How do you stop a flood?

[WarDaddy]

I am going to cross post this...

most of you rear about my RBTA adventures...

So is there a gizmo outthere that I can attach to the inside of my cabniet that will cut off the pumps if it gets wet?

If there a componet I can plug into a Netptune systems that will detect and then cut off the pumps...I am willing to pay bucks to get something, If I have to get a $600 controller, so be it...

I need something.

 

[sps_addict]

I have this planned for my new tank in october, but you can do it with a float switch.

 

[WarDaddy]

Float switches work...

You can place on in the sump,level drops and the pump cuts off.
You can place on in the stand, level rises, pumps shut off.

Problems:
In the sump, my Autotop off is 10 gallons... that means 10+ gallons will be pumped out before the level of the sump drops.

In the stand, like in my recent flood, if the water never goes into the stand then it will never stop.

I am looking for an electronic solution... if a detector gets wet it turns off a plug. I could place several detctors though the system, if any get wet, the pumps are shut down (and an alarm sounds, ideally)

 

[WarDaddy]

I guess I can do float switches in all the tanks, if the level rises, before flod stage, the pump is shut down... That would do the trick too...

Hummm... off to floatswitches.net.

I made a purchase for enought switches and stuff to make 3 systems... This should do the trick, I hope...

 

[jdieck]

Use this sensor to detect water either on the floor or on top of the aquarium.
http://www.smarthome.com/7160.HTML
Once water is detected it will activate a contact that can either:

a) Connected to a relay will shut off your pumps directly
b) can also be connected to the level switch feature of the controller and also turn off the pumps via the controller and have an alarm e-mailed, sounded and/or paged to you.
here is the circuit to which you can connect the bug to activate as described above.
All components other than the bug can be purchased from RadioShack.

This is how it works:
When the sensor (Can be up to four so you can have them on the floor, on top of the aquarium and /or inside the stan) detects water it activates the bug's NO terminal which in turn activates the realy R, the buzzer (Unless switched to silent) and a red alarm light.
The realy R activates the R NO contactor which will keep the relay active even if the water is no longer detected until the push button is manually activated after inspection of what triggered it.
The relay also activates the R NC contactor (Bottom) which in turn turns the pump off. The manual switch (Doted) on top of R NC is to have an option to not have the pump turn off but just the alarm triggered.
By using a second R2 relay with a R2 NO contactor (or using the second NO contactor in relay R) connected to the terminal serial port of the aquacontroller 2, the aquacontroller alarm can be trigered and if set you can have the system e-mail or page you wherever you are.

 

[jjirsa78]

Another alternative:

http://www.electrodepot.com/x10/itm00243.htm

The relay is normally energized when the power supply is switched on and no water is present. When water rises up the side of the box to reach the switching level, the relay drops out. This sequence is failsafe, allowing each model to be used as a water spillage alarm switch or to turn off a valve or stop an air conditioning unit before the water overflows its containment.

 

[sps_addict]

I had the same plan.

1 for the sump and 1 for the display.

This was what I was thinking and will start building when I have time.

Things to get
2 Float switchs
2 Relay
2 leds
1 buzzer
Outlet (for pump) with 2 lead inputs for float switch

I would label one led for tank and one for sump. If the tank water reaches a certain height, the return pump will be shut off and the led light will light up for the tank and the buzzer (maybe create a timer so if the switch is active for more than 5 seconds) will go off. If the water in the sump raises and activates the float switch lights the led and sounds the buzzer, then open the electronic switch valve to drain the sump into the septic tank or lawn depending on how I decide plumb it.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: The above looks promising. might have to modify my plans.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7376408#post7376408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarDaddy
I guess I can do float switches in all the tanks, if the level rises, before flod stage, the pump is shut down... That would do the trick too...

Hummm... off to floatswitches.net.

Just insure that the design takes into consideration that the water level may rise at the float location when the pump is turned off. (Partial blockage) in this case the float may keep the pump turning on and off repeatedly with potential damage to the pump. You need a way to have something triggered that will keep it triggered until you check.
In this case you can use the float instead of the water bug but you still need some relays to handle the higher power of the pump as well as providing a triger memory.

 

[WarDaddy]

Thans for the great ideas... SPS addict and my buddy sold me on float switches... I had not thought about using the switch to detect the risig level in the aquarium, I was thinking the falling levels in the sump.

By placing the switch in the aquariums I should be able to prevent most spils. I hope.

Thanks!!!!