auto feeder to use with a controller?

[subman]

Is there an auto feeder that feeds upon powering up, that I can set up to use with my controller. I want to turn off the pumps, dose the coral foods and switch on the feeder to feed the fish at the same time. I love the Rena one I'm using but it feeds at random times.

[kien]

Is there an auto feeder that feeds upon powering up, that I can set up to use with my controller. I want to turn off the pumps, dose the coral foods and switch on the feeder to feed the fish at the same time. I love the Rena one I'm using but it feeds at random times.

My Eheim auto feeder operates on a clock, if that helps you at all. I just set feedings for 12pm and 4:30pm daily and program a feed pause at those times to coincide with the auto feeder times.

[subman]

I looked at the ehiem one but there will always be a discrepancy in clocks, I really want it to be controlled by the profilux.
I found this one
http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html

Looks like it will work just never heard of it

[kien]

You are right, the clocks do drift over time. I've never noticed the drift to be a problem tho. By the time DST rolls around I have to reset the autofeeder clock anyway. I just did that recently and noticed that it was out of sync by 2 minutes which is well within my 5 minute feed pause.

[The Grizz]

I looked at the ehiem one but there will always be a discrepancy in clocks, I really want it to be controlled by the profilux.
I found this one
http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html

Looks like it will work just never heard of it

That looks like a kick arse feeder, I would love one or two of them on my tank.

[reefme]

I looked at the ehiem one but there will always be a discrepancy in clocks, I really want it to be controlled by the profilux.
I found this one
http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html

Looks like it will work just never heard of it

I have one of this: http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html
Planning on order one more but $50.00 for shipping is too much.
If any anyone in Edmonton want to do a group buy I am in.
You can use a controller or a timer to controll it.

[sphelps]

Thought I'd post this little mod for those interested in running an auto feeder on an external controller.

I used an old Rena LG100 fish feed that I had lying around.

http://www.tropicalmarinereef.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/0/0/00707AP.jpg

Removed the back, unplugged circuit board (not needed), cut off harness (not needed).

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/50BC8833-74AB-4E78-B9A0-F87F723553CF-1632-000003CB85BCC4C3.jpg

There is a limit switch at the top (black wires). Originally wired in the normally closed position. I rewired it so it's normally open, there's an extra tab on the switch, simple as cutting off one wire and soldering it to the other tab.

Once that was done I used a 9VDC power supply (one that comes with it) and wired it up as follows:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/feederwiring.jpg

Note for demonstration I wired a simple manual switch in place of the relay (red button, yellow wires). The Relay needs to be normally open and simply allows you to plug it into a socket from an external controller like profilux. 1-2 seconds is enough to trigger it, it will complete one rotation and stop. Activate an many rotations as desired using 1-2 seconds on, every 10 seconds.

Now an exciting video.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/th_92CEF674-4D3F-4B8F-96D5-697E3C700A1B-1632-000003CC9587E0EA.jpg (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/92CEF674-4D3F-4B8F-96D5-697E3C700A1B-1632-000003CC9587E0EA.mp4)

[lastlight]

nice work steve! you should sell refurbished units =) i dig the halide bake on the top of yours lol.

[sphelps]

Yeah it's seen a few halides in it's day.

The LG100 has a built in heater to reduce moisture by rasing relative humidity. You can wire it straight up to the 9VDC power supply as well by the looks of things. Going to leave it connected for a bit to see if it overheats.

[lastlight]

just put another halide above the unit instead lol.

[sphelps]

just put another halide above the unit instead lol.

But the halide would heat up everything including the air outside the feeder, so that wouldn't really work. Plus maybe slightly less efficient.

[The Grizz]

WOW at an engineers wage that is one expensive auto feeder :lol:

[sphelps]

WOW at an engineers wage that is one expensive auto feeder :lol:

:lol: nice

Took me 15min and I was technically working at the same time :mrgreen:

[Delphinus]

Was gonna ask where you got the relay but I guess you don't have one yet :p So ummmmmm ... any ideas where you plan on getting a relay, per chance? I just took a look at the ones I could get at The Source and Canadian Tire (my truck has a flat so I needed to go in anyhow) but didn't find anything.

[sphelps]

Was gonna ask where you got the relay but I guess you don't have one yet :p So ummmmmm ... any ideas where you plan on getting a relay, per chance? I just took a look at the ones I could get at The Source and Canadian Tire (my truck has a flat so I needed to go in anyhow) but didn't find anything.

I've purchased 120VAC relays from eecol before.

[Delphinus]

Do you just ask for a 120vac relay or is there a part# you have to give them?

[sphelps]

Do you just ask for a 120vac relay or is there a part# you have to give them?

No idea on part#, I just found them in an isle but I'm sure you can ask.

B&E might be better, they'll have them as well and they are easier to deal with. Eecol is pretty much wholesale only but you can still buy from them IME.

[subman]

I ordered one if these. Works exactly like I wanted it to. I have the controller set up to dose coral foods, then 1 minute later shuts return pumps down and powers up the feeder and restarts the returns 10min later. No more wasted food and the fish are already trained to go to the feeder when the pumps shut down.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/subman001/2013-04-11105333_zpsfb71e835.jpg

[reefme]

I ordered one if these. Works exactly like I wanted it to. I have the controller set up to dose coral foods, then 1 minute later shuts return pumps down and powers up the feeder and restarts the returns 10min later. No more wasted food and the fish are already trained to go to the feeder when the pumps shut down.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/subman001/2013-04-11105333_zpsfb71e835.jpg

Hey!! That is the same one I got.

[BlueTang<3]

I ordered one if these. Works exactly like I wanted it to. I have the controller set up to dose coral foods, then 1 minute later shuts return pumps down and powers up the feeder and restarts the returns 10min later. No more wasted food and the fish are already trained to go to the feeder when the pumps shut down.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/subman001/2013-04-11105333_zpsfb71e835.jpg

Sweet.

Now only forme to join the cool kids club and buy a profluix