Emergency pump shutoff mechanism?

[dragoneggs]

Anyone design a gadget that can shut off a pump should the water level in the tank get to high? I am concerned that my drain at at some point may not keep up with my return pump and the result will be a flood. I would like to come up with a failsafe mechanism that will shutoff my return pump if my water level reaches a certain height in my tank.

Anyone with ideas???

 

[Scooterman]

yea, I used a unit (controller) that was an auto top off, level too high shutoff all in one. If you have a pump that your worried about you can out a ball valve in the outlet & use it to slow it down also, very cheap solution.

 

[jrgilles]

You can buy the premium or deluxe DIY ATO kit, or buy the components. It has very easy directions. Pretty much it is 2 or 3 float switches that go to a relay (you could just do 1, or I guess you could put 20 switches in if you want.)

The relay then goes to an extension cord that you can plug the pump into. So if the water gets high, the switch floats up, then through the relay shuts off power to the pump. You can find the directions on this site. I'm using one of these now for my ATO.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/autotopoffcomp.html

 

[dragoneggs]

yea, I used a unit (controller) that was an auto top off, level too high shutoff all in one. If you have a pump that your worried about you can out a ball valve in the outlet & use it to slow it down also, very cheap solution.

Hey Scooter... I do have a valve in line that I can choke down the flow, and am actually doing that now... to the extent that I need to find a smaller pump (another story). But my concern is more that either the pump or the drain gets away from me (and it will be when I am travelling and am relying on my wife or other rookie) and I will have a flood. Just want a failsafe type of add on.

 

[dragoneggs]

You can buy the premium or deluxe DIY ATO kit, or buy the components. It has very easy directions. Pretty much it is 2 or 3 float switches that go to a relay (you could just do 1, or I guess you could put 20 switches in if you want.)

The relay then goes to an extension cord that you can plug the pump into. So if the water gets high, the switch floats up, then through the relay shuts off power to the pump. You can find the directions on this site. I'm using one of these now for my ATO.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/autotopoffcomp.html

Thanks JR, I need to research the site you provided. One thing I am trying to accomplish is a very small unit that I can hide either in my overflow box or on the back with magnet that is not too visible in the display.

 

[mfinn]

Just curious, what is the drain size and what is the pump?

 

[Scooterman]

You can put a Tee on that pump outlet & just recirculate it back into the sump. It is wasteful in power but to help you while your gone, it would be a cheap fix. I agree either get a smaller pump, bigger drain or a complete ATO unit to be more fail safe but even all that, something can happen. So your best chance is to actually find someone to help you while your gone, really find one who will try to understand the system, leave lots of notes, etc. It is always scary when you have to leave for any amount of time. Also have lots of SW made up ready while your gone, & a bunch of towels etc. & try not to panic them with all of the pressure, even have them feed way less.

 

[dragoneggs]

Just curious, what is the drain size and what is the pump?

Hey Finn, I probably should elaborate about the pump issue in my build thread but oh well here goes... I started with a Sequence Tarpon, had to choke it down to about zero, and now have a Iwaki 40 RXT. The Drain is 1.5in and I have about 10ft of vertical head running spa flex about 25ft or so. I have a 1in return and I neck it down to 3/4in for the last four feet up to the DT. Even the 40RXT flow needs to be throttled by 50%. I was shooting for about 900gph and I am guessing I am about 500gph or less and still my drain is barely keeping up. Those that are familiar with the Elos drain, please also chime in! The whole thing doesn't make alot of sense if you look at the head flow and what I should be able to cycle.

 

[dragoneggs]

You can put a Tee on that pump outlet & just recirculate it back into the sump. It is wasteful in power but to help you while your gone, it would be a cheap fix. I agree either get a smaller pump, bigger drain or a complete ATO unit to be more fail safe but even all that, something can happen. So your best chance is to actually find someone to help you while your gone, really find one who will try to understand the system, leave lots of notes, etc. It is always scary when you have to leave for any amount of time. Also have lots of SW made up ready while your gone, & a bunch of towels etc. & try not to panic them with all of the pressure, even have them feed way less.

Yeah, could Tee it but with this new setup I would like to dial in the right size pump. I know Elos advocates an Eheim 1262 but that is assuming a 4ft head. I am figuring with three times that, I would need higher pressure rated pump. What I don't like is the 'silly' little bulkhead overflow port at the entrance of the drain which is a wimpy 1.25in dia opening.

 

[thatguy559]

the only issue i see with the float switch is that it will shut your pump off and on a bunch of times causing premature failure

 

[dragoneggs]

the only issue i see with the float switch is that it will shut your pump off and on a bunch of times causing premature failure

My fear too. I was hoping for a miniature system that was accurate so I wouldn't be tripping except only in that rare case that my water level does actually rise above normal. I suppose this is too much to ask... or at least easily DIY.

 

[jrgilles]

the kit i posted earlier is sensitive to a quarter inch or something. So, it would do the job of being a final precaution against overflow if you put it high.

You'd have to mess with how to mount it though to keep in hidden. The switch is pretty small, so you could make something out of clear plexiglas or something.

 

[dragoneggs]

the kit i posted earlier is sensitive to a quarter inch or something. So, it would do the job of being a final precaution against overflow if you put it high.

You'd have to mess with how to mount it though to keep in hidden. The switch is pretty small, so you could make something out of clear plexiglas or something.

Thanks Rob, I will get working on it!

 

[Scooterman]

I had an Eheim 1262, it would be the best option for your tank, even with that much head, I had a Yahoo & marlin on the same tank.

 

[dragoneggs]

I had an Eheim 1262, it would be the best option for your tank, even with that much head, I had a Yahoo & marlin on the same tank.

Yep, I think I want to try the 1262. If it will do the trick, I will really be happy with the energy savings.

 

[sandswhitson]

A friend of mine built a little water tight container with an open top that he installed the float in and then the box hangs bown in the tank at the level you want it to shut the pump off, that way the pump doesn't keep cycling on and off. You have to manually dump the water out of the box and then find out why it is overflowing. It works GREAT. I think it is an excellent idea to have this as a failsafe even if your pump is WAY underpowered your drains can still get plugged and you will have an overflow, I will definently be adding one to our new system when we get it set up.