On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 16:02:26 -0800, DaveC wrote:

Switch closure needs to be monitored. On one side of the switch is mains
voltage (120vac); on the other, the load.

Simple enough to monitor the switch's status: when mains voltage appears on
the load side, it's closed.

But how to monitor this switch during a power failure? I'd like to be able to
report to an alarm sensor's input (simple current loop) when this switch
closes, whether mains power is applied to the switch, or power has failed.

When power fails, I could put a simple battery and coil of a l.v. relay
across the switch. But when mains voltage reappears, removing the battery
circuit in time becomes a bit risky.

How best to accomplish this task? Ideas?

Do you have access to the switch leads, just raw, at the top of the well?

Then get a little battery-back-up supply - Maybe a hobby-sized lead-acid
on a float charge - and use the switch to control the coil of a 12V relay.
Use the relay contacts to control whatever you want, (like control the
pump, or not[0]) and it exactly follows the state of the switch, mains
power or no.

Good Luck!
Rich

[0] I can't help but wondering - What's the purpose of this thing? Some
kind of fail-safe?
Thanks. :-)