Nocturnus

I really need to get something like this running, but I'll prob get the thing from Tom Aquatics.

Now for doing dosing, I need to run some tests to see how the flow is from the pump so I can set a timer to run X amount of time to dose the required amount?

Andy Ritter

Hello Sven,

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the thread.

I haven't tried calling Novatek in a long time, so I don't know if they can still get the tubing sets or not. I lucked out (thanks to Neil Frank) and was able to buy some off of eBay, so I haven't had a need to get any more yet. I've actually only replaced my tubing sets once each in the last year and a half, and in all reality, it turned out that they didn't really need to be changed then. I suspect they will last a very long time without giving any problems. If Novatek can't get the sets anymore, you might want to try your local veterinary office. In many cases, they use the same types of medical equipment on animals as are used on people, so they could possible order the sets for you if you explained what you are going to use them for. I am a high school teacher, so I even asked the Health Occupations teacher (who is a certified nurse) if she could get them for me, and she said she could.

My Gemini infusion pump has been running non-stop, all day, every day (except for when I changed the tubing sets) since July of 2009. It has never had any problems (unless you count the time that I was lazy and let the supply of micros run out so the "Air in Line" warning went off, which of course was exactly what was supposed to happen), and I couldn't be any happier with its performance. It was worth every penny I spent on it not only because I haven't had to worry about dosing the tank manually anymore, but also because I personally feel that the tank is doing considerably better now that it is stable.

Good luck,

Andy

pat w

Been trying to help someone with a new(salvage) Gemini PC-2TX that goes into Maint. Mode on powerup.

found this (incomplete)http://www.biobidz.com/file_download...2TX+Part+1.pdf

Anyone have a complete copy?

Pat

Andy Ritter

Hey Pat,

First of all, I had no idea that it even had a "Maintenance Mode", and also didn't know about the manual. Thanks for letting me know about it.

I see what you mean about how it is incomplete, and I tried to find the missing information but with no success. I did find a website (www.bluebiomed.com) that listed the manual as Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3, but I was unsuccessful at downloading any of the parts from them. I had to register on their site (which was free) just to make an attempt to download the files, but all of them just gave me a pdf file that said the files were unavailable at this time.

I'll try more later to get the files, but I think I figured out what to do in Part 1 that you linked to above. If you'll look on page 1-4 of the Maintenance Manual (which is page 16 of the pdf), you should see some notes at the bottom just above a CAUTION statement. Note 2 gives instructions on how to access the Maintenance Mode: "All PC-2TX's have a Maintenance or Diagnostic Mode. To access this mode: hold in the Audio Control switch on the panel and then press Power On.keypress." Out of curiosity, I decided to see if I could get mine to go into this mode, but at first I couldn't figure out where this Audio Control switch was. It turns out it is on the back of the unit (which I hadn't seen in a couple of years since I placed it in the aquarium stand). I powered down the unit, then pushed in and held the Audio Control switch (big metal button/knob on the right if facing the back of the unit), then pushed the "POWER ON" button on the front of the unit. I don't know if it was necessary or not, but I held the Audio Control switch button in until the unit fully powered on and said "MAINTENANCE MODE" at the top of the screen. The screen had a menu with three choices "[1] S/C BOARD TESTS AND DISPLAYS [2] M/C BOARD TESTS AND DISPLAYS [3] PRESS [OFF] TO EXIT" I played around with the various different tests just to see what they did. In order to get out of a particular test, I had to push the "CANCEL" button in the lower left of the front panel. Once I was done, I pushed the "CHANNEL/OFF" button in the lower right and the unit powered off. I then turned it back on and reprogrammed my doses.

I'll let you know if I'm able to procure the rest of the manual.

Andy

bowlingo

Hi all,

I am in the process of designing an automatic hydroponics system that is controlled entirely by SMS controller. I have a controller with 8 inputs and 8 outputs and have everything set up/planned apart from an auto feeding system.

I am looking for an auto feeding device that will deliver 40ml of nutrients in one hit of which will be controlled vaa text message...It will need to have a tank containing the nutrients and upon activation it will deliver an exact amount.

Anyone anyone ideas?

pat w

Thanks Andy,

I've been covered up at work or I would have noticed your post earlier. I'll keep looking too but I'm not holding out a lot of hope on finding the complete manual online.

BTW - I've been toying with trying the Multidose feature. It'll run the pump at a given rate for a given amount and then repeat that at a specified interval. I thought I'd give it a try; dosing for a full day just before lights on and then repeat every day. you can program up to 24 doses and then it looks like it will save the program so all you have to do is restart it for 24 more (or what ever you programed). Thoughts?

ALSO I've got a boat load of tube sets for sell if you know of anyone that needs some.

Thanks again,
Pat

nfrank

i have a gemini PC-2TX doser for sale, with 5 sets of tubing. $30!! Shipping extra. Or can be picked up in Raleigh.

bigstick120

Mine has gone into maintenance mode, holding the dose button on start up fixes it, took me FOREVER to figure that one out!

In interested in how you got the multidose to work. I can get it to run once, but then it needs to be restarted. I cant get it to run daily without pressing some buttons.

pat w

I'll be checking it out sometime this week I hope. When I do I'll let ya'll know how it works out.

Pat

pat w

OK, Well that's a bust. It seems that the combination of interval and number of doses can't exceed a limited dosing period of 24 hrs. You could do 12 doses at an interval of 2 hrs or 24 at intervals of 1 hr as long as all doses are completed in a single 24 hr period.

Rats, I was hoping that would work.

Pat