Apex shows float OPEN regardless of position

[shafiq_hossain]

Okay, I got everything hooked up. Floats hooked up to PVC end caps. Wires connected to apex breakout box. And breakout box connected to PM2. Just going through preliminary checks on my apex before putting it to full use. I first wanted to find out if apex would recognize the float status. I had at least one float submerged and the other above the water level. I typed in the following command under the email outlet:

If Switch1 OPEN Then ON
If Switch1 CLOSED Then ON

I received an email indicating that Switch1 was OPEN. This was the submerged float. I then proceeded to modify the coding as follows:
If Switch2 OPEN Then ON
If Switch2 CLOSED Then ON
I received an email indicating that Switch2 was OPEN. This was the float hanging above the water level. So, I'm confused. I would have expected at least one of them to be CLOSED. Any ideas?

Thanks....

 

[lilrobb]

Your code makes no sense, both float positions indicate either open or closed as the same command (ON or OFF)
You might wanna check that...

 

[shafiq_hossain]

This code was part of the Email Outlet. I'm checking to see how Apex registers the position of the float. Switch1 corresponds to a float which is submerged (float pushed up). Switch2 corresponds to a float which is hanging above the water level (float in natural position). I wasn't too sure which position would correspond to OPEN or CLOSED according to Apex. Thus, I included both commands in the Email Outlet to see which command of the two would trigger the email notification. Wouldn't that work?

 

[lilrobb]

It says that both closed and open refer to an ON command, so regardless of position it would be ON (or off...)

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Since this is set up under the Email Outlet, the "ON" would refer to whether an email notification would get executed. So, I'm saying the following:

If Switch1 is OPEN, then send an email
IF Switch1 is CLOSED send an email

I intentionally set up both events with email notification so I can confirm how Apex is reading the float position. Within the email notification, it actually indicates the exact line of code which triggered the email notification. That will allow my to tie that command to the actual float position.

Thanks...

 

[lilrobb]

But the email wouldn't indicate the position, just that the warning "float triggered" is generated, no?

 

[rdnelson]

Not sure which floats you are using. Some are a simple switch. Others are a combination switch where you would have a common terminal that will make to one of two terminals based on the orrientation of the float. In other words, if the float is not submerged, the Common (C) will close to the Normally Closed (NC) terminal but the Normally Open (NO) terminal is not connected. When the float is submerged, the C will close to the NO but not the NC. If that is the kind of float you have, I would bet you have the wires crossed on the float switch.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Additionally, even though I placed both statements, only ONE should qualify. Apex can't read a float position as both OPEN or CLOSED. It has to be one. At least, I'm counting on that.....

 

[lilrobb]

But since both open AND closed are triggering the email there is no way of telling WHICH event triggered the email...

 

[shafiq_hossain]

That's a good point rdnelson99. If I understand you correctly regarding one of the floats, I should switch the wires which are hooked up to Terminal and Ground within the Breakout Box, right? So, how do I know ahead of time which wire is ground and which is not?

Edit: I got the floats from aquabus.com

 

[rdnelson]

I am not farmilliar with apex or breakout box but have done tons of motor control work in my years. LOL First, how many terminals (or wires) come off the float? If there are only two than it does not matter which wires you tie to which terminal. If there are three then you have a float that can be hooked up normally open and normally closed. A two wire float is either normally open or normally closed but not both. A three wire is open to the NO contact and closed to the NC contact when the float is down. When water rises and activates the float it reverses. Based on the fact that your first e-mail said Switch1 OPEN I would believe you have a NC float or you have landed the wires on the wrong terminals. If it is a NC float, just change the program to match it (as in "If Switch1 is closed then on." or "If Switch 1 is open then off". Hope that helps.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

LilRobb,

The email notification does quote the exact line of code which is triggering the email notification. For both switches, the email notification indicates that the email notification is being triggered based on the OPEN command. My confusion is that since one of the float is submerged and the other not submerged, both should not have been interpreted by Apex as being OPEN. Am I missing something?

 

[lilrobb]

Yes,

Then check the direction of the float, turning the flavor around might be your fix...

 

[schwaggs]

You are using the wrong syntax to refer to a switch on a PM2. Use the following syntax to refer to a switch input on any expansion module:

If Switchx10_4 CLOSED Then OFF

Replace 10 with the Aquabus ID of your PM2
Peplace 4 with the input number.