Stoopid Nubeee
 

I fed my fish last night and I turned off the pumps so the skimmer wouldn't
suck up the food. Well...I forgot to turn it back on. This morning my angel
was laying on her side on the bottom breathing. I checked the water and it
was fine but I went ahead and did a change anyway. The Angel is swimming
around now but I wonder if I caused any other damage? From now on I'm only
going to turn the skimmer off at feeding.

--
Jim

"I like this opera crowd. They make me feel tough".

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"jthread" wrote in message ...
I fed my fish last night and I turned off the pumps so the skimmer wouldn't
suck up the food. Well...I forgot to turn it back on. This morning my angel
was laying on her side on the bottom breathing. I checked the water and it
was fine but I went ahead and did a change anyway. The Angel is swimming
around now but I wonder if I caused any other damage? From now on I'm only
going to turn the skimmer off at feeding.

For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"jthread" wrote in message
...
I fed my fish last night and I turned off the pumps so the skimmer
wouldn't suck up the food. Well...I forgot to turn it back on. This
morning my angel was laying on her side on the bottom breathing. I
checked the water and it was fine but I went ahead and did a change
anyway. The Angel is swimming around now but I wonder if I caused any
other damage? From now on I'm only going to turn the skimmer off at
feeding.

For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

What would be better is one I turn off but comes back on in three minutes.
But I think as long as I leave the motor-head and canister on I'll be OK.

I've got all my lights on timers.

I just check the angel and she seems just fine now. Quite a scare. Brought
back memories of when my wife was taking care of the tanks.

Thanks.

Jim

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"jthread" wrote in message ...
For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

What would be better is one I turn off but comes back on in three minutes.

This is exactly what I was talking about.
A timer would be normally ON and when feeding you press one button
which will turn the pump OFF and starts the timer ticking...
After 15 minutes your skimmer pump will turn itself ON automatically.

I just check the angel and she seems just fine now. Quite a scare.
Brought back memories of when my wife was taking care of the tanks.

It was probably lack of oxygen due to the interrupt in water circulation.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"jthread" wrote in message
...
For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

What would be better is one I turn off but comes back on in three
minutes.

This is exactly what I was talking about.
A timer would be normally ON and when feeding you press one button
which will turn the pump OFF and starts the timer ticking...
After 15 minutes your skimmer pump will turn itself ON automatically.

Oh, sorry. I thought you were referring to a reg. timer. Now that's a
excellent idea.

For now I'll just use a timer to back up my failing memory. If that fails
I'll try another route

Thanks again

Jim

Stoopid Nubeee
 

I think 15 minutes would be the max setting.

You should make a couple so that they are already
made, and then you would have them ready to ship out
with a price already figured.

Wayne Sallee



Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 4:47 PM:
"jthread" wrote in message
...
For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

What would be better is one I turn off but comes back on in three
minutes.

This is exactly what I was talking about.
A timer would be normally ON and when feeding you press one button
which will turn the pump OFF and starts the timer ticking...
After 15 minutes your skimmer pump will turn itself ON automatically.

I just check the angel and she seems just fine now. Quite a scare.
Brought back memories of when my wife was taking care of the tanks.

It was probably lack of oxygen due to the interrupt in water circulation.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote:
For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

Cool. I'd love one for my bathroom heater.

--Kurt

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message ...
I think 15 minutes would be the max setting.

You should make a couple so that they are already
made, and then you would have them ready to ship out
with a price already figured.

Well, after thinking about it, I am not sure it can be done this way...
You know UL, safety, etc... :-)
I am not going to get this thing UL listed and pay for all the
stupid tests $10000 just to sell you 5 in retail for $50 each, do I ? :-)

I think I will publish the simple wiring diagram instead ;-)

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"KurtG" wrote in message ...
Pszemol wrote:
For a small fee I can make you an electronic timer for your
skimmer pump which will prevent this happening again :-)
You just set the time the pump needs to be off for, let's
say 15 minutes and it will turn itself back on automatically
after the given time lapse :-) What do you think about this idea? ;-)

Cool. I'd love one for my bathroom heater.

For the bathroom heater ? This is the simple one...
How much would you want to pay for it? :-)

You skimmer one should work in a reversed mode: ON all the time
and OFF for 15 minutes only, triggered with a push of a button.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Most aquarium products have not been UL approved.

And no, you would not want to waist your time
getting it UL approved.

Wayne Sallee



Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 9:10 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
I think 15 minutes would be the max setting.

You should make a couple so that they are already made, and then you
would have them ready to ship out with a price already figured.

Well, after thinking about it, I am not sure it can be done this way...
You know UL, safety, etc... :-)
I am not going to get this thing UL listed and pay for all the
stupid tests $10000 just to sell you 5 in retail for $50 each, do I ? :-)

I think I will publish the simple wiring diagram instead ;-)

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 9:12 PM:
For the bathroom heater ? This is the simple one...
How much would you want to pay for it? :-)

I think that would be a hard question to answer
without seeing the product.

Wayne Sallee

Stoopid Nubeee
 

KurtG wrote:

Cool. I'd love one for my bathroom heater.

They've made these for decades. Check out Grainger. Bet you'll find something
suitable there.

George Patterson
Worry doesn't improve the future; it just ruins the present.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:LPr0j.43815$dl4.30608@trnddc04...
KurtG wrote:

Cool. I'd love one for my bathroom heater.

They've made these for decades. Check out Grainger. Bet you'll find
something suitable there.

George Patterson
Worry doesn't improve the future; it just ruins the present.

I looked at the Granger site. They have 100's of timers. I wouldn't know
where to start!

Jim

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message ...
Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 9:12 PM:
For the bathroom heater ? This is the simple one...
How much would you want to pay for it? :-)

I think that would be a hard question to answer
without seeing the product.

Wayne, I said that one was simple:
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12085.pdf
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12086.pdf
They are ideal for the resistive loads up to 15A (1800W)
like your bathroom lamp heater. Pretty simple and cheap.
I got one of these for my bathroom for $24.99 at Home Depot.

Skimmer switching problem is slightly more
complicated due to the reverse polarity. You want
to switch the pump OFF for some time not turn it
ON like the bathroom heater...

What you need is a shut-off switch with a normally
closed output - I have not found one like this yet...

But you can workaround the problem :-)

Get a normal auto shut-off switch like linked above
and also a relay with a coil running on your AC voltage
(120VAC in US, 230VAC in Europe). Use the auto
shut-off switch to power the relay coil instead of the
pump and connect pump to the normally closed relay
output contacts.

This way, when the auto shut-off swtich is iddle (OFF)
the relay coil is not energized and the current can
flow through the normally closed relay contacts
to the pump. When you press the button on the
auto shut-off switch you will energize relay coil
and move its normally closed contacts to the OFF
position - in consequence turning off the pump
for a programmed time with the auto shut-off timer.

Simple enough?

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"jthread" wrote in message ...
I looked at the Granger site. They have 100's of timers.
I wouldn't know where to start!

Go to Home Depot or Menards to their electrical section
and ask the guy for the auto shut-off switch or timer
for your bathroom. They will have at least two kinds:
mechanical with spring wound knob or electronic one
with push buttons. Electronic ones are silent and more
reliable - good looking and not expensive I got one for $25.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote:

Simple enough?

It is in this house.

George Patterson
Worry doesn't improve the future; it just ruins the present.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote:

Go to Home Depot or Menards to their electrical section
and ask the guy for the auto shut-off switch or timer
for your bathroom. They will have at least two kinds:
mechanical with spring wound knob or electronic one
with push buttons. Electronic ones are silent and more
reliable - good looking and not expensive I got one for $25.

And it's the mechanical ones that have been around for decades. They certainly
do make a noise.

George Patterson
Worry doesn't improve the future; it just ruins the present.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 10:34 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 9:12 PM:
For the bathroom heater ? This is the simple one...
How much would you want to pay for it? :-)

I think that would be a hard question to answer without seeing the
product.

Wayne, I said that one was simple:
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12085.pdf
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12086.pdf
They are ideal for the resistive loads up to 15A (1800W)
like your bathroom lamp heater. Pretty simple and cheap.
I got one of these for my bathroom for $24.99 at Home Depot.

Skimmer switching problem is slightly more
complicated due to the reverse polarity. You want
to switch the pump OFF for some time not turn it
ON like the bathroom heater...

What you need is a shut-off switch with a normally
closed output - I have not found one like this yet...

But you can workaround the problem :-)

Get a normal auto shut-off switch like linked above
and also a relay with a coil running on your AC voltage
(120VAC in US, 230VAC in Europe). Use the auto
shut-off switch to power the relay coil instead of the
pump and connect pump to the normally closed relay
output contacts.

This way, when the auto shut-off swtich is iddle (OFF)
the relay coil is not energized and the current can
flow through the normally closed relay contacts
to the pump. When you press the button on the
auto shut-off switch you will energize relay coil
and move its normally closed contacts to the OFF
position - in consequence turning off the pump for a programmed time
with the auto shut-off timer.

Simple enough?

Yep, just a simple job of reversing the process with
another relay switch.

Wayne Sallee

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Actually, what I would do, is take it apart, and
rewire it so that it works in reverse.

Wayne Sallee



Wayne Sallee wrote on 11/20/2007 6:25 AM:
Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 10:34 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 9:12 PM:
For the bathroom heater ? This is the simple one...
How much would you want to pay for it? :-)

I think that would be a hard question to answer without seeing the
product.

Wayne, I said that one was simple:
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12085.pdf
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12086.pdf
They are ideal for the resistive loads up to 15A (1800W)
like your bathroom lamp heater. Pretty simple and cheap.
I got one of these for my bathroom for $24.99 at Home Depot.

Skimmer switching problem is slightly more
complicated due to the reverse polarity. You want
to switch the pump OFF for some time not turn it
ON like the bathroom heater...

What you need is a shut-off switch with a normally
closed output - I have not found one like this yet...

But you can workaround the problem :-)

Get a normal auto shut-off switch like linked above
and also a relay with a coil running on your AC voltage
(120VAC in US, 230VAC in Europe). Use the auto
shut-off switch to power the relay coil instead of the
pump and connect pump to the normally closed relay
output contacts.

This way, when the auto shut-off swtich is iddle (OFF)
the relay coil is not energized and the current can
flow through the normally closed relay contacts
to the pump. When you press the button on the
auto shut-off switch you will energize relay coil
and move its normally closed contacts to the OFF
position - in consequence turning off the pump for a programmed time
with the auto shut-off timer.

Simple enough?

Yep, just a simple job of reversing the process with another relay switch.

Wayne Sallee

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message ...
Actually, what I would do, is take it apart, and
rewire it so that it works in reverse.

I would expect for safety reasons (this goes to the moist bathrooms)
this thing will be potted in resin, so I doubt it can be taken apart easily.

But one can try, of course... For me it is easier to buy $10 relay
do some simple wiring and be done with it in 10 minutes.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 10:34 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Pszemol wrote on 11/19/2007 9:12 PM:
Wayne, I said that one was simple:
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12085.pdf
http://www.intermatic.com/images/ins...158ei12086.pdf
They are ideal for the resistive loads up to 15A (1800W)
like your bathroom lamp heater. Pretty simple and cheap.
I got one of these for my bathroom for $24.99 at Home Depot.

Skimmer switching problem is slightly more
complicated due to the reverse polarity. You want
to switch the pump OFF for some time not turn it
ON like the bathroom heater...


Yep, just a simple job of reversing the process with another relay switch.


Intermatic actually makes a DPDT version of that timer so no relay is
necessary. The big home improvement places don't stock that version, but you
should be able to find an electrical supply house to order it for you.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Steve Heath" wrote in message . net...
Intermatic actually makes a DPDT version of that timer so no relay is
necessary. The big home improvement places don't stock that version, but
you should be able to find an electrical supply house to order it for you.

Could you please tell me what is the model number of the DPDT version?
Some link to their website with this model?

Stoopid Nubeee
 

On Nov 20, 7:25 am, "Pszemol" wrote:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in ...
Actually, what I would do, is take it apart, and
rewire it so that it works in reverse.

I would expect for safety reasons (this goes to the moist bathrooms)
this thing will be potted in resin, so I doubt it can be taken apart easily.

But one can try, of course... For me it is easier to buy $10 relay
do some simple wiring and be done with it in 10 minutes.

yeah, i have been thru electronic engineering, i like pez's idea.
My only idea of what your talking about is based on a timer board i
have here that i have used alot in the low volt industry such as
burglar alarm and CCTV/Access Control application, its simply called
a timer board...

on the low volt side;
just to connect a 120vAC's relay's low volt switch contacts(12v) onto
a separate low volt timer board. Connect the switch wire onto the
timer boards trigger contact screw terminals and run the wire up to
the area where you feed, to a (momentary)switch, and mount the switch.

on the 120v high volt side;
cut a small extension cord in half, solder or screw the female
half(part with holes in it) onto the 120V 'NC'(black wire) and
'Neutral/Common'(white wire) contacts of the relay,
solder or screw the male half on the relay's Hot (input) side. Your
skimmer would plug into the female end, and the male end woudl plug
into the wall. you would need a transformer to plug in the timer board
to run your switching mechanism which would wire directly to the timer
board.
then electrical tape up the timer board to the relay once all your
contacts are electrically safe, shove it into a dual gang box, and
then mount it under the tank stand or something.

This will get you a gang box with electronics, an extension cord to
plug it in, and one switch that can be ran to any location. You could
also put an outlet receptacle instead of the female extension end, and
mount that receptacle in the gang box. that would be sweet! but you
need to be sure you have enough room for your low volt stuff in there
or you may want to just use 2 gang boxes.

All green wires, and ground screws get connected together on the same
line, and get grounded from the 3rd prong on the cord once plugged
into the wall.

Turn the timer duration knob(potentiometer) until it meets your needs,
will be between 0-15 mins.

you would need-
1- timer board low volt (16vac-12vDC) (may be better to go with 12vDC)
(maybe radio shack)
1- 16vAC transformer (may be better to go with 12vDC) (radio shack)
1- 120/240V NC relay (usualyl have both NC/NO on them) (radio shack)
1- momentary 12v pushbutton switch (wal mart/home depot)
1- 14guage 3 prong extension cord (wal mart/home depot)
1 or 2- blue plastic gang boxes ($0.75c/each) (wal mart/home depot)
1 or 2- gang box covers ($0.88c/e) (wal mart/home depot)
1- outlet receptacle ($0.88c) (wal mart/home depot)
some 12guage wire nuts


how much of this is overkill compared to the other ideas? i don't
know how much those in wall timers are but they look a hell of a lot
easier to just connect up. technology has improved greatly in the
last decade where things are much smaller and cheaper. If it were one
of those i would mount it under the tank with a gang box, and cut an
extension cord in half and use that for the supply just the same and
maybe even use a receptacle next to that instead of hard wiring a
female end or the skimmer.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote on 11/20/2007 10:25 AM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Actually, what I would do, is take it apart, and rewire it so that it
works in reverse.

I would expect for safety reasons (this goes to the moist bathrooms)
this thing will be potted in resin,

I doubt it.

Wayne Sallee

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"wolfdogg" wrote in message ...
yeah, i have been thru electronic engineering, i like pez's idea.
My only idea of what your talking about is based on a timer board i
have here that i have used alot in the low volt industry such as
burglar alarm and CCTV/Access Control application, its simply called
a timer board...

on the low volt side;
just to connect a 120vAC's relay's low volt switch contacts(12v) onto
a separate low volt timer board. Connect the switch wire onto the
timer boards trigger contact screw terminals and run the wire up to
the area where you feed, to a (momentary)switch, and mount the switch.

on the 120v high volt side;
cut a small extension cord in half, solder or screw the female
half(part with holes in it) onto the 120V 'NC'(black wire) and
'Neutral/Common'(white wire) contacts of the relay,
solder or screw the male half on the relay's Hot (input) side. Your
skimmer would plug into the female end, and the male end woudl plug
into the wall. you would need a transformer to plug in the timer board
to run your switching mechanism which would wire directly to the timer
board.
then electrical tape up the timer board to the relay once all your
contacts are electrically safe, shove it into a dual gang box, and
then mount it under the tank stand or something.

This will get you a gang box with electronics, an extension cord to
plug it in, and one switch that can be ran to any location. You could
also put an outlet receptacle instead of the female extension end, and
mount that receptacle in the gang box. that would be sweet! but you
need to be sure you have enough room for your low volt stuff in there
or you may want to just use 2 gang boxes.

All green wires, and ground screws get connected together on the same
line, and get grounded from the 3rd prong on the cord once plugged
into the wall.

Turn the timer duration knob(potentiometer) until it meets your needs,
will be between 0-15 mins.

you would need-
1- timer board low volt (16vac-12vDC) (may be better to go with 12vDC)
(maybe radio shack)
1- 16vAC transformer (may be better to go with 12vDC) (radio shack)
1- 120/240V NC relay (usualyl have both NC/NO on them) (radio shack)
1- momentary 12v pushbutton switch (wal mart/home depot)
1- 14guage 3 prong extension cord (wal mart/home depot)
1 or 2- blue plastic gang boxes ($0.75c/each) (wal mart/home depot)
1 or 2- gang box covers ($0.88c/e) (wal mart/home depot)
1- outlet receptacle ($0.88c) (wal mart/home depot)
some 12guage wire nuts

What is the cost of the timer board? Transformer?

how much of this is overkill compared to the other ideas? i don't
know how much those in wall timers are but they look a hell of a lot
easier to just connect up. technology has improved greatly in the
last decade where things are much smaller and cheaper. If it were one
of those i would mount it under the tank with a gang box, and cut an
extension cord in half and use that for the supply just the same and
maybe even use a receptacle next to that instead of hard wiring a
female end or the skimmer.

It sounds like a huge overkill and very pricey aparatus... :-)

Just going with 120VAC to low voltage seems to be quite unnecessairy
since you can easily buy a relay with a coil rated to 120VAC so you
can control this relay simply from the output of the auto shut-off timer.
So the whole idea is $25 for the brain (shut-off timer), $10 for the
muscle (relay with 120VAC coil), $4 for a 4"x4" electrocal box and
a buck or two for the faceplate, wire and wirenuts. You hide the relay
in this box together with the auto shut-off timer and you are done :-)
Auto shut-off timer is your "user interface" - this is where the ON
button is. This button will work in the opposite way due to the relay.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message ...
Pszemol wrote on 11/20/2007 10:25 AM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Actually, what I would do, is take it apart, and rewire it so that it
works in reverse.

I would expect for safety reasons (this goes to the moist bathrooms)
this thing will be potted in resin,

I doubt it.

Whole thing is riveted into a plastic box...
You would need to cut the rivets to get inside and who
knows what would you find inside - I would expect this poted.
It was relatively heavy to hold in a hand, filled with resin.

Stoopid Nubeee
 

"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"Steve Heath" wrote in message
. net...
Intermatic actually makes a DPDT version of that timer so no relay is
necessary. The big home improvement places don't stock that version, but
you should be able to find an electrical supply house to order it for
you.

Could you please tell me what is the model number of the DPDT version?
Some link to their website with this model?

Take a look here.
http://www.intermatic.com/Default.as...6&cid=53&did=5
I didn't see the DPDT any more, but you could use one of the SPDT versions
the same way.

--
Steve

Stoopid Nubeee
 

Pszemol wrote on 11/20/2007 3:37 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Pszemol wrote on 11/20/2007 10:25 AM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Actually, what I would do, is take it apart, and rewire it so that
it works in reverse.

I would expect for safety reasons (this goes to the moist bathrooms)
this thing will be potted in resin,

I doubt it.

Whole thing is riveted into a plastic box...
You would need to cut the rivets to get inside and who
knows what would you find inside - I would expect this poted.
It was relatively heavy to hold in a hand, filled with resin.

Then it might be filled with resin. If I had one,
I'd drill the rivets and find out. Since rivets are
hollow, screws could be inserted in the rivets when
putting the thing back together.

Wayne Sallee