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Battery Operated Auto-Top Off

This is my DIY battery operated auto top off system. I wanted to go battery operated because I didn't want anything plugged into the wall connected to the float switch.

I found a pump that is normally used for a camp water supply. I have it mounted on a 5 gallon jug which it is made for. It could be used on a larger capacity container, but 5 gallons is perfect for my system.

I'm using two float switches that I mounted in my sump and I feed tube has also been mounted in the sump in a seperate compartment.

 

Materials:

2 - Float switches - http://www.floatswitches.net/ OR Ebay $5
1 - Battery Operated Water Pump - Ebay (PureWaterDepot) $20
1 - 3-5ft piece of 1/2" clear rubber tubing
1 - 5 gallon water jug

 

To mount the float switches and the feed tube I used scrap pieces of acrylic and heated and bent them into shape so they fit on the edge of the sump.

I suppose you could also add on to this setup with your RO/DI and an auto cut off switch for your RO system to refill the 5 gallon jug but I dont have have it lucky enough to have the RO plumbed into the house.

 

ATO Construction:

1. Mount your float switch in the sump at the level you would like the water to be maintained at. I used acrylic and drilled a hole in it and bent the acrylic to sit on the side of my tank.

2. Remove the switch from the top of the pump leaving a hole to the battery compartment.

 

 

 

3. Attach a piece of tubing to the end of the pump output and place the other end in your sump where you want the water to enter. I placed it in a different compartment than the float switch.


4. Attach the wires from the float switch to the pump. when you remove the battery cap, you will see a metal ring around the battery compartment. Attach one wire to it, and the other wire to the positive side of a D battery. I soldered the wires on my pump.


5. Mount the tube in a different compartment in your sump. This will allow the pump to run a little longer before it triggers the float switch off. The pump won't run as often this way.

Done!!

Monitor the level in the tank for a bit to
make sure it is functioning correctly.
 

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