Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

Thanks

TMT

On Nov 24, 11:42�pm, Too_Many_Tools wrote:
Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

Thanks

TMT

install regular pump and switch, backup battery powered pump with
seperate drain line in case primary one gets plugged somehow.

then install some moisture switches to let you know theres a problem.

but at minumum the sump should have at least a overflow line to
daylight,

ideally no pump just a nice drain to daylight far away from
home.......gravity is far more reliable than any pump

On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:42:31 -0800 (PST), Too_Many_Tools
wrote:

Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

Thanks

TMT

Search for duplex pump alternator or duplex pump controller. There
are several out there with different sets of features.

Here's one example:

http://www.deanbennett.com/zoeller-s...alternator.htm

Alternates between two pumps, alarms if either of the pumps fail, and
alarms on high water. This particular model uses automatic pumps with
built in switches, but I've seen other models that use three separate
switches, turn on, turn off and high alarm.

HTH,

Paul F.

On Nov 25, 8:17*pm, Paul Franklin
wrote:
On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:42:31 -0800 (PST), Too_Many_Tools

wrote:
Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

Thanks

TMT

Search for duplex pump alternator or duplex pump controller. *There
are several out there with different sets of features.

Here's one example:

http://www.deanbennett.com/zoeller-s...alternator.htm

Alternates between two pumps, alarms if either of the pumps fail, and
alarms on high water. This particular model uses automatic pumps with
built in switches, but I've seen other models that use three separate
switches, turn on, turn off and high alarm.

HTH,

Paul F.

i like the vertical type float switch as shown here in Fig 2

http://www.sump-pump-info.com/float-switches.html

Mark

On Nov 24, 11:42�pm, Too_Many_Tools wrote:
Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

Thanks

TMT

This probably won't help, but years ago I made a alarm out of a
battery operated smoke detector. I needed to know if the electric went
off during the night when I was sleeping. I didn't have a generator
that would automaticlly kick on, nor a battery backup for the sump
pump.

Anyway, I bought a 120v relay from Radio shack and hooked it up to the
smoke detector. It would allow the smoke detector to operate normally
when the electrci was on, but if the electric went off it would
activate the alarm. Really simple and inexpensive to do.

I am sure something like this could be reversed and wired into the
pump to show a light when pump starts running.

Hank

Hustlin' Hank wrote:
On Nov 24, 11:42�pm, Too_Many_Tools wrote:
Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

Thanks

TMT

This probably won't help, but years ago I made a alarm out of a
battery operated smoke detector. I needed to know if the electric went
off during the night when I was sleeping. I didn't have a generator
that would automaticlly kick on, nor a battery backup for the sump
pump.

Anyway, I bought a 120v relay from Radio shack and hooked it up to the
smoke detector. It would allow the smoke detector to operate normally
when the electrci was on, but if the electric went off it would
activate the alarm. Really simple and inexpensive to do.

I am sure something like this could be reversed and wired into the
pump to show a light when pump starts running.

Hank

The old float switches on the stand type sump pumps meets most of the
requirements.

--
Steve W.

On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:42:31 -0800 (PST), Too_Many_Tools
wrote:

Going to help some friends in Arkansa this weekend install some sump
pumps.

I am looking for ideas for an adjustable sump pump switch setup that
one can adjust for different water levels, handle two different pumps
AC/DC, nonfouling with regards to algae/mold and be used to activate
an alarm to notify the owners that the pump(s) are running.

Let the designing begin!

It's already designed, and available pre-built or custom-built from
dozens of places - it's called a Duplex Pump Control Panel, or you can
get one for three pumps called... You guessed it, Triplex.

The good ones have an alternator, so Pump One is lead the first time
it starts, and Pump Two is lead the next time - spreads the wear
around, so the lag pump won't be frozen up from disuse and rust right
when the lead pump wears out from constant running...

They have seperate starters or contactors for the pumps, and all the
relays and switches and pilot lights you need, and the alarm sounder
and light for the high water alarm. If your pumps are the larger 5-HP
and up, they usually have Overheat sensors or Water Seal Failure
sensor switches, they put those alarm circuits in the pump panel.
Hourmeters to monitor each pump's life, etc.

4 float switches on a Duplex - All Off, Lead On, Lag On, and High
Water Alarm. When you have a big pump pit they use the standard
10-amp pear-shaped floats on cords, and strap them to a float stick
where they won't get tangled.

For a tiny pit like in a basement, you might want to use the
individual miniature hinged float switches like you put through the
side of a tank, and make brackets to hold them to the float stick.

Or if you expect lots of debris, you mount the miniature style
switches into the side of a large chunk of pipe (roughly 2" ID) so the
float ends are totally shielded, and screen the top and bottom and a
few other water inlet holes and vents - keep the large chunks outside
of the pipe.

They aren't cheap, but reliable usually isn't.

-- Bruce --