T-MAX Controlling time in a shower - THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING PROBLEM!

[aaron20]

Hello-

I'm offering a spa style shower for my customers. I'm trying to hook-up the T-MAX to control how long someone is in the shower (gets hot water). T-MAX works through a 12volt closed loop switch. All of the solenoid plumbing switches that I've found need 120 volts to work. I figure that I need to find some-sort of booster or a plumbing solenoid that will work on 12 volts. Does anyone have any suggestions?


Aaron

[Brian Oshman]

The T-Max is a dry contact (isolated from the timer and timer power) and does not provide any voltage to activate relays or solenoids.

The contact rating on the T-Max is 220V 5A.

You can directly switch the solenoid with the T-Max.
Connect the timer in betweeen the 120v feed to the solenoid and you are good to go.

Do not mount the timer in the shower. It is not waterproof.

[ADI Tech Support]

No, do NOT mount the timer in the shower. It is not waterproof.

Not only do you not want to mount the timer in the shower, I would not recommend having customers touch it with wet hands either. There will probably we water on the floor and if you touch the timer with wet hands could cause another problem.

The T-Max timer was not designed for this kind of application. I don't recommend it.

What you can do is this. There is an external start button screw terminal on the T-Max 3A. You can connect a momentary button to this screw terminal and it acts as the Start/Stop button does on the T-Max 3A. If you can find a sealed button with rubber over it top connect it to the T-Max 3A, you could use that button to start the session on the T-Max 3A, keeping a wet customer away from the possible high voltage the T-Max 3A would be switching. It would also help prevent shorting out the T-Max 3A due to water getting inside it.

Kevin Barrett
ADI Tech Support

[aaron20]

Thank you for your input! I'm still confused about how to wire this project. I found a website that has a lot of different options for the solenoid, http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/...ories/ssid/348 I looks like they even make a 12volt version that is controlled by a motor.

Are you suggesting that I still install a t-max 3a in the shower room (obviously not in shower)? Do you suggest that I put the t-max 3a behind Plexiglas with a waterproof push button. It seems like this might be a good way to see the countdown timer. Can you clairify how to wire this with enough power?


Thanks again!
Aaron

[ADI Tech Support]

E-mail me (kevinbarrett@appdig.com) your e-mail address and I'll send you a diagram.

Kevin Barrett
ADI Tech Support

[Smooooth]

Originally Posted by ADI Tech Support

What you can do is this. There is an external start button screw terminal on the T-Max 3A. You can connect a momentary button to this screw terminal and it acts as the Start/Stop button does on the T-Max 3A.

T H A N K Y O U ! ! ! ! ! !

It took me some time to dig this information out. It really is not that well documented. It is kinda mentioned in the Manager Pro book and the drawings are not much help.

I did get this function to work and now my Salon has VERY HAPPY Customers. I needed to add this function to 6 of my beds that do not have timers built in. We had the delay time in the Manager Pro set for 3 minutes. For some customers it was too short and for others it was too long. Now we are set at 5 minutes and everyone can start their bed when they are ready. This might sound trivial - But it was HUGE to my customers.

FYI - V39 chips do not support this function. Fortunately, I had a couple of spares on the shelf that had V43's in them.

Thanks Again

Stephen
Sun States Tanning