INKBIRD for ATO?

[Harry g]

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a ATO from autotopoff.com and I wanted to see if there was anything I could add like the INKBIRD has for heaters, where it would cut off power to the pump when it senses the water level being to high.

 

[Joe31415]

Are you looking for a redundant fill switch for the ATO? First, make sure it doesn't have one built in. The Tunze, for example, will shut off if the pump runs for more than 10 minutes. An Inkbird is for a heater, you could probably swap some sensors out, but that's a lot of extra work. All you really need to do, and this is over simplified, is get a fill switch and use it to cut power to the ATO or pump.

Edit, that site is a pain to navigate, but the easier option maybe to get whichever kit this applies to "The second float switch acts as a fail-safe on double switch controllers"

 

[Harry g]

Are you looking for a redundant fill switch for the ATO? First, make sure it doesn't have one built in. The Tunze, for example, will shut off if the pump runs for more than 10 minutes. An Inkbird is for a heater, you could probably swap some sensors out, but that's a lot of extra work. All you really need to do, and this is over simplified, is get a fill switch and use it to cut power to the ATO.

It’s just a float switch ATO, I was wondering if there was something like the inkbird that would shut off power to the pump once it senses water.

 

[Joe31415]

An inkbird isn't what you want. You just need a second float switch. From what I can see from the site, they do sell at least one model that implements a second switch. Otherwise, just wire one in yourself. Just get a NC switch (or a normally open float switch mounted upside down), mount it higher than the main switch and wire it in. Either in series with the first switch or breaking the DC power to the unit or the pump.

(I'm going to stop short of giving actual wiring directions since I don't know, specifically, how that model works).

 

[penfold2]

It’s just a float switch ATO, I was wondering if there was something like the inkbird that would shut off power to the pump once it senses water.

The float switch is what shuts off power to the pump once it senses water. You could add a redundant float switch, which is a good idea. I have two float switches in case one fails.

 

[Joe31415]

You could add a redundant float switch, which is a good idea. I have two float switches in case one fails.

And, now that I think about it, the Tunze ATOs that I have, in addition to turning off if they run for more than 10 minutes, also have a back up float switch in addition to the optical sensor.

 

[Harry g]

It’s just a float switch ATO, I was wondering if there was something like the inkbird that would shut off power to the pump once it senses water.

The float switch is what shuts off power to the pump once it senses water. You could add a redundant float switch, which is a good idea. I have two float switches in case one fails.

That’s what I want just more redundancy, how hard is it to wire it in? I’m not really too good with that type of stuff, I can always DIY tank lids and crap but when it gets to electrical stuff I’ve never done anything before.

 

[penfold2]

That’s what I want just more redundancy, how hard is it to wire it in? I’m not really too good with that type of stuff, I can always DIY tank lids and crap but when it gets to electrical stuff I’ve never done anything before.

One wire from each of the float switches would need to be spliced together, and then the remaining two wires from the float switches would go to the same spots the current float switch is connected to inside the box. Positive/negative does not matter. The connections inside the box are likely screw terminals, so should be very easy to change. You just need the float switch, bracket, and a way to splice the two wires together (solder and shrink wrap is ideal, but there are solderless wire splice connectors on Amazon as well).