diff --git a/pumpingStation.html b/pumpingStation.html
index 749ad8c..1dc7bca 100644
--- a/pumpingStation.html
+++ b/pumpingStation.html
@@ -53,7 +53,16 @@
       hasDistance: { value: false },
       distance: { value: 0 },
       distanceUnit: { value: "m" },
-      distanceDescription: { value: "" }
+      distanceDescription: { value: "" },
+
+      // control strategy
+      controlMode: { value: "none" },
+      startLevel: { value: null },
+      stopLevel: { value: null },
+      minFlowLevel: { value: null },
+      maxFlowLevel: { value: null },
+      flowSetpoint: { value: null },
+      flowDeadband: { value: null }
 
     },
 
@@ -129,6 +138,32 @@
           : 0;
       }
 
+      // control mode toggle UI
+      const toggleModeSections = (val) => {
+        document.querySelectorAll('.ps-mode-section').forEach((el) => el.style.display = 'none');
+        const active = document.getElementById(`ps-mode-${val}`);
+        if (active) active.style.display = '';
+      };
+
+      const modeSelect = document.getElementById('node-input-controlMode');
+      if (modeSelect) {
+        modeSelect.value = this.controlMode || 'none';
+        toggleModeSections(modeSelect.value);
+        modeSelect.addEventListener('change', (e) => toggleModeSections(e.target.value));
+      }
+
+      const setNumberField = (id, val) => {
+        const el = document.getElementById(id);
+        if (el) el.value = Number.isFinite(val) ? val : '';
+      };
+
+      setNumberField('node-input-startLevel', this.startLevel);
+      setNumberField('node-input-stopLevel', this.stopLevel);
+      setNumberField('node-input-minFlowLevel', this.minFlowLevel);
+      setNumberField('node-input-maxFlowLevel', this.maxFlowLevel);
+      setNumberField('node-input-flowSetpoint', this.flowSetpoint);
+      setNumberField('node-input-flowDeadband', this.flowDeadband);
+
         //------------------- END OF CUSTOM config UI ELEMENTS ------------------- //
     },
     oneditsave: function () {
@@ -151,6 +186,18 @@
       node.refHeight = document.getElementById("node-input-refHeight").value || "";
       node.enableDryRunProtection = document.getElementById("node-input-enableDryRunProtection").checked;
       node.enableOverfillProtection = document.getElementById("node-input-enableOverfillProtection").checked;
+
+      // control strategy
+      node.controlMode = document.getElementById('node-input-controlMode').value || 'none';
+
+      const parseNum = (id) => parseFloat(document.getElementById(id)?.value);
+      node.startLevel = parseNum('node-input-startLevel');
+      node.stopLevel = parseNum('node-input-stopLevel');
+      node.minFlowLevel = parseNum('node-input-minFlowLevel');
+      node.maxFlowLevel = parseNum('node-input-maxFlowLevel');
+      node.flowSetpoint = parseNum('node-input-flowSetpoint');
+      node.flowDeadband = parseNum('node-input-flowDeadband');
+
     },
 
   });
@@ -160,7 +207,7 @@
 
 <script type="text/html" data-template-name="pumpingStation">
 
-  <!-- Simulator toggle -->
+  <h4>Simulation</h4>
   <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-simulator"><i class="fa fa-play-circle"></i> Simulator</label>
     <input type="checkbox" id="node-input-simulator" style="width:20px;vertical-align:baseline;" />
@@ -168,8 +215,8 @@
   </div>
 
   <hr>
-
-  <!-- Basin geometry -->
+  
+  <h4>Basin Geometry</h4>
   <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-basinVolume"><i class="fa fa-cube"></i> Basin Volume (m³)</label>
     <input type="number" id="node-input-basinVolume" min="0" step="0.1" />
@@ -195,6 +242,50 @@
 
   <hr>
 
+  <h4>Control Strategy</h4>
+  <div class="form-row">
+    <label for="node-input-controlMode"><i class="fa fa-sliders"></i> Control mode</label>
+    <select id="node-input-controlMode">
+      <option value="none">None / Manual</option>
+      <option value="levelbased">Level-based</option>
+      <option value="flowbased">Flow-based</option>
+    </select>
+  </div>
+
+  <div id="ps-mode-levelbased" class="ps-mode-section">
+    <div class="form-row">
+      <label for="node-input-startLevel">startLevel</label>
+      <input type="number" id="node-input-startLevel" placeholder="m" />
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+      <label for="node-input-stopLevel">stopLevel</label>
+      <input type="number" id="node-input-stopLevel" placeholder="m" />
+    </div>
+      <div class="form-row">
+      <label for="node-input-minFlowLevel">Min flow (m)</label>
+      <input type="number" id="node-input-minFlowLevel" placeholder="m" />
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+      <label for="node-input-maxFlowLevel">Max flow (m)</label>
+      <input type="number" id="node-input-maxFlowLevel" placeholder="m" />
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <div id="ps-mode-flowbased" class="ps-mode-section" style="display:none">
+    <div class="form-row">
+      <label for="node-input-flowSetpoint">Flow setpoint</label>
+      <input type="number" id="node-input-flowSetpoint" placeholder="m3/h" />
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+      <label for="node-input-flowDeadband">Deadband</label>
+      <input type="number" id="node-input-flowDeadband" placeholder="m3/h" />
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <hr>
+
+  <h4>Reference</h4>
+
   <!-- Reference data -->
   <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-minHeightBasedOn"><i class="fa fa-arrows-v"></i> Minimum Height Based On</label>
@@ -217,6 +308,8 @@
 
   <hr>
 
+  <h4>Safety</h4>
+
   <!-- Safety settings -->
   <div class="form-row">
     <label for="node-input-timeleftToFullOrEmptyThresholdSeconds"><i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i> Time To Empty/Full (s)</label>
@@ -246,7 +339,7 @@
     <label for="node-input-overfillThresholdPercent" style="padding-left:20px;">High Volume Threshold (%)</label>
     <input type="number" id="node-input-overfillThresholdPercent" min="0" max="100" step="0.1" />
   </div>
-
+<hr>
   <!-- Shared asset/logger/position menus -->
   <div id="asset-fields-placeholder"></div>
   <div id="logger-fields-placeholder"></div>
diff --git a/src/nodeClass.js b/src/nodeClass.js
index 29dd618..8d7b9a0 100644
--- a/src/nodeClass.js
+++ b/src/nodeClass.js
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ class nodeClass {
         minHeightBasedOn: uiConfig.minHeightBasedOn,
         basinBottomRef: uiConfig.basinBottomRef,
       },
+      control:{
+        mode: uiConfig.controlMode,
+        levelbased:{
+          startLevel:uiConfig.startLevel,
+          stopLevel:uiConfig.stopLevel,
+          minFlowLevel:uiConfig.minFlowLevel,
+          maxFlowLevel:uiConfig.maxFlowLevel
+        }
+      },
       safety:{
         enableDryRunProtection: uiConfig.enableDryRunProtection,
         dryRunThresholdPercent: uiConfig.dryRunThresholdPercent,
@@ -216,6 +225,16 @@ class nodeClass {
             .getCurrentValue('m3');
           this.source.calibratePredictedVolume(calibratedVolume);
           break;
+        case 'q_in': {
+          // payload can be number or { value, unit, timestamp }
+          const val = Number(msg.payload);
+          const unit = msg?.unit || 'm3/s';
+          const ts = msg?.timestamp || Date.now();
+          this.source.setManualInflow(val, ts, unit);
+          break;
+        }
+                  
+          
       }
       done();
     });
diff --git a/src/specificClass.js b/src/specificClass.js
index 0ed7e98..7956b71 100644
--- a/src/specificClass.js
+++ b/src/specificClass.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const EventEmitter = require('events');
-const {logger,configUtils,configManager,childRegistrationUtils,MeasurementContainer,coolprop,interpolation} = require('generalFunctions');
+const {logger,configUtils,configManager,childRegistrationUtils,MeasurementContainer,coolprop,interpolation,convert} = require('generalFunctions');
 
 class PumpingStation {
   constructor(config = {}) {
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ class PumpingStation {
     this.logger = new logger(this.config.general.logging.enabled,this.config.general.logging.logLevel,this.config.general.name);
 
     this.measurements = new MeasurementContainer({ autoConvert: true });
-    this.measurements.setPreferredUnit('flow', 'm3/s');
+    this.preferredUnits = {flow: "m3/s"};
+    this.measurements.setPreferredUnit('flow', this.preferredUnits.flow);
     this.measurements.setPreferredUnit('netFlowRate', 'm3/s');
     this.measurements.setPreferredUnit('level', 'm');
     this.measurements.setPreferredUnit('volume', 'm3');
+    
     this.childRegistrationUtils = new childRegistrationUtils(this);
     this.machines       = {};
     this.stations       = {};
@@ -192,52 +194,69 @@ class PumpingStation {
 
   }
 
-  async _controlLevelBased(snapshot, remainingTime) {
+  _scaleLevelToFlowPercent(level,minflow,maxflow) {
+    const { minFlowLevel, maxFlowLevel } = this.config.control.levelbased;
+    const output = this.interpolate_lin_single_point(level,minFlowLevel,maxFlowLevel,minflow,maxflow);
+    return output;
+  }
 
 
-    // current volume as a percentage of usable capacity
-    const vol = this._resolveVolume(snapshot);
-    if (vol == null) {
-      this.logger.warn('No valid volume found for level-based control');
+  async _controlLevelBased(snapshot) {
+    const {startLevel, stopLevel} = this.config.control.levelbased;
+  
+    //pick level prefering measured then predicted
+    const level = (snapshot) => {
+      for (const variant of this.levelVariants) {
+        const levelSnap = snapshot.levels?.[variant];
+
+        if (levelSnap?.samples?.current?.value !== undefined) {
+          return levelSnap.samples.current.value;
+        }
+      }
+      return null;
+    };
+    
+    if (level == null) {
+      this.logger.warn('No valid level found');
       return;
     }
 
-    const { thresholds, timeThresholdSeconds } = this.config.control.levelbased;
-    const percentFull = (vol / this.basin.maxVolOverflow) * 100;
+    if(level > startLevel){
+      let maxFlow = 0;
+      let minTotalFlow = Infinity;
+      Object.entries(this.machines).forEach(([machineId, machine]) => {
+        sumFlow =+ machine.measurements.type('flow').variant('predicted').variant('max').getCurrentValue(this.preferredUnits.flow);
+        const minflow = machine.measurements.type('flow').variant('predicted').variant('min').getCurrentValue(this.preferredUnits.flow);
+        if(minTotalFlow < minflow){ minflow = minTotalFlow};
+        
+      });
 
-    // pick thresholds that are now crossed but were not crossed before
-    const newlyCrossed = thresholds.filter(t => percentFull >= t && !this._levelState.crossed.has(t));
-    this.logger.debug(`Level-based control: vol=${vol.toFixed(2)} m³ (${percentFull.toFixed(1)}%), newly crossed thresholds: [${newlyCrossed.join(', ')}]`);
-    if (!newlyCrossed.length) return;
+      Object.entries(this.machineGroups).forEach(([groupId, group]) => {
+        sumFlow = group.dynamicTotals.flow.max;
 
-    const now = Date.now();
-    if (!this._levelState.dwellUntil) {
-      this._levelState.dwellUntil = now + timeThresholdSeconds * 1000;
-      this.logger.debug(`Level-based control: waiting ${timeThresholdSeconds}s before acting`);
-      return;
+      });
+
+
+      //start machines and or give group % control
+        Object.entries(this.machines).forEach(([machineId, machine]) => {
+          const position = machine?.config?.functionality?.positionVsParent;
+          if ((position === 'downstream' || position === 'atEquipment') && machine._isOperationalState()) {
+            machine.handleInput('parent', 'execSequence', 'startup');
+            this.logger.warn(`Safe guard triggered: vol=${vol.toFixed(2)} m3, remainingTime=${remainingTime ? remainingTime.toFixed(1) : 'N/A'} s; shutting down machine "${machineId}"`);
+          }
+        });
+
+        Object.entries(this.machineGroups).forEach(([groupId, group]) => {
+          group.handleInput(Qd);
+          this.logger.warn(`Safe guard triggered: vol=${vol.toFixed(2)} m3, remainingTime=${remainingTime ? remainingTime.toFixed(1) : 'N/A'} s; shutting down machine group "${groupId}"`);
+        });
     }
 
-    this.logger.debug(`Level-based control: dwelling for another ${Math.round((this._levelState.dwellUntil - now) / 1000)} seconds`);
-    if (now < this._levelState.dwellUntil) return; // still waiting
+    const percControl = this._scaleLevelToFlowPercent(level);
 
-    this._levelState.dwellUntil = null; // dwell satisfied, let pumps start
 
-   this._levelState.dwellUntil = null;
-
-    newlyCrossed.forEach((threshold) => this._levelState.crossed.add(threshold));
-
-    const percentControl = this._calculateLevelControlPercent(thresholds);
-    if (percentControl <= 0) {
-      this.logger.debug('Level-based control: percent control resolved to 0%, skipping commands');
-      return;
-    }
-
-    this.logger.info(
-      `level-based control: thresholds [${newlyCrossed.join(', ')}]% reached, requesting ${percentControl.toFixed(1)}% control (vol=${vol.toFixed(2)} m³)`
-    );
-
-    await this._applyMachineGroupLevelControl(percentControl);
-    await this._applyIdleMachineLevelControl(percentControl);
+    await this._applyMachineGroupLevelControl(percControl);
+    await this._applyIdleMachineLevelControl(percControl);
   }
 
   async _applyMachineGroupLevelControl(percentControl) {
@@ -275,14 +294,6 @@ class PumpingStation {
     }
   }
 
-  _calculateLevelControlPercent(thresholds = []) {
-    if (!thresholds.length) return 0;
-    const total = thresholds.length;
-    const crossed = this._levelState.crossed.size;
-    const pct = (crossed / total) * 100;
-    return Math.min(100, Math.max(0, pct));
-  }
-
 
   _resolveVolume(snapshot) {
     for (const variant of this.volVariants) {
@@ -300,13 +311,13 @@ class PumpingStation {
   }
 
   //control logic
-  _controlLogic(snapshot, remainingTime){
+  _controlLogic(snapshot){
     const mode = this.mode;
 
     switch(mode){
       case "levelbased":
         this.logger.debug(`Executing level-based control logic`);
-        this._controlLevelBased(snapshot, remainingTime);
+        this._controlLevelBased(snapshot);
         break;
       case "flowbased":
         this._controlFlowBased();
@@ -332,6 +343,11 @@ class PumpingStation {
         .variant('predicted')
         .position('atequipment');
 
+    const levelChain = this.measurements
+        .type('level')
+        .variant('predicted')
+        .position('atequipment');
+
       //if we have existing values clear them out
       const volumeMeasurement = volumeChain.exists() ? volumeChain.get() : null;
       if (volumeMeasurement) {
@@ -339,20 +355,51 @@ class PumpingStation {
         volumeMeasurement.timestamps = [];
       }
 
+      const levelMeasurement = levelChain.exists() ? levelChain.get() : null;
+      if (levelMeasurement) {
+        levelMeasurement.values = [];
+        levelMeasurement.timestamps = [];
+      }
+
       volumeChain.value(calibratedVol, timestamp, 'm3').unit('m3');
 
+      levelChain.value(this._calcLevelFromVolume(calibratedVol), timestamp, 'm');
+
+      this._predictedFlowState = {
+        inflow: 0,
+        outflow: 0,
+        lastTimestamp: timestamp
+      };
+  }
+
+  calibratePredictedLevel(val,timestamp = Date.now(),unit = 'm'){
+    
+      const volumeChain = this.measurements
+        .type('volume')
+        .variant('predicted')
+        .position('atequipment');
+      
       const levelChain = this.measurements
         .type('level')
         .variant('predicted')
         .position('atequipment');
 
+      //if we have existing values clear them out
+      const volumeMeasurement = volumeChain.exists() ? volumeChain.get() : null;
+      if (volumeMeasurement) {
+        volumeMeasurement.values = [];
+        volumeMeasurement.timestamps = [];
+      }
+
       const levelMeasurement = levelChain.exists() ? levelChain.get() : null;
       if (levelMeasurement) {
         levelMeasurement.values = [];
         levelMeasurement.timestamps = [];
       }
 
-      levelChain.value(this._calcLevelFromVolume(calibratedVol), timestamp, 'm');
+      levelChain.value(val, timestamp).unit(unit);
+
+      volumeChain.value(this._calcVolumeFromLevel(val), timestamp, 'm3');
 
       this._predictedFlowState = {
         inflow: 0,
@@ -448,29 +495,58 @@ class PumpingStation {
     }
 
     const handler = (eventData = {}) => {
-      const value = Number.isFinite(eventData.value) ? eventData.value : 0;
-      const timestamp = eventData.timestamp ?? Date.now();
-      const unit = eventData.unit ?? 'm3/s';
-
-      this.logger.debug(`Predicted flow update from ${childName} (${childId}, ${posKey}) -> ${value} ${unit}`);
-
-      this.predictedFlowChildren.get(childId)[posKey] = value;
-      this._refreshAggregatedPredictedFlow(posKey, timestamp, unit);
+      const preferred = this.preferredUnits?.flow || 'm3/s';
+      const unit = eventData.unit || 'l/s'; // don’t assume m3/s
+      const raw = Number.isFinite(eventData.value) ? eventData.value : 0;
+      const ts = eventData.timestamp || Date.now();
+      const normalized = convert(raw).from(unit).to(preferred);
+      this.predictedFlowChildren.get(childId)[posKey] = normalized;
+      this._refreshAggregatedPredictedFlow(posKey, ts, preferred);
     };
 
     eventNames.forEach((eventName) => child.measurements.emitter.on(eventName, handler));
   }
 
-  _refreshAggregatedPredictedFlow(direction, timestamp = Date.now(), unit = 'm3/s') {
+  _refreshAggregatedPredictedFlow(direction) {
+    const preferredUnit = this.preferredUnits.flow;
+
     const sum = Array.from(this.predictedFlowChildren.values())
-      .map((entry) => (Number.isFinite(entry[direction]) ? entry[direction] : 0))
+      .map((entry) => {
+        const v = entry[direction];
+        const num = Number(v?.value ?? v);
+        if (!Number.isFinite(num)) return 0;
+        const unit = v?.unit || preferredUnit; // default if none stored
+        return convert(num).from(unit).to(preferredUnit);
+      })
       .reduce((acc, val) => acc + val, 0);
 
     this.measurements
       .type('flow')
       .variant('predicted')
       .position(direction)
-      .value(sum, timestamp, unit);
+      .value(sum, Date.now(), preferredUnit);
+  }
+
+  setManualInflow(value, timestamp = Date.now(), unit) {
+    const num = Number(value);
+    const preferredUnit = this.preferredUnits.flow;
+
+    // Store the manual inflow in the measurement container with its source unit.
+    this.measurements.type('flow').variant('manual').position('in').value(num, timestamp, unit);
+
+    // Read back in preferred units so the aggregated predicted flow uses consistent units.
+    const entry = this.measurements
+      .type('flow')
+      .variant('manual')
+      .position('in')
+      .getCurrentValue(preferredUnit);
+
+    const predFlow = this.predictedFlowChildren.get('manual-qin') || { in: 0, out: 0 };
+    predFlow.in = Number.isFinite(entry) ? entry : 0;
+    this.predictedFlowChildren.set('manual-qin', predFlow);
+
+    // Pass preferred unit so we don't double-convert when writing the aggregate series.
+    this._refreshAggregatedPredictedFlow('in', timestamp, preferredUnit);
   }
 
   _handleMeasurement(measurementType, value, position, context) {