Float Switch Wiring Diagram?

[Modo]

Can anyone point me to a diagram on how to wire up a float switch? I am wanting to wire it up like the pic below. But, I am not sure if I need a relay or not. Or can I just wire the switch between the positive and leave the negative to the powerhead. Thanks for any help!

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
You need a relay in the black box. Float switch usually can not handle high voltage, and you going to kill it very quickly, if not the very first time you plug it in.

 

[Syris]

I built one for a top-off unit and modified for my needs.

Got the plans from http://livinglava.com/diy_float_switch.htm

HTH

 

[Modo]

What are you using the AC/DC transformer for? I saw that website you linked to but don't get the schematics. The relay that he uses has some kind of weird plug on it. Where does that go?

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
The power supply is to convert the AC to more manageable 12VDC. That is what plug into the related, in series with the float switch.

 

[Syris]

The bottom outlet in my pic is regular 120VAC (where the power pack is)
The top outlet is also 120VAC but controlled by the 12vDC relay(this is where I plug my powerhead in). The float in the sump acts as the "On/off" switch for the relay.
Just like Goodfellow said, I use the AC/DC power pack to supply the correct voltage to the relay.
Using a 12vDC circuit on the float swicth is safer in case of a short than using 120vAC in the sump.
The actual switch in my pic on the box is just for me to turn the whole unit off when I do water changes or clean the float.

I don't know if what I wrote is clear or not but I hope it helps. Just can't find the words to explain it better right now.

 

[Modo]

That makes alot more since. I just wish you had a pic of the back so I could see the actual wiring.

Thanks for clarifying!

 

[Syris]

Modo,

If I can tonight (at work right now) I will get pic of inside. Still might not show you much though because (if I remember correctly) the relay is on a "bread" board.

 

[Modo]

Don't sweat the pic. I figured it out now. I was getting confused about the pins on the relay. I blew up that schematic and it makes sense to me now.

Thanks everybody for the help!

 

[Reefguide]

I bought that same float switch on Ebay Can you post the diagram ?

 

[Modo]

The diagrams we're are talking about are at the link below. It's not the switch in the picture. I was just using that as an example of what I was wanting to do.

http://livinglava.com/diy_float_switch.htm

So, how does that float switch work for you? Is there any problems that you have had so far? I like doing DIY stuff, but for the price of that switch it might be worth checking out.

 

[Modo]

Hey Syris,
To make this a little more compact do you think the DC power could be supplied by a battery as long as the voltage matches the relay? Just thinking out loud.

-Kurt

 

[Syris]

Modo,
Sounds possible but I wouldn't want the added concern of a battery going dead. I thinks its just as easy to find an old AC/DC pack that outputs 12vDC or whatever you're relay and float sw are rated at.