Auto-top Up - Revisited

[ervine]

Hi guys,

I managed to grab the info for making an electronic auto-top up before the site went down. Unfortunately I forgot who was the orginial author of the post.

In any case, I would like to thank him for sharing his knowledge which enabled me to build my own electronic top-up system.

Anyway, in view of the missing page, here's my re-contribution to those who are interested in making one for yourself.

Before I begin, I must say that I have little experience in electronics as such some of the technical stuff have been reduced to layman language. Also, I advise you to try at your own risk, I will not be held responsible for any damage/injury whatsoever. Even I myself got a rude electrical shock TWICE because I was careless... so be careful!!

Anyway here goes...

Materials:

Most were bought in Sim Lim Tower

1) Hobby Box $2.50

2) AC-DC Adaptor $6.00

3) 12V DC Relay $2.50

4) Float Switch $18.00

5) Main Switch $2.00

6) Override Push Switch $1.50

7) 5mm 3V Super Bright Blue LED (optional) $1.00

8) 470ohm Resistor (came free with LED)

9) 2pin connector for pump $1.50

10) Connector for float switch (speaker connectors) $2.50

11) 5gal Air Tight Jerry Can $12.00

12) Silicone $3.00

13) Misc - Tubings, drills, files, wires, etc (from home)

Total Cost - $50++

Materials Details

1) Hobby Box - Make sure to get the right size, too small and you can't fit the things inside

2) AC-DC Adaptor - Just a normal cheap one will do, those which can adjust polarity

3) 12V DC Relay - Get from Kaichin SLT, it's outside on the ground. Make sure it's the 12V not the 24V one. Get the single pole one.. whatever that means... There should be 5 metal things sticking out for connection purposes..

4) Float Switch - Get from SLT basement, go down stairs turn left. Note that you might need to extend the wires as they are a little too short...

5) Main Switch - Anything as long as it's on-off only and rated for AC. I bought one which had screws to screw in the wires instead of having to solder them

6) Override Push Switch - Again anything, but this can use DC switch. I made a small mistake, should have used an on-off only also.

7) 5mm 3V Super Bright Blue LED (optional) - Any colour will do, just make sure you get the right resistor.

8) 470ohm Resistor - To facilitate in calculating, ask the person selling you the resistor

9) 2pin connector for pump - Nothing much to comment..

10) Connector for float switch (speaker connectors) - It's those connectors for higher-end speakers.. see the picture below

11) 5gal Air Tight Jerry Can $12.00 - This was bought at one of the shops near Kelangtan Lane/Sungei Road.. very near Sim Lim Tower

12) Silicone $3.00 - Anyone will do... but I used quite a bit...

13) Misc - Tubings, drills, files, wires, soldering iron, solder, etc (from home)

Putting Everything Together

Here's what I did...

1) Make markings on all the external components

2) Drill holes (quite a few holes) then snap off/file off until the components fit nicely (or as nicely as possible)

3)Superglue/silicone the EXTERNAL components in place

4) Solder everything according to the diagram. Should not be much of a problem except for the relay.. here's how...

4a) Connection the Relay

Firstly, notice that there are 5 metal things sticking out of the relay. Only 4 will be used. Holding the relay in "landscape" the bottom two which line up are meant for the 12V DC, the top one is left alone. The other two are meant for 240V AC.

Try connecting the AC-DC adaptor directly to the relay to see if it works, you should hear a click sound. In fact you can actually see the components inside and how they work.

5) After making all the connections, fire the device up BUT MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE WAY!!!

6) Check the float switch, when you move the float back and forth you should be able to hear the relay turning on and off

7) Check the override switch, same as above, you should hear the relay going on and off

8) Add an airpump and test again

9) Once everything is working tie the adapter down securely and silicone the relay to the base. Then screw the box up and fire away!

How does it work?

Okay basically there are 2 circuits inside which are linked by a relay.

The DC circuit if turned on will cause the relay to "turn on" and allow the AC current to flow, thus the pump will run.

The DC circuit can be turned on by either the float switch or the override switch.

The Jerry Can, Air Pump and Stuff

Okay the tubes running out of my jerry can are not really correct. You should only need to have 2 airline tubes running into the can. One right to the bottom which brings water out, the other right at the top which allows air to be pumped in.

I chose to use an air-pump instead of a water pump because:

1) It's safer because if water in the can runs out, your pump won't spoil

2) It's adds water at a slower rate so no funny gushes of water

3) I already siliconed the tubes (from an earlier experiment)

So if the airpump is on, the air is pumped from the air pump, through the one way valve into the airtight jerry can, thus displacing the water into your tank. Simple as that.

I think that's about it...

Once again I stress.. BE CAREFUL! It's running on AC and water and AC don't mix well...

Alright.. hope you guys like what I have re-written...

Ervine.

[ervine]

I split the diagrams into AC and DC, so as not to confuse people... (or does it confuse even more people???)

Also.. these are physical diagrams.. I cant' remember how to draw proper electrical ones... heh

[ervine]

This is what it looks like... notice I placed it vertically... more stylo huh? Like PS2 like that.. hehehe

[ervine]

Here's a view of the back.. notice the float switch connectors...

[ervine]

This is an overview of the jerry can/air pump part...

[ervine]

I re-used the jerry can from a past experience, thus the water tubing instead of air.. but notice how I "connected" the one way valve to the water tubing.. hehe

[ervine]

this is the float switch and a piece of 3mm acylic I drilled and bent to hold it in place.. the nice thing about the float switch is that it has this thing which can enable you to screw it into a hole... have to see it to understand actually...

Anyway that's the end of it.. hope you guys like it..

PS: The water level still high because I just manually topped up

[ervine]

Oh yes this is the overall diagram..

Most impt to note is that the water outlet that is in the main tank has to satisfy 2 conditions:

1) It has to be above the water line in the tank

2) It has to be higher than the water level in the jerry can

This is to prevent siphon action from happening which might either draw water out from the tank into the jerry can OR drip excess water into the tank (which happened to me coz I over looked it)

Okay that's all...

Oh yes, is anyone interested to buy something like this if I were to mass produce it?

[Anthony]

why you using air pump ??? not powerhead to pump it?

can elaborate...

[ervine]

why you using air pump ??? not powerhead to pump it?

can elaborate...

As I mentioned earlier...

I chose to use an air-pump instead of a water pump because:

1) It's safer because if water in the can runs out, your pump won't spoil

2) It's adds water at a slower rate so no funny gushes of water

3) I already siliconed the tubes (from an earlier experiment)

Shrug.. maybe water pump users can come in and give their 2 cents? Anyway that's not the most important part.. most important part is the controller...

[schnauzer]

i use a dustbin tat i bought from IKEA to put kalk for toping up the tank.

i always have to remind my guest not to throw anything inside the bin

[schnauzer]

inside the bin

[Naso Unicornis]

Hi guys,

I managed to grab the info for making an electronic auto-top up before the site went down. Unfortunately I forgot who was the orginial author of the post.

*Ahem* I guess that would be me.

Ervine,

You did a great job putting the instructions down. Certainly better than what I did originally. Clap! Clap!

[mv3i]

i use a dustbin tat i bought from IKEA to put kalk for toping up the tank.

i always have to remind my guest not to throw anything inside the bin

Understand that the dustbin acts as a top up reservoir .... but is that kalk inside or salt mixture ??

[ervine]

Understand that the dustbin acts as a top up reservoir .... but is that kalk inside or salt mixture ??

Mine is just plain water... not sure about him..

Naso - Ahhh.. yes great work.. hope what I did does justice to your original idea... heh..

[hoppinghippos]

schnauzer: where did you buy that tiny powerhead?

Ervine: Great info!!! *Two thumbs up*!! May I ask tho, how powerful an airpump do you use? I would think that you require a strong airpump inorder to really build up enuff pressure inside the jerry can to push the water out and up a pressure head?

[schnauzer]

Can buy from any Aquarium shop , abt 500L / hr will do for abt $15.

[schnauzer]

Understand that the dustbin acts as a top up reservoir .... but is that kalk inside or salt mixture ??

hi mv3i

it's kalk inside the bin

[coralreef]

i only use jerry can and air pump...cost less than $13 bucks.....

there's 2 outlets...1 for air pump to pump air...then other..the water will be pushed out..and there's a gauge for controlling the amt of topup....1 drop per sec..or 1 drop for 2-3 secs.....have been using it for 2 weeks....working well....

sorry for hijacking....just to share ideas

[ervine]

schnauzer: where did you buy that tiny powerhead?

Ervine: Great info!!! *Two thumbs up*!! May I ask tho, how powerful an airpump do you use? I would think that you require a strong airpump inorder to really build up enuff pressure inside the jerry can to push the water out and up a pressure head?

I use a normal midsized single outlet airpump.. don't need very strong because the one way valve helps to prevent back leakage... as long as the air goes into the jerry can safe liao...

[mv3i]

juz finished my DIY top up .....

thanks to ervine for all the help, it's really very simple n good fun ....

[Anthony]

who got the wiring digram for the auto topup?

i mess up my wiring..

[Anthony]

i m abit confuss with the relay connection...

just want double check...

AC connection joint to the "COIL"

and DC connection joint to the "NO" "COM"

left out the "NC" point

Am i on the right track?

hope someone can enlighten me ... URGENT!!!

[idefix]

Maybe this link can help: http://www.reefligion.com/diy.htm