24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,200
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,200
So ex-wife has a septic pump that pumps uphill to the actual city septic network. It got stinky and she called me over. We’re still friendly enough, as we’re still co-parenting our boys, so not that big of a deal.

I’ve done troubleshooting to the point where pressing what I believe is the momentary contact button on the relay does nothing, but jumping across the relay runs the pump. Bad relay, right? Or could it be the float switch somehow?

TIA all,
Scott



BP-B2

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,464
P
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
P
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,464
Originally Posted by Scott_Thornley
So ex-wife has a septic pump that pumps uphill to the actual city septic network. It got stinky and she called me over. We’re still friendly enough, as we’re still co-parenting outlets boys, so not that big of a deal.

I’ve done troubleshooting to the point where pressing what I believe is the momentary contact button on the relay does nothing, but jumping across the relay runs the pump. Bad relay, right? Or could it be the float switch somehow?

TIA all,
Scott

Sounds like the relay.

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
A faulty float is most common.


Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex

Originally Posted by renegade50
My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!!

What are psychotic puppet hunters?
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,650
R
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
R
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,650
depending on the control,is it set up to where the float pulls in the coil on the relay ?

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,650
R
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
R
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,650
jump the float and see if it pulls in.

IC B2

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,200
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,200
Originally Posted by rong
jump the float and see if it pulls in.

Ah, good idea.



Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 9,679
H
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
H
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 9,679
Those float switches are tough, but they're not indestructible. Remember- - - -they live in a reallt schiddty environment! Rig up a push button switch that connects to the same terminals as the float, push the button, and see if the pump runs. I've rebuilt those things, after a thorough wash job.


Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,650
R
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
R
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,650
^^ and remember to not bite your fingernails ^^ grin

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,180
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,180
A quick ohm read would also tell.


Originally Posted by BrentD

I would not buy something that runs on any kind of primer given the possibility of primer shortages and even regulations. In fact, why not buy a flintlock? Really. Rocks aren't going away anytime soon.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,200
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,200
Originally Posted by rong
^^ and remember to not bite your fingernails ^^ grin

Sheeet flows downhill
Don’t bite your fingernails
Always work with your mouth closed
Don’t eat the last bite of sandwich
Payday is on Friday


I’m not a plumber, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn once upon a time…


I have no clue what happened, but it’s working just fine now….. Seriously….

I’m looking up schematics s for the Eaton C25BNB230A contactor to see if what I think does what, actually does. I know it’s gonna fail again soon….



IC B3

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,704
1
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
1
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,704
Just a float activated sewer pump?

Bet if you disconnect the float and try to get a read while someone manipulates the float you will find it's hit and miss.

I bet the float is a N/O and closes when it tips.

BTDT on a lot of sewage lift ststions.

Does it have a high level alarm light or buzzer that's float activated?

Last edited by 10gaugemag; 06/20/22.

The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,704
1
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
1
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,704
Don't lick your lips either.


The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Hit and miss syndrome could also just be debris hung up on the float.


Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex

Originally Posted by renegade50
My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!!

What are psychotic puppet hunters?
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,464
P
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
P
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,464
But if he overrides the float signal by manually operating the relay to no effect, then the float signal is not the issue.

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,704
1
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
1
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,704
Originally Posted by akasparky
Hit and miss syndrome could also just be debris hung up on the float.
True.

Any grease build up floating around in the pit?

Possibly a zip tie that holds float to a stand pipe broke?

Last edited by 10gaugemag; 06/21/22.

The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Originally Posted by plumbum
But if he overrides the float signal by manually operating the relay to no effect, then the float signal is not the issue.

No offense to the OP intended but since he didn't comment on a float test I'm guessing when he says he is 'jumping the relay' he's also by-passing the float in doing so.

Hat's off to him for diving in and trying to figure things out.
In doing so he's managed to pump the system down manually which I'm sure has been quite helpful.

This comment from the OP is also quite admirable..

We’re still friendly enough, as we’re still co-parenting outlets boys, so not that big of a deal.


Great example for his sons!


Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex

Originally Posted by renegade50
My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!!

What are psychotic puppet hunters?
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Originally Posted by akasparky
Hit and miss syndrome could also just be debris hung up on the float.
True.

Any grease build up floating around in the pit?

Possibly a zip tie that holds float to a stand pipe broke?

Those floats are so often the culprit it's not funny, but sometimes it is.

The floats fool people, it's that black and white wire issue.

They know enough to go buy a new float and install it.
But they forget how it was wired.

So they go to their default electrical knowledge, black to the power and white to the neutral.

Well, first time the newly wired float 'makes' the breaker blows.
So they go out and buy a new pump and install it but the breaker still blows so they call a pro.

Two minutes on the job you see the problem and land the float wires in the proper locations and wa-la, everything works.

They gratefully stroke out that $129.00 service call check since their bathtub is no longer full of turds all the while swearing it'd been wired like that for years and worked.

Yeah, sure it has, $29.00 fix turned into a $500.00 DIY wonder.


Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex

Originally Posted by renegade50
My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!!

What are psychotic puppet hunters?
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,852
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,852
Since he manually pushed in the contactor, aka starter, and it didn't run, that would mean the contacts in the starter didn't make. By jumping around the contacts, and the motor ran, it just fortifies that train of thought.

The float switch would only supply power to activate, aka pull in, the contactor. In other words, the float switch is control power to the starter.
Whether the float switch is good or bad, by manually pushing in the starter or jumping around the starter, you have by-passed the float.

If its running ok now, I suspect the starter is going bad or had trash on the contact points. We have an ant that loves to get into electrical stuff and that is a common problem with starters, pressure switches, etc. in this part of the country.


Old Turd- Deplorable- Unrepentant Murderer- Domestic Violent Extremist

Just "Campfire Riffraff and Trash"

This will be my last post! Flave 1/3/21
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,070
F
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
F
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,070
Divorced, and still dealing with her schidt. Sorry, man...

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,018
Originally Posted by Oldman03
Since he manually pushed in the contactor, aka starter, and it didn't run, that would mean the contacts in the starter didn't make.

Quote
Or the starter is dependent on 120v line power which passes through the float if it were making like 99% of home sewage pumps.

By jumping around the contacts, and the motor ran, it just fortifies that train of thought.

The float switch would only supply power to activate, aka pull in, the contactor. In other words, the float switch is control power to the starter.
Whether the float switch is good or bad, by manually pushing in the starter or jumping around the starter, you have by-passed the float.

If its running ok now, I suspect the starter is going bad or had trash on the contact points. We have an ant that loves to get into electrical stuff and that is a common problem with starters, pressure switches, etc. in this part of the country.

Kinda rare to find a mag-starter on a home sewage pump.
Pictures of what he's working with would be worth a thousand words.


Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex

Originally Posted by renegade50
My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!!

What are psychotic puppet hunters?
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
698 members (10gaugemag, 10ring1, 12308300, 007FJ, 160user, 10Glocks, 81 invisible), 2,734 guests, and 1,310 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,637
Posts18,398,948
Members73,817
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.116s Queries: 15 (0.004s) Memory: 0.8979 MB (Peak: 1.0492 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 17:08:38 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS