Looking for a Pump that automatically switches on when sensing water

[MJCM]

Need your help ones again. I am looking for a pump that switches on automatically when sensing water.

 

I looked at Pumps with a Float Valve, but the problem is with them that it will only switch on when there is (depending on the model) already 20-40cm of water, and that is too much

 

I found this Amazon HydraPump which starts automatically when there is only 1/3" of water but that ships out of the USA. (Import Duty problems???)

 

I also have been looking at Bilge Pumps, but they are 12v

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by MJCM

[Moonlover]

If the one you've identified from Amazon suits your purpose then check to see whether it will ship to Thailand. If it does then they will take care of the import duties on your behalf.

 

Another alternative is to buy the bilge pump and hook it up to a 12 volt power supply unit.

Edited March 1, 2020 by Moonlover

[VocalNeal]

Your problem is the switch. Most float switches even for bilge pumps require up to 50mm to activate. 

What you need is a rainwater sensor. https://sea.banggood.com/12V-Raindrop-Controller-Relay-Module-Foliar-Humidity-Waterless-Switch-Rain-Sensor

 

You still need a 12v supply to power it but it will switch a 240v pump. If the water is not too much then also buy a 12v bilge pump.

 

There maybe other solutions. Another would be to construct a 50mm well for a float switch.

[MJCM]

Thx @Moonlover

 

I checked and they indeed ship to Thailand, but as I have no experience (read: Never ordered from Amazon) I have no idea how this process works. I have only heard stories that you have to go to BKK to pay for the duty.

 

12v power Supply, do you mean a battery? I am planning on using it via a 220v socket, I also need a converter for the pump from Amazon as it's only 120v

[MJCM]

12 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Your problem is the switch. Most float switches even for bilge pumps require up to 50mm to activate. 

What you need is a rainwater sensor. https://sea.banggood.com/12V-Raindrop-Controller-Relay-Module-Foliar-Humidity-Waterless-Switch-Rain-Sensor

 

You still need a 12v supply to power it but it will switch a 240v pump. If the water is not too much then also buy a 12v bilge pump.

 

There maybe other solutions. Another would be to construct a 50mm well for a float switch.

Wow you are going way over my head here ???? No idea how to assemble that.

 

50mm (5cm) is good enough for me but with the pumps (that had a float switch) they would only kick in let's say if the water was higher then 50% of the pump, and that's way too high. (depending on the size of the pump it was something like 20-40cm of water)

 

I like your idea about creating a well (lower area) with the pump in it and when the water comes and floods that lower area the pump will kick in as the water level will not have reached the "higher" area yet.

 

Sample of Pump with float switch I was looking at: Pump

Thx for that

Edited March 1, 2020 by MJCM

[VocalNeal]

The one in your picture needs the whole pump to be submerged just look on line for a bilge pump. Some some with integral switches. Yoy will need a 12v supply.

You can buy a 2A supply and a 1A pump. 

 

Next question is how high/far do you need to pump and how often.  

[MJCM]

Re: Next Question.

 

High: Approx 1,5-2m

Far: Approx 10-20m

How Often: As often as it floods

[sometimewoodworker]

39 minutes ago, MJCM said:

I checked and they indeed ship to Thailand, but as I have no experience (read: Never ordered from Amazon) I have no idea how this process works. I have only heard stories that you have to go to BKK to pay for the duty.

Nothing like that. 
 

Amazon charge an estimated duty along with shipping when you buy. It is then delivered directly to you as with any amazon delivery, later you get a credit to your card if the actual duty is less than charged. I have almost always got a refund, I have never been asked to pay anything extra.

 

Of course the shipping and duty can double or triple the price, but if it’s the only simple source then it’s worth it.

Edited March 1, 2020 by sometimewoodworker

[VocalNeal]

OK your chosen pump will be OK. Just dig a hole deep enough so that the float can float high enough to activate the switch,  Get a piece of large PVC pipe to line the hole or a section of large concrete pipe. Put some gravel and a piece of screen in the bottom of the hole or concrete if you are feeling creative to stop the pump clogging Bingo. Just plug it in. 

You will also find similar at a local hardware/pump shop.

 

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/some-advice-about-sump-pumps/

Edited March 1, 2020 by VocalNeal

[MJCM]

5 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

OK your chosen pump will be OK. Just dig a hole deep enough so that the float can float high enough to activate the switch,  Get a piece of large PVC pipe to line the hole or a section of large concrete pipe. Put some gravel and a piece of screen in the bottom of the hole or concrete if you are feeling creative to stop the pump clogging Bingo. Just plug it in. 

You will also find similar at a local hardware/pump shop.

 

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/some-advice-about-sump-pumps/

I have been looking at those at my local hardware store and that's how I found out that the water will need to be 20-40cm high before they start working.

 

I think the idea of digging the hole approx 20-40 cm deep and putting the pump in, is the easiest, so when the hole floods the pump kicks in!

 

Shame that a pump like that on Amazon isn't for sale in LOS.

 

Thx guys for all the comments/suggestions again another problem solved!

 

[sometimewoodworker]

15 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Shame that a pump like that on Amazon isn't for sale in LOS.

They probably are available, you just need to know where to get one and it will not be Global House, DoHome, Thai Watsadu. You will need a specialist shop.

[MJCM]

Thx @sometimewoodworker any links maybe???

 

Edit: Been looking for pumps and Thailand on Google and lots of hits of bars in Pattaya, one even called "Pump Station" 5555555555

Edited March 1, 2020 by MJCM

[sometimewoodworker]

51 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Thx @sometimewoodworker any links maybe???

 

Edit: Been looking for pumps and Thailand on Google and lots of hits of bars in Pattaya, one even called "Pump Station" 5555555555

No links and not likely to be any. The kind of shops I am talking about don’t have internet shopping.

 

You need to do it the way it used to be done, find the shops, go in person to them and talk to the people running them.

 

 

[MJCM]

Oke thx @sometimewoodworker

 

If anyone in the Buriram / Surin or even Pattaya (can always send my niece out to go and aks) know of such a place, please let me know

 

TIA

 

[Crossy]

6 hours ago, MJCM said:

I found this Amazon HydraPump which starts automatically when there is only 1/3" of water but that ships out of the USA. (Import Duty problems???)

 

It's also 115V 60Hz.

 

I wonder if a 220V version is available elsewhere.

[VocalNeal]

38 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Oke thx @sometimewoodworker

 

If anyone in the Buriram / Surin or even Pattaya (can always send my niece out to go and aks) know of such a place, please let me know

 

TIA

 

Go to or send niece to Buriram Ruangsangthai. Ask for Bob. They will have submersible well pumps and float switches 

 

You are going to dig and build something like this 

 

 

Or bury a cheap container from Tesco 

 

 

Forget the 50mm you will need to go down about 2 feet / 600mm so the float switch will work.

 

You could even use a normal house (orange) water pump and a switch. But it will not end up being much cheaper than your chosen one. So we should push that to the back of our minds.

Edited March 1, 2020 by VocalNeal

[MJCM]

@VocalNeal

 

My local hardware store is RST, I  Live in Buriram ???? and my niece lives in Pattaya.

 

I asked Bob / Moses already about this, and they only have the ones which I showed earlier (float switch attached)

 

Bob is currently on the hunt for me for a BILGE pump on 220v, but the idea of the extra HOLE in the ground is very easy to accomplish and this way I can get 1-2 pumps in the same area without much (extra) Hassle, and I can use readily available Pumps

 

Edit: My idea is to go around 40-50cm deep, the other area will have a slope and the water will go down to that hole (where the pump is in) and if the water raises approx 5-10cm above the hole, that's not a major issue, but 30+cm above the pump it could be

 

Edit2: I want it to work automatically so a Tornado Pump with a switch to turn it on/off is not an option, I don't wanna wake up at 2am to pump water out, had that happen to us a couple of years ago when we forgot to add an overflow out of our fishpond. Never again ????

Edited March 1, 2020 by MJCM

[MJCM]

58 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

It's also 115V 60Hz.

 

I wonder if a 220V version is available elsewhere.

Would like to know that as well, but the Pump with the float switch attached and placing it lower then the area which can flood is a real good solution.

[Little Brains]

6 hours ago, MJCM said:

Wow you are going way over my head here ???? No idea how to assemble that.

 

50mm (5cm) is good enough for me but with the pumps (that had a float switch) they would only kick in let's say if the water was higher then 50% of the pump, and that's way too high. (depending on the size of the pump it was something like 20-40cm of water)

 

I like your idea about creating a well (lower area) with the pump in it and when the water comes and floods that lower area the pump will kick in as the water level will not have reached the "higher" area yet.

 

Sample of Pump with float switch I was looking at: Pump

Thx for that

The pump as in your picture does need the higher level for cooling purposes, the pump must be submerged... 

You could construct a lowered hole in the area you want to keep dry, that fits the pump as in the picture.
All the excess water will go into that hole and when it reaches the level from the pumpswitch , it will start pumping untill the level is lower again.

[VocalNeal]

15 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Edit2: I want it to work automatically so a Tornado Pump with a switch to turn it on/off is not an option,

Combination of pump and float switch like you may have in your water tank.  Only downside is it may lose its prime if dry for many months.

But then it only has to work in the dry season.

 

Dig a hole and go with your first choice.

[MJCM]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

Dig a hole and go with your first choice.

Yes will do that. Thx.

 

As with the other thread will keep this thread updated when the work progresses.

 

Thx