Power surge question

['Zender Tan']

Hi

I was cleaning sump tank when my stupid dad off the main power to readjust the switches. After less than a min, my sump tank over flow and flooded my house due to no water being pump back into the tank. Which leads me to think wat if there is an electric trip when no one is home?

Is there a back up power supply I can buy? How you guys deal with power surge problem?

Also my chiller thermostat is spoiled and I heard there is an aftermarket external thermostat where I can plug my chiller into it and it will control the chiller when the temp is not right. Where to get this?

Thanks.

[Gouldian]

Hi

I was cleaning sump tank when my stupid dad off the main power to readjust the switches. After less than a min, my sump tank over flow and flooded my house due to no water being pump back into the tank. Which leads me to think wat if there is an electric trip when no one is home?

Is there a back up power supply I can buy? How you guys deal with power surge problem?

Also my chiller thermostat is spoiled and I heard there is an aftermarket external thermostat where I can plug my chiller into it and it will control the chiller when the temp is not right. Where to get this?

Thanks.

Bro,

Your problem is more like a sump that is too small for the overflow from main tank. Generally speaking a sump should be able to hold all water drain from the main tank when all switches are off or during a blackout.

There are currently have power back-up such as APC that can be used to power up some basic equipment in case of power failure but we usually use this to connect to air pumps. So in an event of a power failure, the air pumps will turn on to supply the tank and sump with critical oxygen. Most do not use power back-up to run return pumps as the electrical draw will be too much and you will end with the pump running for a short period before exhausting the power pack. The same applies on a building with only power-up Emergency Exits and critical equipment during a black-up rather than the entire building.

As for power surge, generally AC equipment are safe during a power surge but DC equipment although some have certain form in-build surge protection, cannot withstand to much power surge and may spoil. You can get surge protection devices to be connect between the power socket and the equipment for additional supports.

Yes, you can get after market temperature controller to be added to your chiller. You can easily get them at Teck Hoe (Geylang) or several shops at Sim Lim. You will need Temperature Probe, Controller, Relay / Contactor and Power socket. Instead of the chiller drawing direct power from your wall socket the chiller will now be connect to the Power Socket of the Temperature Controller. Go some googling and you will know what I mean. Alternatively is to get Derrick to DIY one for you, he can be contacted through Iwarna.

Hope that helps.

[LittleBurger]

Hi

I was cleaning sump tank when my stupid dad off the main power to readjust the switches. After less than a min, my sump tank over flow and flooded my house due to no water being pump back into the tank. Which leads me to think wat if there is an electric trip when no one is home?

Is there a back up power supply I can buy? How you guys deal with power surge problem?

Also my chiller thermostat is spoiled and I heard there is an aftermarket external thermostat where I can plug my chiller into it and it will control the chiller when the temp is not right. Where to get this?

Thanks.

Hi, dun blame yr dad... The sump should be designed to hold yr the water when there's a power trip n water from display tank backlog to the sump.

if u wan a backup power system, it might cost a lot, n size might be big. Unless u staying in a country with frequent power trip n yr livestock worth a big sum of $, probably u dun need in.

U can get vortech pumps plus backup battery, in event of power trip, the wavemaker still can provide water motion n reduce yr livestock fatality.

['Zender Tan']

Thanks a lot. Guess I need to upgrade my sump instead. :-(

[Solo77]

This maybe resolved by drilling holes on your return pipes but u must also make sure your water volume is not much for your sump to handle. This can also be solved by changing your return pump to a lower flow rate type. Hope this help.

[Clement_jr]

your issue got nothing to do with a back.up battery.

the height of your return pipe outlet, and the level of water above the return pipe outlet. the difference is the volume your sump need to hold.

example, if the return pipe outlet is made to be in the mid height of the tank, when powercuts, all the water above the outlet will backflow.

the water level in the tank should not be too high above the overflow clutter as well.

no offense, but, drilling holes will.make matter worst, it will be continuing feeding the back flow. the type of pump used doesn't matter at all, because during powercut, all pumps become dead pump.

the reason getting a back up battery is to focus on providing aeration and water circulation. the LS can last very long having these met. the backup motive is not meant to keep the entire system running.

[sherman]

You forget to match your overflow water volume with your sump capacity.

Drill 1 or 2 holes on your return pipe at a position your sump is abou 90% capacity filled.

['Zender Tan']

Can anyone advice how to match e overflow volume to e sump? Tank was actually installed and water filled in by irwana.... Or should I call them back to check?

[reby]

Me agreed wh clement just adjt the height of the return pipe outlet as high as possible so whenever the return pump g wrong so u can contr the water lever wh it back to ur sump dont hv to do anything else need to do something 4 ur return pipe...

['Zender Tan']

Just called irwana. He say fix a one way valve will solve e problem. But its gonna cost me 120 :-(

[Clement_jr]

of what I did, know the volume of your overflow box, and my volume of water above the return pipe outlet.

and the volume of space available in the sump tank. (which is vol of sump - existing vol of water in sump)

the free space of vol in sump must be greater than the first one I mentioned.

u can run a simple test as well. turn off your return pump. let the water backflow until it stops. if, you notice the sump is going to overflow, close the valve which is feeding your sump and switch on the return pump.

please teach me how does drilling holes works? I cant figure it out.

[Clement_jr]

Just called irwana. He say fix a one way valve will solve e problem. But its gonna cost me 120 :-(

bro zender, I.don't know how the one way valve works.

but in the scenario where the powercuts. all valves have to be operated manually. (if can manually close the valve, then what for install something 120, where u are already there.)

our tackle is when there is no power supply, and no people around.

so every has to happen naturally. and outcome is not flooding your house.

[Clement_jr]

if the water overflow your sump tank.

- return pipe outlet too low / water level too high

- overflow box too full

- sump tank too small

- sump tank water level is aalready too high

btw zender, your overflow pipe should already have a valve. it can't be running on a free fall...

['Zender Tan']

Ill try drain out e water more today and extend the overflow on my overflow box higher. Cos my overflow box now less than half full go down e pipe le.

[Clement_jr]

I suggest doing the test I mentioned in earlier post. its fail-proof, so don't worry.

you might not even need to do any adjustments.

[jxlex]

Actually drilling a hole at your return pipe will limit the amount of back flow... See attached... The return pipe being at a higher level naturally pulls water from the DT back to sump in event of power failures.. The additional hole draws in air during such occurrences breaking the flow and stops the return pipe from sucking water till the end of the pipe... Have been and still is using this method without issues. . That being said, your sump should still have enough room to hold the backflow until this hole stops excess return...

[kaykay]

I think it's more like this.

The hole will introduce air when water drops to this level during the stoppage of the return pump, whether deliberately or power outage.

Siphon is therefore broken here.

Your sump will then not overflow.

But can your return pipe be detached at the display tank to be drilled a hole?

[[V]tEc]

one way valve is like what the name state, one way only. meaning water can flow thur from return pump to DT but not from DT to sump. Please read up more instead of posting stuff u dont even know. no offence.

bro zender, I.don't know how the one way valve works.

but in the scenario where the powercuts. all valves have to be operated manually. (if can manually close the valve, then what for install something 120, where u are already there.)

our tackle is when there is no power supply, and no people around.

so every has to happen naturally. and outcome is not flooding your house.

[Clement_jr]

having said so, everyone dont need to post or ask question, (applies to TS as well), just resort to reading. but that diminishes the purpose of a forum.

anyway, i see no reason to spend on items which problem can be tackled easily.

i think kaykay drawing is much more correct.

['Zender Tan']

Bros chill..

Sincere thanks for all advices.

All advices are impt to us newbies

Kay Kay. Thks for yr drawings. Will try it.

Clement Jr. Thks. Will also try thru yr check list.

Bro vtec. Thanks for your offer of coming to my place to help me. Sincerely appreciated.

All advices here could help me save 120 and its well appreciated:-)

[[V]tEc]

Bros chill..

Sincere thanks for all advices.

All advices are impt to us newbies

Kay Kay. Thks for yr drawings. Will try it.

Clement Jr. Thks. Will also try thru yr check list.

Bro vtec. Thanks for your offer of coming to my place to help me. Sincerely appreciated.

All advices here could help me save 120 and its well appreciated:-)

for kaykay method, u can go as close to the water level as possible. this will allow lesser vol of water to return to sump.

[jxlex]

Agreed... also note dont drill too near the surface either especially if ur return pump is strong... Water will stray out from the little hole too...

[Zender]

Thanks every one for your advice. Don't know why I cannot log in with my facebook acc so create a new acc.

I drilled a hole yesterday and Hope it works.

Thanks for all the advices and you guys save me 120 :-)

Bro VTEC: Thanks for sharing so much with me last night. Really informative chat. As promise coffee will be on me. And I can learn more from the coffee session too... haha..

[sherman]

Confirm Kay Kay drawing is right. You can drill 2 holes instead of one in case that one hole is block

Cheers

[jxlex]

Just for learning purpose *PEACE* can i check if my hole drilled on my drawing is wrong? Cos if really wrong i would like to change my pipes.

Thanks all in advance.