How to "buffer" float switch?

[ervine]

Hi guys,

I have a DIY auto-top up and I've recently upgraded the tank... anyway here's my problem, after upgrading, the water in the sump is a lot more "turbulent" thus my float switch turns on and off due to the wave action in the sump...

Anybody has any ideas how to get rid of this wave action? (very minimal but still present...)

Thanks!

Ervine

[weileong]

I also got this same "problem" when I installed my TUBBY. I later relocate the float switch to another location where there is less surface turbulant.

[ervine]

Hm.... not many areas for me to relocate... already at the furthest liaos...

[weileong]

how abt a small container for the float switch. Then wrap the outside with some foam. That will help to reduce the turbulance.

What what is the source of the turbulance? You might like to take are of that?

For my side the source is the output from the skimmer where it had to drop abt 2-3" so I let it drop onto a container with foam and it really helps a lot. Now my TUBBY just ON once and stays off for many hrs. Before that it was like yours ON OFF ON OFF many many times.

[ervine]

hmm.. i'll try to partition it see how....

[Nickel]

Hi ervine/weileong :

One questions since both using top-up devices.

Can I know the height of water change before the level switch turns on/off ?

In other words, how far does the water need to drop before the switch activate the pump and once pump on, how far up the water level will be before the pump cuts off ?

[joachimsim]

Hi , Nickel,,

Depends on how you adjust the float switches according to height of water u want..in you case I guess it will be put in the sump.

To to ERVINE's prob, don't quote me but I think you can try using HOrizontal L shaped switches...which is for turbalent fluids..

[weileong]

the level difference as I noticed is very little perhaps less than 5mm. Difficult to measure so cannot tell you.

The horizontal floats requires you to drill for installation. Not sure if you can make a bracket for it.

[Nickel]

Thanks weileong,

If only 5mm difference betwen on/off of pump, then your pump will be sweating like crazy due to turbulence.

Is there any level switch that can allow for wider water level changes before activate pump ?

[weileong]

No issue because the TUBBY has two float switch.

Just position them nicely then no crazy ON/OFF operation.

Now I estimate my tubby runs like 3-4 times day at the most. Not too sure cos I can't be sitting there 24hrs a day.

[ervine]

Strange.. I just realised that it isn't wave action that is causing my float switch to go mad...

For some reason there's a "pulsing" of water in my last chamber... i.e. the water rises, then drops, then rises then drops... not VERY quickly like a wave.. but certainly a lot faster than evaporation..

Any ideas? Could it be my return pipe not being able to handle the flow? It's a 25mm pipe doing 2800l/h....

[mv3i]

y dun u show us a pic of your sump n float placement

[ervine]

y dun u show us a pic of your sump n float placement

okay can but not now coz I'm not at home liaos....

[ervine]

Here's the view of my sump, float switch on the left... external return pump at the back (not visibile)... my sump not very nice lah but it works...

Oh yah it's a little small because it used to serve my 1ft nano...