URGENT - Leak sensor failure.

[Fisherman Joe]

I have just returned home to a flooded kitchen. My skimmer was over skimming and flooded.


I have a float switch in the skimmer overflow that turns off the skimmer when high. That did not activate.


I also have two leak sensors. Both of those did not deactivate the skimmer.


There was 20L of salt water approximately on the floor!


I double checked the connections in to the back of the PF4. Even checking these for other float switches like my auto too off, they were all connected ok.


I have no idea why this failure happened and I am incredibly disappointed. I need to know what caused this.


When I did a power cycle and unplugged the PF4 and plugged it back in. The leak sensor then activated.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Fisherman Joe]

Looking at the myGHL app. When I wet the floor and dip the leak sensor in the water it doesn’t turn the skimmer off (see attached pictures, the sensor has a tick next to it).

Both the float switch and leak sensor have failed here. Is this my error or not and how do I fix?

 

[sylvius]

So sorry you are dealing with that, sounds awful. I'm not positive, but if the leak sensor is on when wet, wouldn't the switch need to be set to invert for an active leak sensor to disable it? I'm not entirely clear on the fill water function for it, though, since that may have different rules.

 

[Fisherman Joe]

So sorry you are dealing with that, sounds awful. I'm not positive, but if the leak sensor is on when wet, wouldn't the switch need to be set to invert for an active leak sensor to disable it? I'm not entirely clear on the fill water function for it, though, since that may have different rules.

I have set it up identical to the you tube video as far as I can see. They don’t invert the function. It’s set to leak detection. So when on, there is a leak and it turns off the power.

 

[Fisherman Joe]

I have tried to setup a simple leakage detection with a light. When I trigger the float switch the light stays on.
I think there may be a bug in my system.

 

[DWill]

I don’t have GHL I have a Apex. However what you’re dealing with is exactly why I test every alarm and shutdown function once a month and anytime I’ve going to be away from home any length of time.

 

[Fisherman Joe]

I don’t have GHL I have a Apex. However what you’re dealing with is exactly why I test every alarm and shutdown function once a month and anytime I’ve going to be away from home any length of time.

It’s a good point. I’ve never had an issue before.

It seems the whole leak detection function has stopped working. Berry disappointing.

My daughter is in hospital and I am at home mopping the floor!

 

[Lasse]

Do I understand right - you want both the high level sensor and your leak detection block your skimmer pump. Both functions to be on the same switch.

Can we see the programming for the switch you use for your skimmer pump?

Did your P4 show an alarm when you come home?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Fisherman Joe]

I combine them both on a programmable logic. It’s been working for years.

I can’t even get a simple leak detection function to work now.

 

[Lasse]

Did the P4 show an alarm when its happen?

It sounds like you should send in a ticket to GHL support if you have had the same functions worked before

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Fisherman Joe]

I have sent a ticket but I need help restoring these fictions ASAP and it often takes time for them to reply. I was hoping for any obvious quick fixes on here.

I am not in the house at the minute.

 

[sylvius]

Quick fix would be to turn the skimmer off. Obviously not a long term solution, but won't hurt anything too be off for a while. Once you are back I would probably try to connect only one sensor at a time and see if you can isolate the problem. I would think your programmable logic is set to OR so if either of them triggers it shuts off the skimmer but maybe something in the logic is allowing it to stay on if one of the level sensors is faulty.

 

[Fisherman Joe]

Good point. My programmable logic is set to “AND”

Like I said, I even simply removed all feed pauses and just set the skimmer to the “fill water” on the leak sensor. Still didn’t work.

I am so frustrated that the two layers of protection built in both failed. I have water soaking up my plaster walls now, pushing the skirting board out!

Going to buy third product and probably fourth. D&D do a skimmer switch and you can buy audible flood alarms too.

In other news my 2 year old has a kidney infection and I’m spending days at a time in hospital with her. The reason I invest in GHL is for things like this.

If it turns out to be my fault, then I will apologise but there’s something not right when you follow the instructional videos to the letter and it doesn’t work.

 

[sylvius]

I hope your baby recovers quickly! It must be insanely stressful and this on top is way too much. Good luck.

 

[Fisherman Joe]

I hope your baby recovers quickly! It must be insanely stressful and this on top is way too much. Good luck.

Thanks man. Got to keep it in perspective, but yes. Not helpful to come home and find your LEAK SENSOR sat in a one inch PUDDLE OF WATER! LOL

 

[Lasse]

You probably have checked this but will you programs work on another outlet?

Is there other functions that not work properly?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lasse]

Have you check that the actual power bar have contact with the computer through PAB? Can you see it in the PAB list?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ingchr1]

When you say it's been working for years, in the past have you had instances where the the level switch and/or leak sensors have demonstrated skimmer shut off?

When you get a chance post up all the logic associated with the circuit so others can serve as a double check.

As a matter of note I recently had an optical sensor not trigger and alarm as it should. I use one to detect low water level in my AIO return chamber. It performs no other function, just alarm. I was doing maintenance and had the sensor out of water and it did not alarm. I tried both ports on the card and it would not alarm on either one. Even when the sensor was unplugged it did not alarm. The circuit was open and it should have alarmed. Resting power to the P4 seamed to fix it. It happened a couple of times after that, but now seams to working. Just did maintenance this past weekend and it alarmed as it should.

Not sure what the issue was/is, but I suspect the level/leak card itself. It is not the sensor as there was no alarm even when it was unplugged.

 

[Member No 1]

Good point. My programmable logic is set to “AND”

Like I said, I even simply removed all feed pauses and just set the skimmer to the “fill water” on the leak sensor. Still didn’t work.

I am so frustrated that the two layers of protection built in both failed. I have water soaking up my plaster walls now, pushing the skirting board out!

Going to buy third product and probably fourth. D&D do a skimmer switch and you can buy audible flood alarms too.

In other news my 2 year old has a kidney infection and I’m spending days at a time in hospital with her. The reason I invest in GHL is for things like this.

If it turns out to be my fault, then I will apologise but there’s something not right when you follow the instructional videos to the letter and it doesn’t work.

You need your PL set to OR. While AND will work, it will require both sensors to be true. You want it to trigger the socket if either (OR) one is true.

Programmable Logic Instructions - GHL Advanced Technology

How to use the Programmable Logic Functions of ProfiLux Aquarium Controllers. Attachments Programmable_logic (1 MB)

www.aquariumcomputer.com

AND required 2 inputs, and both need to be true.
OR requires 2 inputs, and only requires one to be true.

1 = ON
0 = OFF

 

[Fisherman Joe]

Like I’ve said above. Even if I set the skimmer to simply fill water in control circuit 3 and that is the leak sensor, when I dip it in water it shows as activated in the level sensor menu (tick next to the sensor number) but does not turn off or raise and alarm.

The only time it did this was when I power cycled my PF4.

I even setup a test circuit with an LED light, when the float switch is activated on the leak detector function turn the light off. That wouldn’t work either. No alarm or anything.

I will check all of what you say tomorrow.