Auto Top-off (Float switches)

[kiwireef]

Hi there from Auckland, New Zealand. I read in one of your threads recently that there is someone here that sells some sort of float switch for topping off water. I have searched and couldn't find anywhere in the forum since. Can someone plse help?

[Siput]

Try Octopus Bay, one of the in-forum advertisers.

Also search for TUBBY, which is the more professional looking but expensive variant.

Cheeers!

[porc]

Try Octopus Bay, one of the in-forum advertisers.

yup. it's in this latest thread.. http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...opic=15530&st=0

[Cookiemunster]

Try Octopus Bay, one of the in-forum advertisers.

Also search for TUBBY, which is the more professional looking but expensive variant.

Cheeers!

Excuse me? Expensive?

Ok I guess its expensive when it comes with 2 float switches, safety fuse and DC voltage passing thru float switches for safety.

Its strange that paying for components is cheap and the completed unit is expensive. wow.

If you just want the float switch pm me, its only $18 each.

Alternatively you can view my thread at

TUBBY

[Gouldian]

Hi there from Auckland, New Zealand. I read in one of your threads recently that there is someone here that sells some sort of float switch for topping off water. I have searched and couldn't find anywhere in the forum since. Can someone plse help?

Hi kiwireef,

I strongly recomend Tubby, it is professional made by our fellow reefer cookiemunster.

I am using it and find that it is safer than some top up device cuz the float switches operate on DC rather than AC. The contruction and circuitries are of very high quality as well.

I am not sure cookiemunster ships to NZ but no harm sending him a PM.

Cheers,

[Domino]

Hi there!

You can get that type of switch in NZ from RS Components. the link below will take you to their site and there is a pic and the price:

http://www.rsnewzealand.com/cgi-bin/bv/bro...stockNo=2889344

I used one of those (one of the cheaper ones) to make my simple topup. These are heavy duty switches that are meant to be used in harsh industrial environments. I use a 12V DC transformer to activate a relay. the switch is in series on the DC circuit that controls the relay. Very simple. the switch Normaly closed (N/C) can be changed to N open (N/O) (that's what you need) by flipping the floater around (you can actually hear the tic of the magnetic switch inside when you move the floater). When the floater will go too low, it will close the DC circuit which will activate the relay that will put the pump on.

Try to find a good relay with higher cut-off voltage if possible. Motors are inductive circuits and when you cut the voltage suddenly, there is a counter voltage spike (very very short) that can fetch up to a 1000 volts when nominal voltage is 240V AC. So it creates an arc on the relay contacts that might cause damage and malfunction in time... having said that, I'm just using a cheap relay for the time being and it works so far...

I hope this helps!

[Cookiemunster]

Hi there!

You can get that type of switch in NZ from RS Components. the link below will take you to their site and there is a pic and the price:

http://www.rsnewzealand.com/cgi-bin/bv/bro...stockNo=2889344

I used one of those (one of the cheaper ones) to make my simple topup. These are heavy duty switches that are meant to be used in harsh industrial environments. I use a 12V DC transformer to activate a relay. the switch is in series on the DC circuit that controls the relay. Very simple. the switch Normaly closed (N/C) can be changed to N open (N/O) (that's what you need) by flipping the floater around (you can actually hear the tic of the magnetic switch inside when you move the floater). When the floater will go too low, it will close the DC circuit which will activate the relay that will put the pump on.

Try to find a good relay with higher cut-off voltage if possible. Motors are inductive circuits and when you cut the voltage suddenly, there is a counter voltage spike (very very short) that can fetch up to a 1000 volts when nominal voltage is 240V AC. So it creates an arc on the relay contacts that might cause damage and malfunction in time... having said that, I'm just using a cheap relay for the time being and it works so far...

I hope this helps!

Well said Domino,

yup I fully agree with Domino. He is right. Although using a good quality relay will make it last longer and prevent any accidents.

Cheers

[Bahal's boat]

QUOTE (Siput @ Apr 23 2004, 01:05 PM)

Try Octopus Bay, one of the in-forum advertisers.

yup. it's in this latest thread.. http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...opic=15530&st=0

THIS???

[salted fish]

THIS???

Hi All,

I think Auto Top up BOX is the safer than any other top up device cuz the float switches operate in either DC or AC.

SF

[Bahal's boat]

NO NEED POWER!

[Siput]

Excuse me? Expensive?

Ok I guess its expensive when it comes with 2 float switches, safety fuse and DC voltage passing thru float switches for safety.

Its strange that paying for components is cheap and the completed unit is expensive. wow.

If you just want the float switch pm me, its only $18 each.

Alternatively you can view my thread at

TUBBY

No offense, man, I did say it was more professional; expensive is a relative term and to me personally, it is...that is why for eg there are skimmers ranging from a few 10's of dollars to those in high hundreds; no one denies that the better equipment cost more in general...anyway, different strokes for different folk...

[Achilles Tang]

TUBBY for me!

[KingFish]

I'm a satisfied user of the TUBBY too.

Was away for 2 weeks and it did its job well.

Simply put, you pay for what you get; quality and reliability

No point saving that few dollars and compromise the thousand dollar setup and livestock