"NetMax" wrote in message
.. .

"Trevor" wrote in message
news
A while back, and in fact a few time I believe there has been mention
of
someone who has built a device for switching off the filters for 5 (or
a
configurable amount of) minutes and then turning them back on again.

The number of times I forget to switch back on my powerhead. While it
is
not running a major filter I do sometimes switch off the main filter as
well.

If I remember correctly it was that man Netmax who has the plans or at
least a link to them.

Thanks

Trev

Hey Trev, guilty as charged. Could I suggest that you use a separate
power bar for your heater & filters. You could even include the lights
if it would help you remember to turn it back on.

I built my own delay-off timer, and I'd be glad to share the directions
and schematic, but it's not your average DIY job. I used 3 electrical
junction boxes, #1 had a GFI outlet for the equipment, #2 had a standard
delay-on timer and #3 had a 120Vac DPDT relay which I wired into the
delay-on timer.

The trouble is that these timers are supposed to turn something ON for
the time set on the dial. We need the reverse, for it to turn something
OFF for the time set on the dial. Unfortunately, the timers use a DPST
relay, so there was no tap to wire into to get the opposite function, so
I had to use an external relay (in box #3) which reversed the timer's
operation, and powered the GFI outlet.

There might be a timer available on the market which already does what we
need, but I was unable to find one at the time. Another way would be to
disassemble the timer and swap the DPST for a DPDT and rewire it, but
it's probably soldered down and more trouble than it's worth unless you
are proficient at these things. If I think of another way, I'll post it.

NetMax


I can build you one if you cant find it. very simple to make.. Let me
know.