I need one garden light to light up my water tank actually. I need to be able to see the level (see image). My house area water is not that strong, so I need to manually turn off the pump going to a secondary tank at the back of the house. The tank is next to the gate so rain will hit it. There are trees around it and there is water pump next to it indside a small grill and zink casing.

I was thinking of solar light but the area has lots of trees and I don't know how long will the solar light last. There is a plug nearby for the water pump and there is a free plug. I control the plug with a smart switch (smart life app) which is on at various intervals.

Without the light, I need to go outside and check the tank just to see the level (key chain attached to a round float inside the tank). Any ideas?

BTW, the image in my phone is correct, but when I upload it comes out 90 degrees.

This post has been edited by mystvearn: May 14 2021, 02:02 PM

Outdoor lights better use 12V DC LED lamp like this
https://shopee.com.my/100w-DC-12v-85v-LED-F...5709.6871565116

230V AC too much headache to get IP67 rated junction box (for rain concern) and need to fit 10mA RCD etc to be code compliant with 230V, whereas low voltage 12V ones you can easily power them from a 12V DC PSU safely (from indoors) even old computer ones that are working will be more than enough..as 12V is very safe and don't need to be concerned too much about waterproofing etc.

That is the manual way of doing things lah.

I plug sensor abit since I used to sell them in my past.
The smarter way is to use non contact media level sensors
https://www.balluff.com/local/my/products/p...citive-sensors/

You dont need to drill hole in the tank.
if you can wire up PNP NO transistor to either a simple LED board or some form of automation controller (industry use PLC la but this can be simulated using a sensor tester so something like u have 3 sensors at Hi Mid and Lo levels; use their signal correspond to set of LEDs visual output). The detection range can be adjusted depend on ur tank thickness, for plastic tank easy la. Metal tank need more tricks.

The sensor is the non-contact media detection type stick on outside of the tank. They will work fine w 12V DC power.
If got water it will produce a signal.
If no water it will be open (no signal).
Then by using this signal either feed to LED indicator or to automation controller that accept sensor signals..saw some arduino like kits

What kind of sensor.. sth like BCS003A
https://www.balluff.com/local/us/productfin..._measure=347263

This post has been edited by ceo684: May 14 2021, 03:37 PM

I dont understanding your post.

If any lighting to do with water level, search for those submersible aquarium lighting.

Hope it helps.

Alternatively.. basically automate the water pump filling using a kit w 3 sensors at Lo, Hi and Overflow states to control the water pump operation automatically so u dont need to keep checking on it.

https://s.lazada.com.my/s.XBhNm

Basically just hook up power and the sensors, water pump check the power rating, if within the kit spec no need external contactor, else add one contactor for the water pump kautim.

Thanks all for the recommendations.

What I need is a method to monitor the water level in the tank. When the tank gets empty, the key chain will go up. When full, down. The red tape is the full and empty indicator. There is a ball in it stop the water level when full. Only when the water level is empty, I need to cut it out in order to protect the hitachi pump.

One solution I found was this https://paremtech.com/ kind of level. Automatic sends notification to phone.

Ahh so it should NOT allow to operate the pump when water is zero. (Earlier I thought u wanna automate filling this tank up.)

Should be possible around the same solution but need to carefully understand the NO NC part to trigger whether allow pump to work or deny the pump when water at Lo.

Otherwise we dont need to worry about it overflowing, its just 1 sensor to allow or deny pump to operate (ie. to suck from this tank) based on whether actual level is Lo or above Lo.

My electronics not that great but basically it involve one nontouch sensor like the BCS0003 earlier mentioned, at the minimum Lo level of ur feed tank. Sensor is PNP NO so when got water it should produce a signal when closed. This just need a small 12V or 24V to sensor to run.

Then hook up to a contactor from the sensor signal output to use the sensor signal (should be on NO input of the contactor) so the pump wired to the contactor will only be enabled if theres water. No water it wont run..

https://youtu.be/541mxiW8LnU

Can try post on serious kopitiam..there got more electronic expert. The idea is somewhere there.

This post has been edited by ceo684: May 14 2021, 04:45 PM

Not sure this is what you want ....

https://shopee.com.my/product/47886012/8201...45-1620985819.3

Aquarium products would have more info relating to what you want.

This post has been edited by mini orchard: May 14 2021, 05:55 PM

Use those garden light which bulb is plug in from bottom instead of from top. It will last much longer.

i suggest you have a look at the way water enters the tank.

it doesnt seem to be the correct method of installing the water tank inlet.

also, with typical mains pressure a tank can install 2 inlet of 1/2 inch water tank float valve.

most pump with automatic pump controller have dry run protection built in.

New and expensive pump have that

lel...........not really.......

pumps more than 10 years ago have that.

even if not, can add on a pump controller to easily add that function

Ok

"Only when the water level is empty, I need to cut it out in order to protect the hitachi pump. "

Sorry I m confuse.

The water pump is pumping the water into the tank ?

Or pumping out from the tank?

At first I was also confuse .... water, light, off pump.

The reserve water tank is to store water from the main and to be pump to the various part of the house.

In most houses, water from the main is faster or equal to uage but not in ts case .....

Incoming flow from the main is slower than usage ... hence need to turn off the pump b4 the water dries up to prevent the pump from damage.

He mention that the pump is from the secondary water tank.

So it pump the water out from the tank?

In this case, why not join a pipe between 2 tank to equalize the water on both tank?

With this, no need sensor or anything. Gravity take care everything.

The core idea is the tank is used as feed tank. Feed tank must not run dry. If got water then it is safe to run pump.

Not used as filler tank so we cannot use fill control type for aquarium that stops when at Hi level.

I have 2 tank also. What I do is not let the tank dry or water not in usage at all.

And didn't use any electronic or electrical to control. Just plumbing and gravity.

I think ts 2 tanks are not on same level.....one grd flr, the other higher. Gr supply water to higher. Main supply is weak to supply to higher, hence the grd fl tank with pump.

Yup, hence to prevent feed tank pump from running dry, my suggestion was just use a Lo level sensor to operate contactor to power pump (allow pump to operate) ONLY if there is water beyond a Lo level at feed tank. So he dont need to risk going out in the darkness (snakes or bugs) at night just to check the level manually. If there is enough water inside the feed tank then the contactor will be able to supply power to his pump (or smart switch if he wants to on/off the pump manually on demand).

Hi/overflow of the feed tank no need to bother as that is already automated by the float.

This post has been edited by ceo684: May 17 2021, 07:37 PM

My house area water pressure from main is slow. Very slow. Weekday from 10 am - 10 pm no water. Hence there is a table next to the main pipe for catchments from 10 pm onwards. There is another tank at back of the house. Between the first and second tank, there is a pump I cannot let the pump run all the time as sometimes the water from the front tank gets empty. So I need a mechanism to cure off water when it is empty

Yes this

What kind do you suggest?

Alternatively, if anyone knows where I can find a high capacity low profile tank, that will work too.

This post has been edited by mystvearn: May 18 2021, 12:07 AM

Is this the type you are searching...



This post has been edited by mini orchard: May 18 2021, 07:35 AM

I m still confuse. From your explain, what I understand is

1) the 1st tank is in front of the house and same level as 2nd tank
2) The pump is for drawing the water from the 1st tank to the 2nd tank
3) The main water is only connected to the 1st tank

Is that correct?

The question is

1) the 1st tank got any connection to others' usage? Like to toilet etc.
2) the 2nd tank got any connection to others' usage? Like to toilet, kitchen etc.
3) Why need a pump between 2 tank that is in front and back with the same level?


Is this correct?

What is the capacity Liter you want?

What is the tank capacity you're using now?

yes but on hold for the moment.

Correct but my setup, the water for mains has to travel like 3 m and climb 1.2m to the first tank. Even this one also tak larat-shows how poor the water pressure is here.

For now settled on a simpler solution. Put smaller tank 100 gal below main water level, and wait. Since my last tank on roof use float valve only push 50 gallon per time, this should give enough time for the small tank next to the mains to recover the water sent. Will also settle the problem of sensor. As all other tanks use pressure sensor based on the float sensor on the roof tank.

If the pic is correct, and both tank at the same ground level, why need a pump ?

The solution is as simple as this.



Both tank will fill up at the same time. The pump is only pump water into the house. Don't need gadget or whatsoever thing to monitor.

The only way you can do for the low pressure is to complain to the Syabas if from Selangor. "the water for mains has to travel like 3 m and climb 1.2m to the first tank." The water already travel more than 3m before reach your house.

I think you misread his post.

1st tank is near the main with pump to 2nd tank.

2nd tank is on roof ...supply to kitchen and bathroom.

Usage faster than refill from main, hence need a controller to stop pump when water level is low. Certain hours of the day, there is no supply from main to refill tank 1.

This post has been edited by mini orchard: May 19 2021, 09:22 AM

Water pressure is poor at my area. The 1st pic is now the solution. Put a new tank lower than 2 feet (meter main water), let water flow into it. Then pump to existing tank (about 3m away). I don't want to pull water with a pump directly from the meter because it will result in expensive water bill. Like from RM20 to 80 (and that is only pulling 2 weeks at night for about 2 hours). I know people who pull constantly that get RM300+ in water bills. In severe cases when there is a water cut/ high community usuage of water, then water will not flow out at all. If not covid-19 time, usually if school holiday/any holiday in general, lots of people will come here and water will be scarce.

Thanks all again for the reply. Thread close for now.