Timers in Reef Pi

[Broady2067]

Hi All,
I have set up timers for feeding and can't seem to get it correct. I have created three macro's.
Feed mode 1 turns off skimmer, heater, return pump, left and right Vortech.
Feed mode 2 turns on left and right Vortech.
Feed mode 3 turns on skimmer, heater and return pump.
When i run Feed mode 1 all turns off as expected.
Timer for feed mode then waits for 900 seconds (15 minutes) then turns on the two Vortech. After another 900 seconds (15 minutes) it turns on the skimmer, heater and return pump.
My issue is the timers seem to be turning the equipment on and of randomly every few minutes. What am i missing?

 

[twelvefive]

I think the asterisks are messing up your schedules. ****0 means it's going to run at the beginning of every minute.

 

[Broady2067]

I think the asterisks are messing up your schedules. ****0 means it's going to run at the beginning of every minute.

Sorry what now. Where are you reffering too. lol new to all of this.

 

[twelvefive]

Under schedule you have month, day, hour and minute set to '*' and second to '0'. That's every month, every day, every hour, every minute every time seconds reach 0, it's kicking off that schedule.

crontab(5) - Linux manual page

man7.org

 

[apb03]

There are some handy tools out there to help you with crontab. Here's one I found with a quick Google search: https://crontab.guru/

It'll show you examples if you keep clicking the random button. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

 

[Broady2067]

Under schedule you have month, day, hour and minute set to '*' and second to '0'. That's every month, every day, every hour, every minute every time seconds reach 0, it's kicking off that schedule.

crontab(5) - Linux manual page

man7.org

I see what you mean. The issue is then i cannot disable the * from the fields as it throws up and error.

 

[Broady2067]

There are some handy tools out there to help you with crontab. Here's one I found with a quick Google search: https://crontab.guru/

It'll show you examples if you keep clicking the random button. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

Thanks for the link that will come in handy later. I basically want to disable the schedules and just want to run the timers as in the examples. Any ideas?

 

[Broady2067]

Just a quick update. I think i have cracked it. Instead of using timers, which for this i think was too complicated, i have used a macro.

Please can someone check my logic and feed back. In the meantime i will run it and see what happens.
@Ranjib

 

[Sral]

Just a quick update. I think i have cracked it. Instead of using timers, which for this i think was too complicated, i have used a macro.

Please can someone check my logic and feed back. In the meantime i will run it and see what happens.
@Ranjib

Yeah, I believe a macro might be better in your case.

Although I’m a bit confused:
Didn’t you want to turn everything off for 900s,
Then turn on both vortex pumps for 900s
And finally re-activate heater and return pump ?

Currently your macro is doing a lot of things, but not that sequence. If you still want that sequence you need to put all commands of your previous 3 separate macros into one, separated by two periods with 900s each.

E.g.:
- turn off return
- turn off skimmer
- turn off heater
- turn off vor L
- turn Off Vor R
- wait 900s
- turn on Vor l
- turn on vor R
- wait 900s
- turn on return
- turn on skimmer
- turn on heater

 

[Broady2067]

Yeah, I believe a macro might be better in your case.

Although I’m a bit confused:
Didn’t you want to turn everything off for 900s,
Then turn on both vortex pumps for 900s
And finally re-activate heater and return pump ?

Currently your macro is doing a lot of things, but not that sequence. If you still want that sequence you need to put all commands of your previous 3 separate macros into one, separated by two periods with 900s each.

E.g.:
- turn off return
- turn off skimmer
- turn off heater
- turn off vor L
- turn Off Vor R
- wait 900s
- turn on Vor l
- turn on vor R
- wait 900s
- turn on return
- turn on skimmer
- turn on heater

Thanks for the feedback, that is why i wanted someone cast an eye on the logic. This my first rodeo. lol

 

[Broady2067]

Yeah, I believe a macro might be better in your case.

Although I’m a bit confused:
Didn’t you want to turn everything off for 900s,
Then turn on both vortex pumps for 900s
And finally re-activate heater and return pump ?

Currently your macro is doing a lot of things, but not that sequence. If you still want that sequence you need to put all commands of your previous 3 separate macros into one, separated by two periods with 900s each.

E.g.:
- turn off return
- turn off skimmer
- turn off heater
- turn off vor L
- turn Off Vor R
- wait 900s
- turn on Vor l
- turn on vor R
- wait 900s
- turn on return
- turn on skimmer
- turn on heater

i have re-written the macro as follows.

 

[Broady2067]

i have re-written the macro as follows.

Just been testing the above and all is working as expected. Thanks for the help @Sral