Optical sensor fail already ?!

[Hallowhead]

Howdy,

I got an optical sensor for my birthday on 12/23 - it was installed 12/27 and all worked well.

I filled my ATO up 1/3/21 and yesterday morning it ran a false positive for my reservoir being empty. I looked into my bucket and the sensor among some wires were covered in bubbles.. obviously throwing the sensor off.

Anyone else experience this ?

 

[SuncrestReef]

Is this a Neptune Apex optical sensor, or a different brand? If it is Neptune, the most common problem is the plug not fully seated in the FMM socket. Follow steps 4 - 10 in my ATK tutorial to test the sensor:

Neptune Apex Programming Tutorials, Part 3: Automatic Top-Off Kit (ATK)

Part 3 of our series on learning how to program your Neptune Apex for automatic top-off in a saltwater aquarium.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Hallowhead]

Is this a Neptune Apex optical sensor, or a different brand? If it is Neptune, the most common problem is the plug not fully seated in the FMM socket. Follow steps 4 - 10 in my ATK tutorial to test the sensor:

Neptune Apex Programming Tutorials, Part 3: Automatic Top-Off Kit (ATK)

Part 3 of our series on learning how to program your Neptune Apex for automatic top-off in a saltwater aquarium.

www.reef2reef.com

All I had to do was shake the bubbles off and it worked again - just saying it shouldn't fail that easy

 

[SuncrestReef]

All I had to do was shake the bubbles off and it worked again - just saying it shouldn't fail that easy

Which direction is it mounted? Neptune doesn’t recommend it pointing downwards, and perhaps changing its orientation could allow the bubbles to escape.

 

[Hallowhead]

Which direction is it mounted? Neptune doesn’t recommend it pointing downwards, and perhaps changing its orientation could allow the bubbles to escape.

I do have it pointed down as a low water sensor. I'll try inverting it.

Poor design with the wire than though

 

[Waters]

If it is the same optical sensors they use in their DDR, good luck lol

 

[Hallowhead]

If it is the same optical sensors they use in their DDR, good luck lol

It's the optical sensor they sell - I'm not sure if it's the one used in DDR.

 

[SuncrestReef]

I do have it pointed down as a low water sensor. I'll try inverting it.

Poor design with the wire than though

I’m not trying to defend the design, just trying to help you solve the issue.

 

[Hallowhead]

I’m not trying to defend the design, just trying to help you solve the issue.

I know - just guess frustration with an expensive product to begin with. Fact it threw a false positive on day 2 of being installed. Imagine I had it hooked to a solenoid to fill my ATO bucket. DISASTER

 

[SuncrestReef]

I know - just guess frustration with an expensive product to begin with. Fact it threw a false positive on day 2 of being installed. Imagine I had it hooked to a solenoid to fill my ATO bucket. DISASTER

Any time you rely on a sensor for something critical, always plan for a possible failure. This is true for optical sensors and float switches. The “When” timer in conjunction with a float valve would be the safest thing to do to prevent an overflow:

When On > 060:00 Then OFF

This would prevent the solenoid from remaining open longer than 1 hour, and could also be used to generate an Apex alarm to notify you.

 

[Hallowhead]

Any time you rely on a sensor for something critical, always plan for a possible failure. This is true for optical sensors and float switches. The “When” timer in conjunction with a float valve would be the safest thing to do to prevent an overflow:

When On > 060:00 Then OFF

This would prevent the solenoid from remaining open longer than 1 hour, and could also be used to generate an Apex alarm to notify you.

That's a good idea for If I ever add a solenoid

 

[ca1ore]

I would not personally use the OS-1 as my primary trigger for anything. It is prone to fouling (salt creep, algae, bubbles) and the wires aren't robust (though that was apparently fixed with v2). I use them solely as alert triggers. Always helpful to follow the directions though LOL.

 

[DWill]

I do have it pointed down as a low water sensor. I'll try inverting it.

Poor design with the wire than though

Yep, I somehow missed the down point down advice when I set mine up. Had problems within a week. Turned them pointing up and haven’t had a problem since.

 

[robbyg]

I am not a fan of optical sensors because of false readings and their added maintenance. Float sensors put in low light areas and mounted with snail guards are super reliable. I find that they can go for 6 months to a year before needing any kind of cleaning and even then it’s mostly just to remove a light build up of coralline algae on the snail guards outer surface.

 

[Reef.]

I am not a fan of optical sensors because of false readings and their added maintenance. Float sensors put in low light areas and mounted with snail guards are super reliable. I find that they can go for 6 months to a year before needing any kind of cleaning and even then it’s mostly just to remove a light build up of coralline algae on the snail guards outer surface.

That’s been my experience, though I would only go around 6 months before cleaning, there doesn’t have to be a lot of build up before it stops working.

 

[WallyB]

Which direction is it mounted? Neptune doesn’t recommend it pointing downwards, and perhaps changing its orientation could allow the bubbles to escape.

Well thanks for that TIP about the Optical SEnsor orirentation (NOT DOWN).

I've built a few various Controllers using the same type of Optical Sensor.

https://usa.banggood.com/15mA-5V-Op...YC5D6TM9bTJxTfNjf-CZIxi21txC0RExoCIssQAvD_BwE

I could never figure out why they sometimes failed. Work fine for a while, then something triggers a failure (Even when sparkly clean)
So I kind of lost trust in them. And switch to FLoat type for my DIY projects.

It just seems common sense that they would point into the water.

I guess not.

The Specs on that Sensor show it can be installed any way. Maybe Downward is least reliable.

It must be that specific Sensor with the Prism Lense. (I don't have a Apex ATO, but it puzzles me why they chose that Brand of Optical Sensor...If they are not reliable.).

The Tunze Osomolator (ATO) Sensor is also optical, points down, but never failed me in over a decade+ of use. (Except when really REALLY clouded up with Calcification/Residue).
I have TWO of Tunze's ATO's. The (sensors) do need cleaning every year or two (if that).

 

[robbyg]

That’s been my experience, though I would only go around 6 months before cleaning, there doesn’t have to be a lot of build up before it stops working.

I find the build up time is directly related to how much light is available. I have two near to my return compartment. Almost no light reaches them. They will easily do a year or more.

 

[Reef.]

I find the build up time is directly related to how much light is available. I have two near to my return compartment. Almost no light reaches them. They will easily do a year or more.

I was just putting my failure down to cleaning, maybe it wasn’t that, as said there was only a very slight film on it, worked again after cleaning so who knows.