my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning
off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly
reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

Paul Oman wrote:
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning
off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly
reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

Fwiw ... the switch on my pump is contained in a plastic ball (I'll
call it) that's attached to the pump by its electrical wiring. The
length of that wire can be used to provide what I learned in electrical
engineering as hysterisis. Or, the switch goes on when the ball thingy
(another technical term) is say a foot above the pump, and goes off
when the ball is horizontal when tha foot of water has been pumped out.


So you might look into that type of switch. Now, a buddy years ago
built from scratch a switch that triggered a "one-shot" to turn the
pump on via a relay at the water high level, and another switch that
via the "one-shot" turned the pump off at the water low level. The
range of the water depth for that type of solution is unlimited ... but
not certified :-)

So what happens if the pump is turned off? By that I mean there is a
level that water rises to in my sump well, and then stays there ...
until a heavy downpour, spring thaw. Or, I don't keep the well dry, I
just keep it from overflowing onto the floor.

I've driven through the country, and I've seen areas that flood every
spring, and I've seen houses being built there ... and I've seen the
gas powred pumps runnning out in the yard the next spring ... big
mistake imo ... unless the whole area is properly drained.

Ever considered a basement fish pond?

"Paul Oman" wrote in message
k.net...
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning off
for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly reduced.
Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

Rather than a delay, you need to adjust the switch high and low levels.
Often this is done by sliding a stop on the guide the float is on. Not
knowing what you have, I can't say exactly what you need not seeing your
switch/pump, but you are right that 90 seconds is too many cycles.

I would look into directing whatever water possible away from the home
by regrading new downspout drain lines well away from home, and if at
all possible run a underground drain line from the sump to a spot well
away from home thats at a lower grade. a outside french drain is
another option if say you live at the base of a hill.

the first step to water control is minimizing the problem.

if the pump fails how much damage can occur?

Paul Oman wrote:
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning
off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly
reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

I don't follow what the delay switch would accomplish. If water is
coming in that fast, delaying the 'on' would cause the sump to
overflow.

If it can go the 10-15 sec without overflowing you can replace a
subersible pump with a pedestal and perhaps gain a bit on the duty
cycle. Depends on the depth of the sump.

Or, as it is in an 'earthen pit' you could deepen the sump and change
to a pedestal type pump (if you have a submerible now). Maybe even put
an extension on the pedestal and go really deep with the sump.

Harry K

Paul Oman wrote:
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing
the electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90
seconds. I am looking for a delay off switch that would delay the
pump from turning off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling
would be greatly reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch /
electrical plug. Any ideas?
paul

The come in many flavors. Some have "stops" that can be moved. My
current one has a screw adjustment as it uses a pressure switch rather than
a float switch.

I wonder if you might profit from finding out why you have so much water
needing to be pumped. Maybe you need the grade around your home adjusted.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Sounds like your pit is not big enough or you need a check valve on your
discharge line.

steve


"Paul Oman" wrote in message
k.net...
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning off
for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly reduced.
Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

He didn't say delay the "on".

read first

steve


"Harry K" wrote in message
oups.com...

Paul Oman wrote:
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning
off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly
reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

I don't follow what the delay switch would accomplish. If water is
coming in that fast, delaying the 'on' would cause the sump to
overflow.

If it can go the 10-15 sec without overflowing you can replace a
subersible pump with a pedestal and perhaps gain a bit on the duty
cycle. Depends on the depth of the sump.

Or, as it is in an 'earthen pit' you could deepen the sump and change
to a pedestal type pump (if you have a submerible now). Maybe even put
an extension on the pedestal and go really deep with the sump.

Harry K

"Steve Barker" wrote in message
...
He didn't say delay the "on".


That would be dumb if the sump is empty. Running the pump longer with
nothing to pump is not so good either.

Steve Barker wrote:
Sounds like your pit is not big enough or you need a check valve on
your discharge line.

steve

Good point.



"Paul Oman" wrote in message
k.net...
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing
the electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90
seconds. I am looking for a delay off switch that would delay the
pump from turning off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off
cycling would be greatly reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch
/ electrical plug. Any ideas? paul

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Believe me, I've "been there done that" twice on the sump pump issues. For
the last 23 years. I have a spring under my basement. Both my sumps run at
least every 15 minutes even during a drought.

--
Steve Barker


"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
. ..
Steve Barker wrote:
Sounds like your pit is not big enough or you need a check valve on
your discharge line.

steve

Good point.



"Paul Oman" wrote in message
k.net...
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing
the electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90
seconds. I am looking for a delay off switch that would delay the
pump from turning off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off
cycling would be greatly reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch
/ electrical plug. Any ideas? paul

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Paul Oman wrote:
my sump pump is in an earthen pit and ground water seeps in causing the
electronic float switch to cycle on and off about every 90 seconds. I am
looking for a delay off switch that would delay the pump from turning
off for 10 or 15 seconds so that the of-off cycling would be greatly
reduced. Cannot find such a 'delay' switch / electrical plug. Any ideas?

paul

put the sensor in small cup that has a small hole in the bottom, such
that the cup can fill quickly with water over the top of the cup when
water is filling the sump. then when the pump starts the pump will
drain the wate out of the sump and the cup will SLOWLY drain through
the small hole in the bottom of the cup, the pump will continue to run
until the cup is empty...

you can control the dely with the size of the hole in the bottom of the
cup...

Mark