes with one or you need to get a 24V ac adapter and do the wire....

Then how do i power it?

 

[twilliard]

It's a simple control curcuit.
No need to have it controlled by an apex. (Actually I don't know what the Apex would do for the person using this)
A 24v supply is needed unless you get one in another voltage.
24v volts is common as I am a retired control tech and electrician

 

[Waterjockey]

If you want to use the apex, this is how I did mine when I was set up the same way. Float switch wired to switch1 (named SumpNml) on breakout box. Solinoid run off a 115v to 24v wall transformer.
Second pair of switches wired in series (if either switch operates it triggers....failsafe incase one switch fails) wired to 2nd spot on breakout box...named SmpHi

All switches were normally closed when in the "down" position

Code went something like this (working from memory)

Fallback off
Set off
If SumpHi open then off
If SumpNml closed then on
Defer 001:00 then on
Min time 005:00 then on
If SumpNml open then off

This makes sure SmpNml is calling for water for 1 full minute before turning on....this "debounces" the circuit. When it turns on, it stays on for a minimum of 5 minutes (stops short cycling every couple of minutes).

This way you can use just one switch to turn your solinoid on and off....set how much you want it to fill each time it triggers (deadband) with the min time command.

If either of the SmpHi switches activates it shuts it off.
Email alarm set to text me if SmpHi switch operates.

Cheers!

 

[Branespikin]

Thx for your help guys. Ill let you know how it turns out and what route i choose to go with.

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

Solenoids are configured to be "normally open" or "normally closed."

A NO solenoid allows water flow when it is not powered.
A NC solenoid does not allow water flow when it unpowered.

NC solenoids are much more common and readily available.

Also pay attention to the power required - it will be AC or DC, and then 12 volt, 24 volt, 110 volt, etc.

We recommend a latching, NC solenoid in cases where the solenoid will be powered for long periods of time.