Im looking for some sort of device that will indicate when my submersible trash pump is working in a closed sump for my outside toilet. I can find something that shows when there is power to the plug, but was looking for something that shows when the pump is running. Any ideas?
electrical doo-hickey
- Thread starter GMCGarage
- Start date
tjdux
Well-known member
Non contact current sensor hooked up to an arduino. 2 hours setup time and approx 50 or less in parts
Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703
Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703
Would it only work when the pump is on? Wouldnt their be current all the time since its plugged in?
Radix2
Well-known member
How about just a indicator light wired across the motor leads - on when the pump is powered off otherwise. It won't prove that the pump is turning, but that is a tough one.
Captain Spaulding
Well-known member
No. Current is the flow of electricity and is only present when something is operating. The motor turning on would result in a significant increase in current.
nh_yota
Well-known member
How about one of those things that you plug your table saw and shop vac into so the vac turns on when the table saw turns on? You could plug your pump and a lamp into it.
The pump is 6' down, dont want to have to remove it and plumbing to get at the wires.
Sounds like the path I need.
Might look into that. Does it work on a current draw?
OH_Varmntr
Well-known member
That would work perfectly.
OH_Varmntr
Well-known member
nehog
Well-known member
To know the pump works, a pressure switch on the output, combined with a power signal (optional) is probably the most reliable way.
get one of the cheap energy saver power strips. why reinvent the wheel.
https://www.amazon.com/TrickleStar-Outlet-Advanced-PowerStrip-Joules/dp/B00JPDYYSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491958456&sr=8-1&keywords=energy+saver+power+strip
you plug the pump into the control outlet and a lamp into the switched outlet. when ever the pump turns on the outlet will turn on, same goes for when it turns off.
https://www.amazon.com/TrickleStar-Outlet-Advanced-PowerStrip-Joules/dp/B00JPDYYSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491958456&sr=8-1&keywords=energy+saver+power+strip
you plug the pump into the control outlet and a lamp into the switched outlet. when ever the pump turns on the outlet will turn on, same goes for when it turns off.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Either one of these are a good solution.
#1 is more fun and flexible....
#2 is easier...
myredracer
Well-known member
Something like this current sensor from CRMagnetics might work and comes with an LED indicator - $11.85.
http://www.crmagnetics.com/remote/cr2550?gclid=CjwKEAjw_bHHBRD4qbKukMiVgU0SJADr08ZZjAl0h2Sp1vBUAcpQr5ZqPxb1GK2VL1fs9Fj5_8dkNxoChl3w_wcB
http://www.crmagnetics.com/remote/cr2550?gclid=CjwKEAjw_bHHBRD4qbKukMiVgU0SJADr08ZZjAl0h2Sp1vBUAcpQr5ZqPxb1GK2VL1fs9Fj5_8dkNxoChl3w_wcB
tjdux
Well-known member
Yes and no. Mostly no tho. If you think of it as water from a faucet voltage is how fast the water moves and current is how much water is moving. You can always measure voltage but unless somwthing is actually running it's not drawing any amperage (maybe a tiny tiny amount)
Plus with the arduino you can view how much amperage is drawn. So you can turn on an LED after more than X milliamp draw.
Signiture; Check out my garage progress http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352703
A better option yet would be to install another float switch (higher than the normal water level) and have it trigger an alarm, could be a light or even a buzzer. That way the light/ect. would indicate a problem, it would be easier to know when there is a problem.
engineer2
Well-known member
I agree. Just because the pump is running doesn't mean it's doing it's job. I know of a case where **** and toilet paper built up around the sewage pump and partially blocked the inlet. The pump would pump piss, but it didn't do ****. Eventually it overflowed into the basement. Homeowner was not happy about manually cleaning the pit out.
Now I tell people with toilets on ejector pumps: maximize #1, minimize #2. Drop a deuce in another bathroom connected to the regular plumbing.
You can get replacement plug-and-play sump pump float switches at any big-box store.
Marctrees
Well-known member
Only you know, AFTER you think it all the way through, exactly what you need to achieve end result.
Do you really SPECIFICALLY need to know if the pump is running, or just want to make sure the system is functioning and not overflowing?
One possibility ---
As mentioned above, in more detail.
This would not tell you if pump is running, but WOULD alert you if the sump gets too high.
Very quick and easy, no wiring, plug and play.
Get a "piggyback" float switch.
Ballpark $50, and old school reliable.
It does NOT connect to any existing pump wiring.
You just plug it in any outlet, and then plug in your choice of a light, alarm, or whatever signaling device you want.
You could get very creative like if the pump is far away, all this is is a float that closes a switch when it rises to horizontal, and back off when it hangs vertical.
These are used by the millions in allll kinds of water handling situations, and the "piggyback" style means no hard wiring.
Heres one below, I would buy a US made one, like Wayne or Little Giant for reliability.
Well, maybe they moved to china by now, I dunno,, but old American companys.
Also, seeing as how it's trash water, I would go with the pendant float, NOT a vertical sliding switch.
Good website to look over.
https://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/Little-Giant-599117/p16473.html
https://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/pumps/sump-pump-switches.html
https://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/pumps/sump-pump-alarms.html
Do you really SPECIFICALLY need to know if the pump is running, or just want to make sure the system is functioning and not overflowing?
One possibility ---
As mentioned above, in more detail.
This would not tell you if pump is running, but WOULD alert you if the sump gets too high.
Very quick and easy, no wiring, plug and play.
Get a "piggyback" float switch.
Ballpark $50, and old school reliable.
It does NOT connect to any existing pump wiring.
You just plug it in any outlet, and then plug in your choice of a light, alarm, or whatever signaling device you want.
You could get very creative like if the pump is far away, all this is is a float that closes a switch when it rises to horizontal, and back off when it hangs vertical.
These are used by the millions in allll kinds of water handling situations, and the "piggyback" style means no hard wiring.
Heres one below, I would buy a US made one, like Wayne or Little Giant for reliability.
Well, maybe they moved to china by now, I dunno,, but old American companys.
Also, seeing as how it's trash water, I would go with the pendant float, NOT a vertical sliding switch.
Good website to look over.
https://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/Little-Giant-599117/p16473.html
https://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/pumps/sump-pump-switches.html
https://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/pumps/sump-pump-alarms.html
Last edited:
American Locomotive
Well-known member
A current monitor will only tell if if the motor is energized, not if its turning (unless you fully characterize the running characteristics of the motor).
A better option would just be to install a flow-switch on the output or a float switch in the sump that triggers a warning if the water level gets too high.
A better option would just be to install a flow-switch on the output or a float switch in the sump that triggers a warning if the water level gets too high.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
yeah so obviously one would need to know the FLA of the motor to make a current monitor work....
woodzy
Well-known member
I just added one of the pumps in my house for a downstairs basement. I did all the work myself and added a 2nd float switch that would activate it about 3 inches above the pump switch. Since I have an alarm system, it monitors this line 24/7 and will alert the keypads / alarm company that the pump has failed. Now, I know it is working as the pump in the basement is about 10 feet from the bathroom and there is no missing the sound of it when it turns on. After about 4-5 flushes - on it goes for about 7 seconds. I agree with try to use #2 as little as possible and all the water / #1 is OK.