Scared of tank overflowing? Overflow alarm!

[necrio]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgUPBApY7s

So, DIY Joey does it again. He made a very interesting 5$ safety net.

I heard so many stories of people's sumps screwing up and overflowing the sump. Or any other possibility.

Check it out, tell me what you think. :bounce3:

 

[mrx66699]

If your sump is correctly made or the correct one purchased it will matter not what happens with the power as the proper room in the sump for the amount of water to exit the DT and pipes will have already been planned for and it will not over flow. Water levels will just sit in the sump properly as should have been planned for until power is restored and then will return to proper running levels. When building a sump or purchasing one for your system proper planning is the key to never having an issue or even having to worry about as that will be your safety net.

 

[Jerzey]

If your sump is correctly made or the correct one purchased it will matter not what happens with the power as the proper room in the sump for the amount of water to exit the DT and pipes will have already been planned for and it will not over flow. Water levels will just sit in the sump properly as should have been planned for until power is restored and then will return to proper running levels. When building a sump or purchasing one for your system proper planning is the key to never having an issue or even having to worry about as that will be your safety net.

+1 exactly...I don't see the point of having to worry about over flowing your dt or sump just to add a few extra gallons to youe water volume

 

[mrx66699]

Lol exactly that would just be asking for trouble.....just plan properly and you will have plenty of volume and no worries

 

[rps3]

I'm going to do it! Time to upgrade some smoke detectors. LOL

If two wires can close a circuit that's touching salt water and this is connected to the Apex breakout box then hum... I've got an idea! We might not need those expensive Apex leak detectors. LOL

 

[mrx66699]

You go boy....your on it like shaggy and scooby ....lol

 

[ravedood]

If your ATO reservoir is fed directly by your RODI system, it could overflow if something sticks somewhere. I think this DIY alarm setup good for temp water changes. I would think that salt creep would cover the wires if used as a permanent solution.

 

[AquamanE]

I'm going to do it! Time to upgrade some smoke detectors. LOL

If two wires can close a circuit that's touching salt water and this is connected to the Apex breakout box then hum... I've got an idea! We might not need those expensive Apex leak detectors. LOL

I agree with Matt and others that it is not necessary for sumps and DT's but it can certainly be well used as a floos detector, or leak detector.

BUT- RPS he uses it using DC power, how can this be hooked up to an Apex Break out box?

 

[rps3]

I agree with Matt and others that it is not necessary for sumps and DT's but it can certainly be well used as a floos detector, or leak detector.

BUT- RPS he uses it using DC power, how can this be hooked up to an Apex Break out box?

I have to look into that. There's a way to do it, I wanted to do this with the Apex so it can shut down certain things if the tanks are overflowing for any reason. It will work more like a water sensor. Logic is there but the thought isn't. I want this to be like your AWC system, in which it will be dirt cheap to build and simple to do. I will free everyone from Apex modules and such, FREE!!!

 

[Chrisq0904]

I was looking at this at work today and thought there's no need for this I'm good to go. NOPE I home home to a flooded floor. One of my drains clogged up and my ATO pumped in all the water that was in the bucket. FML

 

[Jerzey]

I was looking at this at work today and thought there's no need for this I'm good to go. NOPE I home home to a flooded floor. One of my drains clogged up and my ATO pumped in all the water that was in the bucket. FML

sorry to hear....this is exactly the reason my DIY ATO has a double level sensor in case the main fails

 

[mrx66699]

I was looking at this at work today and thought there's no need for this I'm good to go. NOPE I home home to a flooded floor. One of my drains clogged up and my ATO pumped in all the water that was in the bucket. FML

I agree leak detectors have there place, but in your case again this comes back to proper planning.....your ato top off reservoir that is directly filling your system should never have more in it than could fit into your sump should (like in your case a float valve fail) but then again thats why we have back up float valves also as a first line of attack then it falls back as a last resort before the fail safe of proper planing on the volume of water that could be input all at once

I have a 100gal ato reservoir and my sump has room for it should one of the back ups fail and then that would take over a day running straight without me noticing a difference in the running water level and then for the power to go out after that day then and only then would any problem arise ....when Im gone on vacation I run top off from a smaller container and then again someone is checking things on a daily basis....

and if you have a controller you could set up that top off to shut off that outlet for that pump after certain amounts of time being on for the pump so this would have to fail also for anything to happen

 

[mrx66699]

If your ATO reservoir is fed directly by your RODI system

this would be a large no no in the first place as your going to decrease the efficiency of your RO membrane and DI along with introducing TDS creep into your system without even knowing it

 

[Chrisq0904]

It wasn't it float issue. One of my drains from tank to sump got blocked. So the ATO sensed low water and kept filling. My sump didn't overflow it was my DT.

 

[gpdno]

It wasn't it float issue. One of my drains from tank to sump got blocked. So the ATO sensed low water and kept filling. My sump didn't overflow it was my DT.

Yes, having an overflow clog/plug could potentially flood my tank. I have a float switch at the very top of the DT. If the Apex ever senses that switch change states the return pump shuts down and an alarm/email/text is triggered.

 

[DRThompson]

Yes, having an overflow clog/plug could potentially flood my tank. I have a float switch at the very top of the DT. If the Apex ever senses that switch change states the return pump shuts down and an alarm/email/text is triggered.

Have the same thing on mine. Worth the piece of mind!

 

[mrx66699]

ok just read your statement ........the sump was continuously drained by the return pump and if so then for a long time your return pump would have been running dry and pumping nothing but air for quite a while into the DT before your DT eventually overflowed .....and again a leak detection device would not have prevented this ....the flooding could be lessened with a leak detection sensor as it would have shut things down and lessened the mess but again would not have prevented it...yup a float sensor in the the DT would be the only way to prevent this

 

[Chrisq0904]

Yes, having an overflow clog/plug could potentially flood my tank. I have a float switch at the very top of the DT. If the Apex ever senses that switch change states the return pump shuts down and an alarm/email/text is triggered.

Yet another reason I need to get an apex!!!

 

[nivram]

No matter how much you plan, things can still happen. Seams fail, clogs, etc. your external pump seal can go bad and drain your your tank down some.

There is nothing wrong with being prepared. Leak detectors are nothing new. After my tank overflowed for the second time, I started look at them. Search in the apex forum and diy and you'll find the sensors people have used with their apex before the apex module came about.

 

[PrimoReefer]

Simple and effective