Apex Programming for Plank auto feeder off by 3 hrs

[WhiteBeltReefer]

Hi all, I’m trying to run a Plan auto feeder every 2 hrs starting at 11am till 7pm. 5 total feedings at 11, 1, 3, 5, and 7. According to my output log it’s starting the first feeding at 1400 which is 3 hrs later than I expected.

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
If Time 19:01 to 10:59 Then OFF

 

[sdreef]

Here is how I have mine configured. Not sure why yours is 3 hours off if the apex time is correct.

Here's one option that will achieve what you're going for.

For the feeder program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
OSC 000:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
If Output AFPump (or whatever the pump output is called) = OFF Then OFF

For the pump output:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 11:00 to 11:15 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:15 Then ON
etc.

Regarding the time, you can decide the duration of time you want the pump on. I generally run it for 10 to 15 minutes. For my oscillate function for the feeder, I delay one minute prior to dispelling food to allow any old food in the feeding tube to be dispelled. Probably not important.

 

[WhiteBeltReefer]

Ahh, Ok, 2 hrs of the difference is I was using local time vs. Apex time. Now to figure out the other hour.

 

[WhiteBeltReefer]

Still off by an hour today. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[braaap]

Ahh, Ok, 2 hrs of the difference is I was using local time vs. Apex time. Now to figure out the other hour.

Local time and apex time should be the same. Do you have two time tiles on your dashboard? If you do and you are in the same timezone as your apex you need to fix that.

 

[sdreef]

Still off by an hour today. Anyone have any ideas?

You are using the oscillate function to turn on every two hours which starts at midnight and goes ever two hours thereafter. That likely accounts for the hour. Based on how you have it programmed, the first time it will feed would be noon.

 

[WhiteBeltReefer]

If I added an hour to the delay field, would that allow me to get it to turn on at 11?

Example of what I’m thinking:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
If Time 17:01 to 09:00 Then OFF

 

[sdreef]

If I added an hour to the delay field, would that allow me to get it to turn on at 11?

Example of what I’m thinking:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/000:30/119:30 Then ON
If Time 17:01 to 09:00 Then OFF

That would be on a 3 hour cycle starting at midnight. So 1am, 4 am, 7 am which would not turn on due to the time command. The first time it would come on is 10 am. Is there a reason you want to use the oscillate function as opposed to a simply using a time command?

 

[WhiteBeltReefer]

I only want the feeder to run for 30 seconds. Time commands are 1 min minimum and that’s with the defer command it seems.

 

[WhiteBeltReefer]

I’m thinking this will work:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/000:30/59:30 Then ON
If Time 17:01 to 09:00 Then OFF

 

[sdreef]

I’m thinking this will work:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/000:30/59:30 Then ON
If Time 17:01 to 09:00 Then OFF

You mentioned you want to feed until 7PM with the first feeding at 11am.

I would suggest the following edit:
If Time 20:00 to 10:00 Then OFF

Otherwise, I think that should work.

 

[sdreef]

I’m thinking this will work:

Fallback OFF
OSC 060:00/000:30/59:30 Then ON
If Time 17:01 to 09:00 Then OFF

Did the new programming work out as intended?

 

[WhiteBeltReefer]

Yes, it worked! Thank you! I didn't have to change the time window, but the OSC command with the 60 min delay allows to hit the odd numbered hours on a 2 hr cycle.