Diy ato

[Brycen97]

Hi guys,

I have a old water pump u used to use with my 90 ga(its really some power head with tube on it) and i would put it in my bucket and turn it on and pump water into my sump. now that my tank dosent have a sump its hard to get water into it and since im not always home and want to keep matinace easy for my dad. (heres my build http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2247037). what i want to do is use this as a ATO with 2 float switches. one in my bucket (upside down so when the water gets low it wont run the pump, and one for the tank. i also want to make a mount. but i also want to use this as a regular pump for when i do a water change. it it possable i can hook up two floats and a main switch to override the floats? so i can switch betwen a ATO and a pump? if this makes any sense? thanks for any help!

 

[Cymonous]

I believe the multiple floats is possible. You would need multiple relays to make it work. While water is at least at a certain level in the bucket, relay1 is always closed. When water drops in your tank, the other relay2 closes and creates the circuit to run the pump till water is at certain level, then relay 2 opens again.

 

[Brycen97]

What about a "overide" switch

 

[MattFrancis]

Two float switches is very simple. All you need is a 12V power supply (like a cell phone charger), two switches, the SSR linked below, and an extension cord.

You splice the extension cords positive wire and place it on one side of the SSR. Then you splice the 12V battery wire and connect the float switches daisy chained together.

An easy way to switch the function of a float switch is to flip the float. I'll whip up a diagram because I'm horrible at describing things.

-Matt

http://www.am*zon.com/gp/product/B0098WDTLI/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Brycen97]

Thank you

 

[MattFrancis]

Here is a diagram:

A SSR works by using a electromagnet from a low voltage system to turn on or off a higher voltage system. In this case a 12V system controls a 120V system. This is so you don't have 120V running through tiny $0.99 float switch and essentially through your tank.

As I said before, if you rotate the float on a float switch, it changes the float switches on/off cycle. You always want your bucket switch to be open when the float is up, that way when the bucket runs out of water, the float turns the switch off and you don't burn your pump out.

Hope this helped! If you have any questions feel free to PM me. I have this set up on multiple tanks.

-Matt

 

[cy93]

Hi Matt the voltage where I live is 220. Would I be able to use the same SSR? Also would anything else change on the diagram above>>

 

[Lazhar]

I also use two float switchs on the sump one higher that the other as a safety precation. You don't want the switch to stick closed and dump all the RO water on your tank. I had brittle stars get on the lower switch before.

 

[MattFrancis]

Hi Matt the voltage where I live is 220. Would I be able to use the same SSR? Also would anything else change on the diagram above>>

Yes, it will be perfectly fine. The relays can hold up to 480V total.

I also use two float switchs on the sump one higher that the other as a safety precation. You don't want the switch to stick closed and dump all the RO water on your tank. I had brittle stars get on the lower switch before.

You can add unlimited amount of float switches to the set up in my diagram. I have three float switches on one of my set ups. Two in the sump, positioned like yours, and one in my ato bucket so the pump doesn't burn out. I don't really keep anything in the sump that can attach to the float switch, it was just because I was using cheapo ebay switches and wanted some insurance.

-Matt

 

[slavver01]

Does the SSR need a heat sink? Your link doesn't go anywhere even without that asterisk. Just curious if its those 8.99 SSR that pop up first on amazon. Thanks!

 

[Lazhar]

I don't really keep anything in the sump that can attach to the float switch, it was just because I was using cheapo ebay switches and wanted some insurance.

-Matt

I agree Matt, and very good diagram. But I never added the brittle stars to the tank. They came with a rock or a coral and by the time I took my tank down. They were thousands everywhere, they would even be inside the PH prove. These criters find there way to every little corner of a system.

 

[MattFrancis]

Does the SSR need a heat sink? Your link doesn't go anywhere even without that asterisk. Just curious if its those 8.99 SSR that pop up first on amazon. Thanks!

Oh sorry, they do not need a heat sink since they don't get hot. Search "Amico Termprature Control Solid State Relay SSR 10A 3-32V DC 24-480V AC MGR-1 D4810" in amazon.

I agree Matt, and very good diagram. But I never added the brittle stars to the tank. They came with a rock or a coral and by the time I took my tank down. They were thousands everywhere, they would even be inside the PH prove. These criters find there way to every little corner of a system.

Ah yes, the good ole baby brittle stars that poke their arms out at night. Haha I also had these, I loved them. Everytime I changed the sock there where hundreds in it. Thanks how my nano has them :thumbsup:

-Matt

 

[Kawi9_cf]

You can use 2 12 volt switches which would allow you to turn off the ato and to manually turn the pump on for water changes. Tou can also uses as many float switches as you want with one relay just wire them in a series.

Wire the first switch in series with the float switches so turning it off will kill the ato.

Wire the second switch in parrallel bypassing the float switches and the first switch so when it is on the pump will run until you turn the switch off.

I can draw a diagram up if you would like.

Here is a link to some ssr on ebay.

here is one from china:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SSR-25-DA-S...688?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1e5ca8f0

Here is one from US:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solid-State...313?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4170104781