Drum timer commands

[DetroitSound]

I would like to work with the drum timer, but I can see several different ways it could be operated and applications for each, but I'm not sure how to do it:

Scenario 1: The drum operates continously and does not stop/start nor reset.

Scenario 2: The drum operates and when it reaches the end of its cycle it stops, until some condition closes (or opens) a contact and starts the cycle over again.

Those may or may not be used in combination with the following:

Scenario 3: The drum operates and has a provision to pause - as though it were a mechanical drum switch and power was removed from the motor. All contacts remain in their position. Becoming "un paused" will allow it to continue its cycle.

Scenario 4: The drum operates and it can be "reset" back to the beginning of its cycle.


One thing I would like to do is a drum timer that is started manually (scenario 2), when it arrives at a particular point in the cycle it pauses (scenario 3), and another drum cycle takes place; when it reaches the end of this sequence it resets (scenario 4) and the main drum resumes its cycle.

Is it possible to do "drum within a drum" as I just described?

[bcarlton]

It appears the the 'Start' input performs a 'hold' action when it is OFF. Is that usable?

At step 'x' in first drum an output 'hold bit' is set which starts drum 2. When drum 2 completes its 'drum 2 complete bit' is noted.

Therefore the 'start' input to drum 1 is 'start condition' AND ((NOT 'hold bit') OR 'drum 2 complete bit')

And the 'start' input to drum 2 is 'hold bit'

[DetroitSound]

Actually programming the drum timer seems to be pretty straightforward. It seems to be like the other counters, you need to have the reset line connected.

The other counters were pretty simple to get the reset line connected but with the drum it seems to be considerably more tricky. But you MUST get it and when you do it will work.

I found out the way it will work is you have to have a normally open reset contact, the drum will get to the end of its sequence and stop until the contact is closed.

If you desire the drum sequence to run continuously, I used C1 for the "cycle complete", then a normally open C1 contact for reset. It works perfectly.

The first experiment I did was one that might be used for a sign, for example. You've seen this kind - it lights up one letter at a time (I used six outputs), then after all are lit they all go off together, then on together, then all off, then the cycle restarts. 6 outputs, 11 steps.

Pretty cool, I got that one figured out! So my next experiment was to try the "traffic signal" - six outputs, four steps. I wanted to see if you could have different step durations - yes you can. The green lights are 55 seconds, amber is 5 seconds and red is 60 seconds (actually 55 + 5).

Next experiment - the washing machine timer, with a C-more micro touch to change the duration of the cycles...

These are more of a training exercise than serving a need at the moment. But learning the finer points of programming the Click and the C-more can only be good.

[milldrone]

Originally Posted by DetroitSound

It seems to be like the other counters, you need to have the reset line connected.

The other counters were pretty simple to get the reset line connected

Bernie addressed the difficulty of multiple row connections in this post.

http://forum.automationdirect.com/sh...04&postcount=2

[DetroitSound]

Originally Posted by milldrone

Bernie addressed the difficulty of multiple row connections in this post.

http://forum.automationdirect.com/sh...04&postcount=2

I just tried that - works perfectly! Counter or drum commands, piece of cake! That works great for me...

This is getting easier all the time.

[Tanno]

Chinese 100 rd drum manual

As the title states, i found my dads drum for his sks, but i couldnt find the manual. Does anybody have the pdf? Ill post some pics if I can find my digi. TIA

You are looking in the wrong forum, buddy. BTW, those drums are unreliable. They don't sound very well when hit with a stick.