Ok I want a water on the floor alarm... any ideas?????

[ostrow]

I don't have a controller like an ACIII and don't plan to spend the several hundred to get one. At least, not any time soon.

But I would like to get something to squeal if water hits the floor. My frag tank seems to have perpetual problems.

Actually, I'd like to have the device shut off my Hammerhead pump, that's what I'd really like.

Any ideas????

I'm all ears!

 

[icenine2005]

Leak Frog

 

[Ladipyg]

My husbands' an electrician, he said that you can rig up an alarm with a moisture switch and use it to turn off the pump...the moisture switches are used on skylights to trigger them closed when it rains...probably wouldn't be to hard to hook them up to a switch to turn off the pump when the water is detected...just a thought...
I'd leave the Leak frog there to give you an audible signal.

 

[ostrow]

Is your husband willing to rig something up for me. I assure you of one thing: I am not competent to rig up anything that I'd feel safe plugging my Sequence Hammerhead into....

I'd supply/reimburse for all parts....

 

[saleenpwr88]

Go to any hardware store that sells Watchdog sump pumps, they have a water alarm. Just plug it in and set it on the groud.

 

[PSam]

What's the point if you're not home to hear it? That's where the AC3 comes in to play... email or text to your cell and shut down anything that may be culprit. I'd want to be home asap if pump shut down b/c water on the floor.

 

[ostrow]

But AC3 costs several hundred. There are float switches out there that shut off pumps on overfill. Same principle should be able to shut off recirc pump on signal of flood. That's what I want without the overkill of a controller that I don't need.

 

[PSam]

Got it. I just like that a controller can take it that extra step and let you know that your pump is off, instead of just coming home hours later to a nasty surprise. I'm a proponent of controllers though - I don't find any overkill in an AC3 or similar product. JMO. Pricey though, that is for sure.

 

[johns]

Wachdog water alarm at home depot. They run on a 9 volt battery and cost about $10. You can buy a couple and set them down wherever you see fit. The sensor also snaps off the bottom so you can use it for other things - I rig mine up on buckets or tubs when I am filling with RO to make sure I dont overfill.

 

[Ladipyg]

Joel...will it shut off ALL circulation in the tank...of just a portion of it? If it would shut off all the circulation, I would have to say risk a wet floor instead. I think tanks that lose heat and/ or circulation are at the biggest risk for RTN...

 

[ostrow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11069225#post11069225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ladipyg
Joel...will it shut off ALL circulation in the tank...of just a portion of it? If it would shut off all the circulation, I would have to say risk a wet floor instead. I think tanks that lose heat and/ or circulation are at the biggest risk for RTN...

The point is that if the pumps stays on, ALL 300 gallons, or a substantial majority anyway, end up on the floor. Shutting it off means only a few gallons end up on the floor by the time the sensor kicks in.

I'd say no water will kill corals faster than only internal circulation. It 2would shut off the main pump, not the wavebox, MJ streams, etc inside the tank.

Even so, it will prevent pump burnout on running with no water, 250+ gallons of water on the floor ruining everythign in the basement, headaches of cleaning up.

If some corals or fish die, they were going to die anyway in the scenario I am protecting against.

 

[Ladipyg]

OK...ya got me there...no water is worst...if you can shoot some pics of the area you need the work done, the specs on the hammer, wattage, voltage, etc. and I'll see what he can come up with....

 

[ostrow]

Will try to do pics. The 2 places I want sensors are directly above/below each other, 12' distance vertical.

The Hammerhead plugs in downstairs and I'd like the box controlling the sensors down there, about 6' from the downstairs sensor straight along the wall. Hope that makes sense.

Hammerhead:

This unit is rated for a maximum flow rate of 5800gph, a shut off head of 23 feet and maximum wattage of 350/ 3 amps. Using a 1/3 horsepower Baldor® TEFC Motor manufactured in the USA.

 

[hoosierpat]

It seems like some thought ought to be put into replumbing the system to prevent the possibility of this even happening. There is something drastically wrong with the schematics of a given system if a tank has the possibility of completely draining. Since I don't know your setup it is hard to help. I do know that Champion Supply sells audible alerts. I don't know if they have modules for plugging thing in though, much less something with the power draw that a 1/3 horse motor has.

 

[ostrow]

I guess you are right hoosierpat. But easily 50-60 gallons, when you figure half the sump and the levels the other tanks would drop to before the overflows lost water. I don't see how plumbing is the problem here and would be interested to know of any system where this would not be the case if, as happened to me once, a fish found its way into and wedged itself inside of tubing, or some other issue happened with a break or whatever, that can put water on the floor. I want things to shut down when water hits the floor, as that is the sure fire way to prevent more water from hitting the floor.

I guess an alarm is step one. But it really does nothing when I'm away. You'd think these things would exist in our hobby. How hard can it be to wire it???

 

[ostrow]

I found this:
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/waterwatcher.html

I wonder if it would work with my pump?????

 

[canar]

Can I tag along here please?

I have been looking for the same thing. I was looking for 3 things though.

Audible alarm that rings in the bedroom with multiple sensors.
Email alarm that can text page my phone.
Alarm has the ability to shut off the returns.

I actually sent an email to neptune to see if they have a sensor that works with their controller. That would be ideal.

Ted

 

[ostrow]

Ted you should be able to use any floor water sensor tied into an X10 to do what you want I would think. I don't have a system controller though like a Neptune.

I contacted Paul at autotopoff to see if he can figure something out. The thing I linked to may not be able to handle the juice of the Hammerhead.

 

[ostrow]

Hey, wait, Hammerhead is 1/3hp and 3amps.

Here are the specs I just now got on the WaterWatcher:
Power: 120 VAC, 60Hz
Output Rating: 120 VAC, 15 Amp Resistive, 1/2 HP motor load
Alarm Rating: 80 db
Cable Length: 12 feet
Function: Output is de-energized in alarm condition

I think this would work!

 

[skunkmere]

im gonna build something similar but for my dad. he want a sensor on the floor by the washing tub and machine to shut off the machine if it over spills