Neptune Apex Automatic Feeder System

[CruiseX]

So I currently have an AFS hooked into my Apex System. For whatever reason I can only get it to work on FeedC. Now I currently have my Vortechs driving to different profiles based on FeedA/B/D, but nothing for C.

Does using the Feed function for your Vortech's affect the actual feed command for the AFS??? If not, than why doesn't my feeder cycle for FeedA/B/D given all the Feed settings for the feeder are the same

[RussM]

It all depends on your programming. Without seeing that, I can't help.

[CruiseX]

Russ what programming portion do you need to see??

[RussM]

The Feeder outlet. If it's not already in Advanced control type, switch to that mode

[CruiseX]

Ok well here is the code for the advanced portion of the feeder.

OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 15:00 Then OFF
If Time 15:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then ON

I have not switched over to advanced, but this is what it would yield based on the settings from the feeder wizard. In any event, all the Feeder outlets are programmed the same at this point.

Like I mentioned, FeedC will drive the AFS. The other three will not, despite having the same settings as C. That is why I was wondering if using the Feed portion in the Vortech Programming has any effect with the AFS.

[RussM]

If you want FeedA, FeedB, and/or FeedD to trigger the feeder, you need to add corresponding If Feed statements to the feeder outlet using Advanced control type.

[CruiseX]

Right, given the current program above I completely agree. However, the program above is just an example and the feeder is currently proggramed with the feeder wizard. That program is what is yielded given the settings in the feeder wizard and subsequently switching to advanced (same as default settings). All Feed profiles are the same.

So I'm guessing the solution you are driving towards is to switch the Feeder Control to Advanced and add Feed A/B/D to the above program to yield:

OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 15:00 Then OFF
If Time 15:02 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then ON
If FeedB 000 Then ON
If FeedC 000 Then ON
If FeedD 000 Then ON

Given this program the Feeder will come on anytime a Feed profile is selected in addition to coming on automatically at 3PM for one drum rotation.

And if I want to make it so that there is no automatic feeding:

OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 00:00 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then ON
If FeedB 000 Then ON
If FeedC 000 Then ON
If FeedD 000 Then ON

This way the feeder will only feed one drum roation and only when a feed profile is selected.

Did I get that right?

[RussM]

The right way to have only manual feeding is to delete the OSC and If Time lines. Then add Set OFF as the first line.

[CruiseX]

The right way to have only manual feeding is to delete the OSC and If Time lines. Then add Set OFF as the first line.

OK, but then how will the on time for the feeder be controlled? Will it run for the time specified in the misc setup page?

[RussM]

The duration of a feed cycle for a given outlet is the length of the FeedX Interval plus the value used in the If Feed statement. (the nnn in If FeedA nnn Then OFF)

So for example, if the FeedA Interval is 30 and an outlet has If FeedA 010 Then OFF, that outlet will not turn back on for 40 minutes.

[CruiseX]

The duration of a feed cycle for a given outlet is the length of the FeedX Interval plus the value used in the If Feed statement. (the nnn in If FeedA nnn Then OFF)

So for example, if the FeedA Interval is 30 and an outlet has If FeedA 010 Then OFF, that outlet will not turn back on for 40 minutes.

And by "Interval" you mean the specified period of time that is setup on the MISC setup page, correct?

[RussM]

And by "Interval" you mean the specified period of time that is setup on the MISC setup page, correct?

You got it

[CruiseX]

Ok, well then take this as an example.

Currently I have the interval of FeedA set at 5 minutes so that my vortechs will slow for five minutes under the pumps programming. However, I don't want the Feeder to run for 5 minutes. That would be too many drum rotations. Is there a way to specify the period of on time for the feeder apart from the interval?

[CruiseX]

Can I do that with:

Set OFF
OSC 000:00/000:30/000:30 Then ON
If FeedA 000 Then ON
If FeedB 000 Then ON
If FeedC 000 Then ON
If FeedD 000 Then ON