Auto Top off question

[arvin]

I am trying to hook up the JBJ Auto top off controller.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...ROD&Product_Code=JBJ-ATO&Category_Code=Dosers

Mode A installation example 2 is what I am trying to do. I set the float up, when the water level goes below the float, the pump gets triggered as expected. But when the water level goes up and lifts the float, it does not switch off the pump. What am I doing wrong?

Mode A is selected and only sensor 1 is used.

 

[Absinthe]

Sounds like it should be shutting off. ??? ???

Have you tried selecting different modes on the controller?

If you have it set for the mode for 2 sensors (mode B) then it WONT shut off when the sensor rises because it is waiting for the second sensor to rise.

In Mode B the drop of the bottom sensor triggers the water to rise, the lifting of the top sensor shuts it off. The bottom sensor only triggers water IN to the sump/tank.

At least thats how mine was!

 

[arvin]

I found out what was happening. Once the float goes up it does switch the pump off. However, even after the pump was off, the siphon continues to pump the water into the sump. How can I set this up so when the pump is off, it actually STOPS the water being pumped?

 

[Phyl]

For our systems we have the outlet of the hose above the water line in the "bucket". If gravity can get to it, it will continue to carry the water down.

 

[Absinthe]

For our systems we have the outlet of the hose above the water line in the "bucket". If gravity can get to it, it will continue to carry the water down.

Exactly!

I would secure my outlet tubing above the level of the sump and actually let it run down a 1/2" PVC "slide" to prevent splashing and spilling

Glad you figured it out!

 

[arvin]

Actually I figured out the problem, but not the solution!

Leaving the hose above the water line would only avoid the back siphon. In my case, I have the pump immersed in the top-off reservoir and the reservoir is ABOVE the sump. So even after the pump is off the siphon continues to pump the water to the sump. Not sure how to circumvent this.

 

[Absinthe]

Actually I figured out the problem, but not the solution!

Leaving the hose above the water line would only avoid the back siphon. In my case, I have the pump immersed in the top-off reservoir and the reservoir is ABOVE the sump. So even after the pump is off the siphon continues to pump the water to the sump. Not sure how to circumvent this.

Ahh

Yeah, you probably need to figure out a way to have the reservoir lower.

When I had my ATO setup I even needed to keep the water level in the reservoir lower than the level of the sump.

Would a siphon hole help?

If you are using 1/2" tubing and make a hole (1/4") in the side of the tubing near the pump...perhaps the PUMP would have enough power to pump water past the hole and into the sump, but GRAVITY wouldnt be able to push enough water and overcome the hole in the tubing.

Hmm..maybe not.

 

[Phyl]

The water level in our bucket is much higher than our sump. We pipe into a pvc stack that has multiple feeds to it. The top of that pvc stack is open so there's an air break. The PVC pipe is much larger than the feed/flow from the pump so the siphon break is natural. Take a look at the white bucket next to our sump in the photos. They feed into the PVC stack at the far end of that sump.

I don't see a siphon break hole doing anything other than creating a mess. The flow of the water will be more than the siphon break will stop, IMHO.