Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey Murray, I see your selling float switches http://aquaponics.net.au/prod26.htm

Thanks for putting up the complete picture of them, I was just wondering what the yellow bit is near the plug? I wish I had one of these when I was building my large flood and drain system. I ruined one pump trying to add some extra length to the float switch cord, and ever since I have had to have my pump sitting on bricks up off the bottom of the tank so that the float switch was at the right height....

I might have to give one a go, get my pump down onto the bottom of the tank to pump more of the solids off the bottom... Nice one....

I got given a pump today, it's big, got a 50mm outlet, meant for draining septic tanks, dunno if it's going to be any good, but for free, what the hey? It's 100ltrs pm, rated to 8 metrs head. While I was out i bought a digital timer cause it doesn't have a float, maybe I should get one of these floats. I'm a bit der when it comes to this stuff. How do you attach the float. How does it know when to switch on and off. Sorry for the stupid questions. Still need to get a second pump for the return water.

I will get a float switch once I have a decient system set up at home, but would also like to see the answers to monya's questions

Joel or mojo might be better off on how to attach it, as i haven't actually had one in my hands

They "work" (and i'm assuming things here) probably by a mercury switch in the float, when it tilts it either "makes" or "breaks" the electrical circuit. and it tilts due to floating when the water level rises.

Steve

Ahhhhh, light comes on!

I was trying to figure out how they worked,what you say makes sense.

As for attaching it, Mojo? EB? And whether I should use a timer (it has 14 on offs a day) or float. I thought one advantage of a timer may be that in a flood and drain, I thought it may be possible to have a short time between cycles after the beds are fully drained, and have more cycles at night than during the day, save on power and water thru evaporation. Thoughts?

Stu, it may be that it just plgs in to the power and then the pump plugs into it. but wait for muz or eb.

Float sounds like the better option, as it directly measures water level. timer might be able to be set quite accuratly, but if system flow changes for some reason.........blockage / leak / kids..........BIG PROBLEMS.

Ahhh, got ya! End up pumping it dry when the blockage happens.

Yeah, I see the plug into the plug thing that is cool, what I was wondering is how to attach it inside the tank.........

you could probably hose clamp (or zip tie) it to the pump handle or body?

Yeah, zip tie would work. Ta, I was stuck on this mental image of having to screw something to the side of the tank and was not liking it

I'm the thinker..............just need a "do-er".............want to move to melbourne stu?

Sorry Steve, I had to say it: You're an ideas man..

What, and leave my half built greenhouse 80% completed raised vegie beds, 90% finished stone retaining walls, 85% finished house, 40% finished aqua system, 95% finished deck and move to drizzly grey old Melbourne. OKAY! LOL

HI Monya,
Attach the float switch to the side of the tank (with a cable tie as per Steve) or to something solid and from there you can adjust the length of cable from the end of the float to the anchor point to suit your tank set up and how much water you want to pump out each time. If you use the cable tie idea then it will be easy to make small changes to the length of the float arm until you get it just right.

The piggy back plug is wired inside to allow you to just plug the float switch into the wall and then plug your pump into the piggy back plug - it's all done.

This system will allow those who prefur, to use an external pump, or to use a manually operated submersible. Or if the float switch on your existing submersible is too short , just tie it up in the on position (attach it to the pipe coming up out of the tank), then you can put the submersible on the bottom of the tank and switch the submersible using one of these float switches with the piggy back plug.

Muzza

Thanks Murray and others... good to see you guys figured it out before I got here...

Monya, I attach the float lead to the pipe coming up from my submersible pump.. This float method of Murrays is a brilliant addition to a flood and drain design like my big system...

Hey Muzza, where can I download that cool software you've used..?

thanks Muzza. Reckon I will get one of those floats for the mutha pump (have pm'ed you)

Thinking of attaching the float cord to the pipe coming up out of the pump.