How can I keep from running out of water
#1
08-09-15, 12:49 PM
How can I keep from running out of water
here is my situation, i have a ram pump about 1700' away from my house that is pumping water uphill to a 300 gallon holding tank, which i have a pump going from that tank supplying water to my house. as anyone that has ever had a ram pump knows from time to time they will stop working,and when it does i sometimes run out of water in my tank before i realize the ram has stopped pumping. so my question is there anything i buy like a alarm or something if my water supply from the ram stops running?
#2
08-09-15, 01:03 PM
How far is the tank from the house? You can install a proximity level switch in the water and when it reaches a certain level it can set off an alarm you have wired from he tank to the house. It can run off low voltage. I have installed them in high cisterns to control the pump in a low collection cistern. They basically work like a commode ball valve, but a little more sophisticated.
#3
08-09-15, 05:03 PM
Group Moderator
A place I stayed at in Central America had a simple float in the tank with a cable and pulley to show the water level on the outside. I learned to walk outside and look at it before starting a shower but Chandler's idea is more civilized. There are a lot of options available to you. Most campers and motor homes have sensors to indicate the levels in their tanks so you could go a step further and keep an eye on the tank level in addition to simply having a low level alarm.
#4
08-09-15, 05:15 PM
Second guessing a little. To further Dane's comments, if it is a simple caged plastic 300 gallon tank, you may be able to rig up a visual float system without all the electronics. But only if it were within short eyesight of, say a back door. If remote, then a prox switch would work well.
Here is an example of how it would work.
Here is an example of how it would work.
#5
08-09-15, 06:31 PM
the tank is about 75 foot give or take away from my house and it is buried about 6ft deep with only the top sticking out of the ground with a small building built around it so no visual monitor would work. how much does the proximity sensors cost?
#6
08-09-15, 06:46 PM
About $15 on one of the auction sites. But you will need wiring from the tank and some sort of alarm set up in the house so it will activate it. Visual, audible, either one or both.
#7
08-09-15, 07:04 PM
what i would like is a flapper type deal on the pipe coming into the tank that is activated by the running water keeping it open but then when it closes would make a light or something inside my house light up letting me know the water has stopped running, but not sure how to go about something like that
#8
08-10-15, 05:08 AM
Group Moderator
You can install a flow sensor in the line. If you want to get fancy you can rig up whatever lights, alarm or indicator if you use an Arduino controller. I mention Arduino because it's a amateur, DIY sort of mini industrial computer that's easily programmed and there are many forums and instructions online. You could probably find that someone has already written the software you'd need. Here is the first article I found that will give you some idea of what is possible.
#9
08-12-15, 05:55 PM
if i buy this flow sensor does anyone know how or if it could be wired up to a light bulb or something? i would like for it to light up a bulb in my house when the ram stops pumping if thats possible. it says it will run on 110 volt which i have out in the well house.
http://www.amazon.com/iiMash-Magneti...r+Flow+Sensors
http://www.amazon.com/iiMash-Magneti...r+Flow+Sensors
#10
08-12-15, 06:02 PM
Group Moderator
The description does not clearly say if it is normally open or normally closed but the description implies that it could go either way. I'd consider using a doorbell transformer to drop line voltage to something safer like 12 or 24 volts and use it to turn on a light.
#11
08-12-15, 06:50 PM
Group Moderator
You'd like some type of flapper. Can you post a picture of where the line comes into the tank ?
What is the top of the tank made of?
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...rt-images.html
That flow sensor you posted would work but it's only a 1/2" in diameter. What size line feeds your tank ?
An indicating circuit is easy to build. We can help you there. Finding a suitable switch will be more the issue.
What is the top of the tank made of?
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...rt-images.html
That flow sensor you posted would work but it's only a 1/2" in diameter. What size line feeds your tank ?
An indicating circuit is easy to build. We can help you there. Finding a suitable switch will be more the issue.
#12
08-14-15, 09:52 AM
my tank is a 300 gallon poly plastic tank with a big screw on lid on top but i cant unscrew it because thats where the pump suction pipe goes thru. i have a 1/2 in pvc pipe feeding into the side of the tank so the 1/2 sensore would work good. what kind of switch would i need?
#13
08-14-15, 10:01 AM
Group Moderator
I think he was thinking if the 1/2" flow sensor was going to be too small. If 1/2" is OK then I'd use the flow sensor you linked and small landscape lighting transformer but it says it can work with 110VAC which would be really simple. I'm just not keen on using mains power with water so I'd certainly put it on a GFCI circuit.
#14
08-14-15, 12:27 PM
Super Moderator
How does the ram pump know to stop pumping when the 300 gallon tank is full?
How much flow does the ram pump generate? Flow sensors need a min...
But if the tank is full and the ram pump stops then you will get a false warning...
A float would be your best bet to activate a low voltage buzzer like a doorbell. Transformer and run wire underground to the house...
Drill another hole in the lid for the float. Attach float to piece of PVC pipe..
All my opinion...
How much flow does the ram pump generate? Flow sensors need a min...
But if the tank is full and the ram pump stops then you will get a false warning...
with only the top sticking out of the ground with a small building built around it so no visual monitor would work.
Drill another hole in the lid for the float. Attach float to piece of PVC pipe..
All my opinion...
#17
08-20-15, 02:56 PM
Ram pumps don't stop production, they just bypass when an obstruction is in the way. That is what I fear if you introduce any kind of flow meter in the incoming pipe. There is no pressure from a ram pump, only water being pulsed a little at a time. Hopefully you can get some sort of alarm system that will allow you to tell when the water gets low. I don't think too much water is the problem.
