Flood! Help! Wife will soon find out!

[Julie]

Nelson, when you patent it I'm sure OVAS members will be your first customers.

srenka mentionned putting a little hole on the input hose to break the siphon in case of a leak - anyone else tried it?


Julie

[AdamR]

A long time ago in high school shop class we made such a device,  its intended use was to tell you when your plants need watered.  No water between the two probes set off an alarm.  Don't ask me how it is made but you may want to look in the gardening section.

Adam

PS Sorry to read about your flood.

[darkdep]

Thanks AdamR, I tend to look at bad things like this as learning experiences, just wish I was a little less educated right now :lol:

Julie:  The input-hose-hole if I remember correctly is a common adaptation for sump setups, as a break in electricity can cause a sump to overflow if steps are not taken to avoid the problem.  I will be trying this out on my own tank and will advise if it works well.

[Nelson]

Nelson, when you patent it I'm sure OVAS members will be your first customers.

srenka mentionned putting a little hole on the input hose to break the siphon in case of a leak - anyone else tried it?


Julie

That's also a good idea too Julie...although I don't imagine you would put the hole in the hose but just below the water line in the hard plastic intake pipe.

[Nelson]

FYI

http://cgi.ebay.com/Water-Overflow-Alert-Alarm-System-Aquarium-Sump_W0QQitemZ7708856641QQcategoryZ3212QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[darkdep]

My problem with this device is you have to know where the leak will occur from (or place it on the floor).

I would the the opposite device would be better, one that screams when water ISN'T connecting the probes.  That way you can put it inside your tank just below waterline and if a leak occurs for any reason (crack anywhere in the tank, canister, hose, etc) as soon as the water level starts to drop you'd be alerted.

Maybe this device could have it's wires crossed X=)

[gvv]

The problem is that thes probes using water as a conductor, so without water there will be no electrical current and as soon as the media between two elctrodes become wet, we have a current and may generate audio/vidio signal. So, if we would like to use something like this it will mean that you should put two electrodes into tank and I'm not sure how happy fish will be with this :?
So, instead it is better to use something like toilet shut-off (or something like this http://aquariacanada.com/osCommerce/product_info.php?cPath=1_82_107&products_id=354). This could be an interesting science project

Regards

[Nelson]

The problem is that thes probes using water as a conductor, so without water there will be no electrical current and as soon as the media between two elctrodes become wet, we have a current and may generate audio/vidio signal. So, if we would like to use something like this it will mean that you should put two electrodes into tank and I'm not sure how happy fish will be with this :?
So, instead it is better to use something like toilet shut-off (or something like this http://aquariacanada.com/osCommerce/product_info.php?cPath=1_82_107&products_id=354). This could be an interesting science project

Regards

I'm thinking that that a 9 volt battery wouldn't have enough current to hurt fish, particularly if the electrodes are spaced about a 1/4 ".  They could also be shielded as well - as long as the water level is free to lower.  The big question is how do you activate a siren/alarm once the circuit has been broken - no water between the electrodes :?   Maybe not as easy as I originally thought Julie :lol:

[gvv]

Hi Nelson,
I didn't mean to use 110/120V for this probe  :lol:  It should be called the water heater and not a probe in this case -  I used such a design to boil water when were younger.
And also it is possible to make a circuit, that will signal when there is no current in secondary circuit. I'm just to lazy  :wink: to start doing something like this and will prefer to dril a hole in the filter input as srenka suggested.

[Nelson]

Guess I'm on a mission....how does this sound.    

Get a plastic rod that will move freely inside a plastic pipe, similar to a filter intake tube.  At the bottom end of this plastic rod you attach material that will float.  This rod will run through a metal ring, similar to a washer, that has been secured to the inside rod with an electrode attached.  This device must be able to ride freely inside the larger plastic tube.  The other electrode is attached to the inside of the large tube, below the first electrode.  Secure the apparatus to the side of the tank and attach the other end of the wires to a simple 9V buzzer.  As the water level drops, the inside rod will also lower and at some predetermine point the two contacts will touch, closing the circuit and sounding the alarm.

Does this make sense?

PATENT PENDING :wink:

OR....DRILL A HOLE IN THE INTAKE TUBE

[darkdep]

Drilling a hole isn't as cool.  

Switches have a designation of NO (Normally Open) or NC (Normally Closed).  All you do is have the "probe switch" be a normally closed switch, so the circuit design will squeal if the circuit is broken.

[AdamR]

LOL - this is what you want...

BIRD ALARM SINGS OUT WHEN PLANTS NEED WATER
YOUR PETS probably get a holiday gift. Maybe your plants could use one too.

A new gadget called the Bird Plant Alarm, which breaks into song when a plant needs water, might be just what your wilting fern would put on its wish list.

A realistic-looking yellow bird sits atop a gold-plated probe, which is inserted into the plant's soil. When the soil gets dry, the bird begins to sing one of three songs, depending on which model you order - ``Try to Remember,'' ``If You Love Me'' or ``You Are My Sunshine.''

Powered by two replaceable batteries that should work for up to 1 1/2 years, the bird will croon for about two minutes every 30 minutes until the plant is watered. If you're lucky, the soil won't get thirsty at 4 a.m.

The alarm, which retails for $14.99, will be available locally in home improvement and hardware stores early next year. To order one now, call or write the manufacturer, Solar Wide, 245 Carlton Terrace, Teaneck, N.J. 07666, phone (201) 836-3877. The company adds an additional $3 charge for shipping and handling and requires payment by check

[gvv]

Only one question left - what will happen if I'm not at home when the probe starts singing/flashing/ringing (etc.) :?
I think, the paging should also be provided :lol:
And Nelson - cool design!

[Nelson]

Only one question left - what will happen if I'm not at home when the probe starts singing/flashing/ringing (etc.) :?
I think, the paging should also be provided :lol:
And Nelson - cool design!

Good point gvv, back to the drawing board :?   ....and how about when you forget to disconnect it during a water change and the alarm goes off, your wife starts yelling at you, the kids start crying and the cat is clinging to the ceiling :lol:

[gvv]

Good point gvv, back to the drawing board :?   ....and how about when you forget to disconnect it during a water change and the alarm goes off, your wife starts yelling at you, the kids start crying and the cat is clinging to the ceiling :lol:

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Toss]

HAHAHAHA.....you guys very funny  :lol:  :lol:

[tfs]

I use to own a cleaning company.  Rent a carpet cleaner at your local supermarket or loblaws.  They do the job really well.

[luvfishies]

Only one question left - what will happen if I'm not at home when the probe starts singing/flashing/ringing (etc.) :?
I think, the paging should also be provided :lol:
And Nelson - cool design!

Good point gvv, back to the drawing board :?   ....and how about when you forget to disconnect it during a water change and the alarm goes off, your wife starts yelling at you, the kids start crying and the cat is clinging to the ceiling :lol:

The drilling of a hole will circumvent all of this. Not cool, but hey, this is a case of KISS and minimising damage.

[darkdep]

Oh man, I never thought about the PAGING aspect!  That's what I want!  I need it to have some sort of USB / Serial interface so it can email me when failure occurs.

BTW, if I ever meet someone who owns that bird alarm, I don't care how nice you are, I will shove it up your (insert favourite inappropriate body orifice name here).

What would the fish think with this weird looking bird watching over them all day?

Alas, I will resort to the drilled hole as I can't imagine finding the perfect product.

(back to serious mode)

tfs:  Now THAT is a great idea!  Do they use chemicals that inhibit mould growth while the carpet is drying?

[Nelson]

Drilling a hole in the intake tube is no doubt the simple solution if your canister is leaking - worse case scenario is a few gallons on the floor.  But how does that warn you of a leaking tank that requires immediate action to prevent your tank from emptying onto the floor:roll:  (Assuming of course someone is available to respond)