well pump safety device
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topbuilder
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Water Cop. I have not used one but what I've read about it, seems like a fit for your situation.
Industrial Toys
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I don't leave the property for long, without shutting off the pump. All I would get is what's in the tank. I have on occassion wired in a contactor, so when people's alarms are armed (away) the pump is shut off. The contactor is something that is on my "LIST" of things to do.
If you have a water sensor, the question always is, where best to put it.
I had customers where the faucet connection on the third floor broke, in a house that wasn't visited for months! That water would have been a while getting to a detector in the basement. It might have been better if the house had burned to the ground!
If you have a water sensor, the question always is, where best to put it.
I had customers where the faucet connection on the third floor broke, in a house that wasn't visited for months! That water would have been a while getting to a detector in the basement. It might have been better if the house had burned to the ground!
topbuilder
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Water cop detects the flow, cuts it off. Where ever it is.
Deere Dude
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Every time we left for even a couple day I would just throw the breaker, of in my case now, turn the water valve off.
The lowest part in a country house is usually a sump pump pit. I have heard of sensor to trigger alarms if the water got toward the top of the hole.
The lowest part in a country house is usually a sump pump pit. I have heard of sensor to trigger alarms if the water got toward the top of the hole.
buickanddeere
Super Member
The mechanical pressure switch on my well pump will open the circuit if the pump cannot keep up with full continuous flow from a broken pipe.
PILOON
Super Star Member
There are two styles of pressure switches.
The one you want has a lever on the side that prevents the pump to re start if the pressure is very low as would be the case of a burst pipe.
Say the switch is set for 40/60 but a pipe bursts and pressure dropped to say 20. The contacts would not close and the pump would not run.
The 'safety' type is a mere few dollars more than the conventional version.
To re start the pump you have to manually hold the lever to close the points until the pressure builds up to the threshold.
You see it on the pressure gauge as well as feel the the lever sort of go limp when pressure passes the threshold.
We are in cottage country and I only installed the safety style as owners are generally away lots of the time and more than a few times pipes have frozen causing major messes.
Withe the levered safety version the worst spillage you could get would be one cycle worth of water (like maybe 10 gallons or so depending on tank size)
The one you want has a lever on the side that prevents the pump to re start if the pressure is very low as would be the case of a burst pipe.
Say the switch is set for 40/60 but a pipe bursts and pressure dropped to say 20. The contacts would not close and the pump would not run.
The 'safety' type is a mere few dollars more than the conventional version.
To re start the pump you have to manually hold the lever to close the points until the pressure builds up to the threshold.
You see it on the pressure gauge as well as feel the the lever sort of go limp when pressure passes the threshold.
We are in cottage country and I only installed the safety style as owners are generally away lots of the time and more than a few times pipes have frozen causing major messes.
Withe the levered safety version the worst spillage you could get would be one cycle worth of water (like maybe 10 gallons or so depending on tank size)
LittleBill21
Elite Member
link?
Valveman
Platinum Member
Here is a link to the Square D pressure switch with the M4 option.
http://static.schneider-electric.us...Pressure-Float-Vacuum Switches/9034CT9701.pdf
But remember that switch only shuts the pump off when the pressure gets too low. So it will only shut the pump off because of a major leak, not a small leak.
http://static.schneider-electric.us...Pressure-Float-Vacuum Switches/9034CT9701.pdf
But remember that switch only shuts the pump off when the pressure gets too low. So it will only shut the pump off because of a major leak, not a small leak.
Larry Caldwell
Super Member
Any place they sell pumps will stock these. They also protect your pump from burning up if the well goes dry.
Valveman
Platinum Member
Only if you happen to still be using water when the well pumps dry. If the pump is just refilling the tank when the well runs dry, the pressure will not drop and the low pressure cut off switch will not protect the pump. Something like a Cycle Sensor that reads amps instead of pressure will protect the pump from dry run even if you are not using water at the time. But it will not shut the pump down for a leak in the system.
buickanddeere
Super Member
There are variable frequency drives custom built for well pumps as "constant pressure". Iirc some will sense high flow and low pressure from a pipe break and shut down.
Valveman
Platinum Member
Cycle Stop Valves and Variable Frequency Drives both deliver constant pressure. The VFD does it by slowing the motor rpm, and the CSV does it by slowing the flow in the line. But either way the leak needs to be large enough for the pressure to drop. With a small leak neither the low pressure switch on a CSV system nor the computer program on a VFD system will shut the pump down.
I have a floor flange for a toilet piped into my basement slab. It is piped through the slab, directly into the septic. I installed this when I built my house. How can I use this as a safety to drain basement water in an emergency. I'm not planning on installing a toilet soon.
PILOON
Super Star Member
Your question was BAD LEAK *
The Sq D devices are just for that!
* like frozen pipe or a solder joint that lets go.
The Sq D devices are just for that!
* like frozen pipe or a solder joint that lets go.
The water cop is expensive, of course money well spent to prevent a basement flood.
What I'm looking for would be a water sensor, connected to the pressure switch of the pump. When it detects water, it cuts off juice to the well pump. Seems real simple, can't find anything like that.
What I'm looking for would be a water sensor, connected to the pressure switch of the pump. When it detects water, it cuts off juice to the well pump. Seems real simple, can't find anything like that.
Valveman
Platinum Member
I think you could use the Water Cop for that. Just connect it to a relay that cuts power to the pressure switch instead of connecting it to an electric valve.
