🚀 go-pugleaf

>Newsgroups: sci.aquaria,rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria
>Path: mozart.unx.sas.com!sas!concert!gatech!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!uwm.edu!daffy!uwvax!ssec.wisc.edu!rader
>From: rader@ssec.wisc.edu (Steve Rader)
>Subject: Re: Float switch for sump pump
>Message-ID: <1992Nov9.222001.28262@cs.wisc.edu>
>Sender: news@cs.wisc.edu (The News)
>Organization: University of Wisconsin, Space Science and Engineering Center
>References:  <1992Nov3.072949.3924@wvnvms.wvnet.edu> <1992Nov4.161045.17300@athena.mit.edu>
>Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 22:20:01 GMT
>Lines: 33
>
>mar@athena.mit.edu (Mark A. Rosenstein) writes:
>|> I've made two different kinds of float switches.  The first only cost me
>|> a couple of dollars, but wasn't especially reliable and called for a part
>|> from Radio Shack that has been discontinued (a mercury tilt switch).
>|>
>|> The ones I use now use a float switch from W.W.Grainger (an industrial
>|> supplier with offices in most cities) which costs $12.  They have one small
>|> float switch which is safe for acidic environments, and seems to stand up
>|> to salt water fine.  I use a random aquarium airline suction cup to hold it
>|> to the side of the sump.  Then I buy one of those extension cord things that
>|> has a 120V plug & socket at one end, and a remote switch at the other.  Cut
>|> the switch off the cord and connect it to the leads from the float switch.
>|> The float switch now turns an electric outlet on & off!
>
>I'm glad this works for 'ya, but if I recall correctly, Grainger's does *not*
>offer a 120V rated plastic float switch.  I suspect you're using a 12V rated
>float switch to switch 120V circuit.  I'm not sure what the consequences may
>be of using a 12V switch for a 120V circuit... I think you'll at least shorten
>the switch's life-time and perhaps even harm your pump.  (I do know when I
>asked some EE geeks around here 'bout using a 12V switch, they definitely
>told me to use a relay to actually switch the pump.)  Even with cheap
>powerheads, IHMO it's prudent to use a properly rated switch or else wire in a
>appropiate relay.
>
>Steve
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Steve Rader                             rader@ssec.wisc.edu
>Sys Admin
>Space Sci & Engineering Center          Ain't nothing in the world
>University of Wisconsin, Madison        like a green skinned girl
>                                        Omnibus, takes all of us
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
 I just bought one yesterday from Graingers. It is rated for upto 240 V
plastic float switch for $10.50. This will work fine as a float switch
My thanks to Mark for giving the tip.
 
ghosh