here is an A.T.O. for ya

[customcolor]

here is the float idea on a 1/2" pvc bent, i put an ajustable stop(by my thumb) on it so i can chang the water level at will<BR>

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swith (open)<BR>

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switch (closed)<BR>

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in this pic you will see the off delay timmer, 2 outlets, 2 light switchs. one switch for each outlet. top outlet is the ato and the bottom one will be for my water change water. water change will also run off this float setup, so all i do is drain water to where i need to and flip a switch and let it go and the float switch will turn off the pump. now about the off delay timmer. my idea is to have the pump NOT cycle so much. when the float lets go of the switch the pump will stay on for an extra 20 sec or so. i can let it go up to 300 sec or down to 3 sec. adding the extra ro water will lift the float alittle higher so it wont hit the switch so often.
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here it is<BR>

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close up of the timmer<BR>

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here is the box it came in.<BR>

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now a short movie showing u in action. i turned up the volume alittle so you can here the water running and stopping. if u can see it you will see a red led turn on and off with the pump.
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[Keelay]

Hey. Looks a lot like my design for the float arm

 

[customcolor]

that is where i got the idea for the float. but i did add the delay timmer though. so i guess its a 50/50 on this one

 

[Keelay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10817379#post10817379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor
that is where i got the idea for the float. but i did add the delay timmer though. so i guess its a 50/50 on this one

Sorry, got to make my posts longer. I don't mean to try to take credit. I just recognized the float arm.

Props to you. This is a innovative setup. I really like the idea of using the same switch for water changes. I currently don't do this. I've actually overflowed the sump doing a water change once since I didn't do something like this. Luckily I had built an 18 gallon fiberglass trough under the sump so it didn't go on the floor, but I did waste some freshly made salt water and had to pump my trough.

I like the idea using the delay timer. I thought about doing something similar with one of these.

My float arm and switch have been in place for about 8 months now and have performed flawlessly. I love being able to adjust the sump level. You don't have to be a perfect craftsman or the perfect planner when you install the thing. You end up with about 5 inches of adjustability in the sump level.

 

[customcolor]

i wasnt thinking you where trying to take all the credit and i was glad you poped in so i can say thank you for the start of an idea.
i think that timmer should do the job. me having a 100 gal sump i can hold alot of water in 5 inchs and i like that.

 

[Keelay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10818052#post10818052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor
i wasnt thinking you where trying to take all the credit and i was glad you poped in so i can say thank you for the start of an idea.
i think that timmer should do the job. me having a 100 gal sump i can hold alot of water in 5 inchs and i like that.

Yeah, It's a good thread and a good issue. You know I don't think that many people see the issue of fast on off switching to be a big issue. A Significant portion of the designs I see come through RC ignore the issue altogether. I used to be one of them. I floated a design and thankfully someone helped the light go on inside my head.

Your design handles it nicely. Kick off a timer at the first impulse and fill for a "while" - then you'll avoid the whole switching issue where the water level holds the switch at that "fuzzy" contact state. I like not having to rely on another switch (high level) and a relay. Granted the timer circuit isn't simple, but it isn't a DIY job either.

By the way I solved the pump cycling issue a different way. My setup has the snap action switches as your's does, and I get about 3/8" between pump on to pump off. That translates to about a pint. I lose 2 gallons a day which would translate to 16 pints or 16 pump on off cycles a day.

Since I added my Kalk dosing setup I feed a fixed 1.75 gallons a day. My ATO handles the rest so the float switch actually only turns on the pump around 2 times a day.

 

[customcolor]

how large is your container for your kalk top off? i was going to do something in that line. i wonder how large you can go befor the kalk goes bad befor its used.

 

[Keelay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10822098#post10822098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor
how large is your container for your kalk top off? i was going to do something in that line. i wonder how large you can go before the kalk goes bad befor its used.

Dunno, My container is 1.3 gallons. I can put enough to last a month. As far as I know Carbon dioxide with what causes the kalkwasser to precipitate to Calcium carbonate. If the reactor is sealed you'll only get what CO2 is already dissolved in the water. I don't know how much that typically is, but it will make your kalk powder inert for dosing purposes.

 

[customcolor]

bringing this back from the dead...

reason..because ill be using this set up on my 75...with minor mods to it to fit new set up....more or less it will be the same....yeah this thread is 5 years old and this set up failed once because of a corroded connection that was not covered. AKA my sump didn't get filled for a week till I noticed it. Other than that never any problems...well unless I ran out of water

 

[customcolor]

opps that vid was so old in my photobucket...i forgot i deleted that group...well lucky for you all....i put it up on youtube too

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