Add Generic Output

If you need to incorporate a device that doesn’t fit any of the pre-configured devices on the HYDROS Control, there’s a solution. We’ve developed a Generic Output that covers all possible options to help you create a custom output.

Step 1: Create the Generic Output

  1. From the STATUS screen on your HYDROS app, top on the three horizontal dots to the right of the OUTPUTS label and select “Add New Output.”
  2. Tap on the + symbol at the bottom right of the page
  3. Type in the name of your new output and then tap “Create.”

Step 2: Configure your Generic Output

  • Type: Select “Generic”
  • Input Count: Here, you specify the number of inputs you want to use on an output
  • Input: Here, you select the input sensor you want to use (if any) to control this output. You will be offered a different range of options depending on your input type.
    TIP: To see a list of all inputs available on MULTIPLE devices, you must first create a Collective. Otherwise, only inputs on the same device will show.
  • Active When Input #: You can specify if the generic output should be ON or OFF when the input criteria are met. Active = ON
  • Has Schedule: You can set a start/end running time for the output if you enable this.  
    TIP: If you wish to run the device on a repeating interval schedule (i.e., every hour for 10 minutes at the top of the hour), enable this feature and then also enable “Use Advanced Settings” to configure your advanced schedule. See Appendix B at the bottom of this page.
  • Output Device: Here, you select the location of your device
  • If Input/Depends On Unavailable: It allows you to specify what the output will do should an input or output it depends on becomes unavailable.
    WARNING: If using a WiFi strip or WiFi outlet, this is NOT a “fallback” state. If you are using an XP8 or a Drive Port, it IS the “fallback” state.
  • Power Safe Range: You can set a range of acceptable power usage. If the power consumption falls outside of this range, you will receive a notification if you have selected this option.
    WARNING: This option is NOT available if the “Output Device” is assigned to an outlet that cannot monitor power, such as a WiFi Strip outlet.
  • Power Notification Level: You can select the notification level that triggers if the power consumption falls outside the “Power Safe Range.”
    WARNING: This option is NOT available if the “Output Device” is assigned to an outlet that cannot monitor power, such as a WiFi Strip outlet.
  • Active Modes: This allows you to choose which modes this output will be active and in which modes the output should turn OFF
  • Depends On: This feature allows you to turn the output based on the status of another output. To enable, select from the list of available outputs.  
    • Dependency Mode: You can turn the output ON or OFF based on the other output.
      • OFF if OFF: Will turn the current output OFF if the output it depends on is OFF.
      • OFF if ON: Will turn the current output OFF when the output it depends on is ON.
      • ON if OFF: Will turn the current output ON when the output it depends on is OFF.
      • ON if ON: Will turn the current output ON when the output it depends on is ON.
  • Is Invisible: If you choose to hide the input from the status screen, it will only become visible on pages that have “Show Invisible” selected.
  • Use Advanced Settings: If you are an expert, this feature will allow you to tweak the output default settings to suit your system better. See Appendix A below for more details.

Step 3: Save

  • Upload your changes to the cloud.

Appendix A: Advanced Settings

Control has a wide array of outputs and each output is preconfigured to fit the needs of more users.  From delaying the start of a skimmer to ensuring that a fluorescent bulb does not turn OFF immediately after turning ON, the control will already know how to handle individual devices.  If you are an Advanced User, then you probably will want to tweak the default settings to something that better fits your needs.  Here is where you would make those more advanced adjustments.

  • If Input Unavailable: This allows you to specify how the outlet should act if the sensor is not found or missing
  • Minimum OFF Time: Allows you to specify what is the minimum time the outlet should be OFF
  • Maximum OFF Time: Allows you to specify what is the maximum time the outlet should be OFF
  • Minimum ON Time: Allows you to specify what is the minimum time the outlet should be ON
  • Maximum ON Time: Allows you to specify what ist he maximum time the outlet should be ON
  • Run Past Max ON time: This allows you to specify if you want the outlet to remain ON even if the “Max ON Time” has been exceeded
  • Notification Level: Allows you to specify the level of notification you want when any of the advanced settings have been exceeded
TIP: You will get notifications any time one or more of the advanced settings have been exceeded.  If you set Notification Level to NONE, then the particular outlet you configured will not send you any notifications.

In some instances, you can create repeating schedules where the output will turn on for a certain amount of time, then turn off and then repeat.  We call this a repeating schedule.   A good example is if you want something to run for 10 minutes once every hour.

  • Starting Time of Day – It specifies the starting time of the schedule
    EXAMPLE: If you want the output to turn ON at 8 am, STARTING TIME OF DAY = 08:00.  If you want the output to turn ON at midnight, then STARTING TIME OF DAY = 00:00
  • Run Time (How long will the output stay ON) – This specifies HOW LONG a selected output will run
    EXAMPLE: If you want the output to turn ON for 10 minutes, every hour, then your RUN TIME = 10 min
  • Run Count (How many times should it repeat?) – This specifies HOW MANY TIMES the “RUN INTERVAL” will consecutively repeat
    EXAMPLE: If you want the outlet to turn ON for 10 minutes, every hour, from 8 am to 10 pm, then your RUN COUNT = 14
  • Run Interval (How often do you want the interval to repeat) – This is the sum of the RUN TIME, plus the OFF time BEFORE it repeats itself
    EXAMPLE: If you want the output to turn ON for 10 minutes, every hour, then your RUN INTERVAL = 60 min

Rename Output & Change Icon

  • From the STATUS screen, tap on the Output you wish to modify.
  • On the popup, tap on the “Gear” icon on the bottom right.
  • From the Output setup page, tap on the “Pencil” icon on the top left.
  • Type in the new name you wish
  • If you wish to change the default icon, tap “Change Icon.”
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