What kind of timer for my lubrication project

Additionally does anyone know of a photo sensor that would be able to distinguish copper from stainless steel?

Perhaps:

Keith Cress
kcress -

The simple sequence of timers you're describing is an ideal application for a 'programmable relay'.

The Siemens Logo! (yes, the exclamation point is part of the name), Crouzet Millenium, Moeller EZ (also sold by Eaton and A-B), the TECO SG2, and the A-B Micro 800 can get into the sub-$100 range for the smallest units. Most of these units have free software; some can be adjusted using a screen and keypad on the front.

Color-sensing photoelectrics that can handle shiny things are very spendy. Distinguishing between SS and Cu is simple for an inductive proximity sensor, much less so for a photelectric.

I like the Micro810. I am waiting on a quote. Any idea what these go for? I see they have some with embedded PSU. But what does that mean on these because in the documentation it looks like what ever goes in is what comes out? Meaning if you put 24VDC in thats what you get on the I/Os.

Normally to me a PSU means having the option of coming in at 120V-208VAC and being able to have the option of the device to supply 24VDC for you inputs and outputs. I know this is a Transformers job but thats what my micrologix 1000 does.

I am confused as to what the embedded PSU does? I have 120V to work with but my sensor needs to be 24VDC. So what is the embedded PSU purpose on this Micro810? Looks to me like I would still need a external 24VDC PSU even with the 24VDC version of this timer with the the "embedded PSU" because it wants to have 24VDC as the power supply. So whats the point?

I attached the documentation and I am looking at the micro810 12point series.

I used the Micro 810 (12-point) controller for a small project last month. It was a very small program: four debounce timers for pushbuttons, and a simple set of logic for running a pair of diverter gates. I think I paid under $90 for the controller. I also purchased an LCD/Memory module as a backup device (it made copying the program to each controller super easy) and the $20 USB adapter; these controllers are so small they didn't have room for the USB plug!

In my case I needed 24V DC for the pushbuttons, a photoeye, and the solenoid valves, so I used a small DIN-rail mounted supply.

I think the 2080-PS120-240 is just an ordinary DC power supply that's built to fit the footprint of the Micro 800 series and be physically easy to latch on. It doesn't appear to connect to the Micro 800 controller in any special way; there's just two screw terminals each for DC + and -.

The old AC-powered MicroLogix controllers with DC Inputs had a "user DC supply" embedded in them, that was usable for small sensor loads. I generally avoided them because they didn't have enough amps to drive my DC outputs, and because a short circuit on the user supply would often cause the MicroLogix 1000 to clear its user program.

I don't know if the 2080 power supply is price-competitive with other inexpensive DIN-rail mount supplies; I suspect its primary advantage is the physical package. In my case the customer had already bought DC supplies and sent me a box of Chinese-made "MeanWell" units. It cost me more in time looking for the UL certification than they saved in purchase cost.

Do you know if you can do latches with these? For example I need the timer to start counting down before it sprays but what will trigger the timer will only be momentary. It will be a combination of a limit switch on a cylinder and the operator pushing the button for a moment. Then the timer would count down 4 secs and output to the valve.

So would I need a latch command on a 4 secs timer or a would I just use timer befor it set to a fraction of a second so its "Done" bit triggers the 4 sec timer?