on off switch controlled by timer

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

 I need to figure out how to control the runtime of an auger. This feed auger feeds a second auger by filling a hopper and it fills the hopper at too high a rate for second auger being fed. We have already adjusted the run times to the limit, but nothing else can be accomplished. All I need it to do is "break " one of the wires feeding the first auger something like this:::

 

 1. Do not control or power the auger. 2 Just break the wire powering the auger for let's say on a half hour, off a half hour or maybe on 20 minutes, off 30 minutes. 3. Keep up this pattern all day every day.

 

 Also remember that [I know I am repeating myself] that all we need to do is interrupt the wiring connection to the auger but not power the auger itself.

 

 The auger is not very big and takes is powered by 18 gauge wire. Thank you so much for reading this .as my wife is getting tired of me trying to come up with a solution

[rlrnot 39]

Would a 24 hr. timer work? They make some that can go 'on' and 'off'' multiple times in the 24 hr. period.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,479]

50 a day?

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.vizia--advanced-24-hour-programmable-timerwhite.1000132512.html

 

Garry

[Jerry77 1,218]

2 hours ago, ohiofarmer said:

Keep up this pattern all day every day

https://www.grainger.com/product/LEVITON-120VAC-Electronic-Wall-Switch-5DXW7?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/5DXW7_AS01?$smthumb$    Has 48 on/off cycles -- $55  

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

 So possibly i could combine one of those timers  with a relay. I think that would solve the problem the rest of the way....

[r356c 375]

As much as I like to throw embedded controllers at everything, sometimes old school electro-mechanical timers are the way to go.

https://www.wayfair.com/Stanley-Electrical-Timer-31194-NCCN1002.html?source=hotdeals

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

6 hours ago, r356c said:

As much as I like to throw embedded controllers at everything, sometimes old school electro-mechanical timers are the way to go.

https://www.wayfair.com/Stanley-Electrical-Timer-31194-NCCN1002.html?source=hotdeals

 This type is probably what I will be using. I found similar ones in stock at Menards.  Mission critical to get this project DONE. Thank you so much. Simple can be better

[oliver2-44 10,715]

Just a thought, instead of the timer, slow down the auger more by changing the drive pulley size

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

On 11/29/2016 at 10:23 PM, ohiofarmer said:

 So possibly i could combine one of those timers  with a relay. I think that would solve the problem the rest of the way....

 Well, it is not called a relay. It is called a contactor. Since the controls already have power to them, I need to isolate the upper auger by interrupting one wire. the timer controls the contactor and then the contactor breaks current to the auger.

 

 That's at least what I think for now. A trip to the electric supply house will confirm this.

[Reel Mower Freak 125]

You would be much better served by fixing the feed rate instead of using the switch solution. I would switch your focus. 

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

I would change the rate if I could, but it is already at the lower limit. [one to one ratio set by the computer control] It could also be a variation of fuel -- oak pellets vs corn or other fuels that could cause this. Anyway, my wife and I spent the evening at home and I simulated turning the feed auger off and on every half hour and it worked great.

 

 

[Pullstart 66,723]

What are you auger-ing?

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

6 hours ago, pullstart said:

What are you auger-ing?

It is a wood  pellet or corn burning boiler. I bought it when propane was sky high and ran it into my existing hot water heating system. The stove is outdoor and only the heated water enters the house.

 

 Anyway, now it is working as it should. I was getting too many fire-out and back burns in the auger due to the thing plugging up. Now it is working great and it will burn for three days straight before I need to add fuel.  Output of the stove is variable and the computer responds its burn rate in response to maintaining the boiler temperature.

[WHX?? 51,744]

On ‎12‎/‎3‎/‎2016 at 8:08 PM, ohiofarmer said:

Well, it is not called a relay. It is called a contactor.

A contactor is basically the same thing as a relay (switching a load) but a contactor will generally handle much higher current than relays.