Septic Alarm went off

[grsthegreat]

the joke is that they want 100-150 bucks for this simple piece o junk. I could make my own for $10 in parts . Gone are the days you could get a kit from radio shack.

then again

https://www.ebay.com/p/Tank-Alert-1...E-RHOMBUS-101-01H/1834319277?iid=323627116448

 

[MossRoad]

I miss Radio Shaft. It was nice to be able to get small components from the drawers and shelves without having to mail order.

We also had a couple TV and Radio Supply houses locally, that were just GREAT! Sad that they're gone.

 

[check]

That's why I think maybe the internals of the switches isn't what I drew.

Anyhow, I'd wire it like this... (disclaimer, I don't know what I'm talking about, so don't do it).

View attachment 597875

Moss, I can “test” your theory of the second diagram. As I mentioned earlier, when I unplug the power from the wall receptacle and test the float switch leads, there is no continuity and of course, this is what we want, and tells us that the float in the pump tank buried outside under the snow is NOT in an alarm condition.

But if your second diagram is right, I should get continuity at the float switch leads when I turn the test switch on.

Of course, that would indicate that everything os A OK on the box, which we know is not the case. (The alarm goes on as soon as I plug un the power.)

So it may be the test switch with some sort of weird intermittent problem, but I think it is the silence switch if I had to bet money on it.

A fun puzzle to work on, because fortunately the pump in the pump tank is functioning properly during all this time!

 

[grsthegreat]

CW New On/Off 2-position SPDT PCB Panel Slide Switch 6A/125Volts | eBay

New switch. If the test switch is bad, it will alwats sound.

 

[MossRoad]

Moss, I can 鍍est your theory of the second diagram. As I mentioned earlier, when I unplug the power from the wall receptacle and test the float switch leads, there is no continuity and of course, this is what we want, and tells us that the float in the pump tank buried outside under the snow is NOT in an alarm condition.

But if your second diagram is right, I should get continuity at the float switch leads when I turn the test switch on.

Of course, that would indicate that everything os A OK on the box, which we know is not the case. (The alarm goes on as soon as I plug un the power.)

So it may be the test switch with some sort of weird intermittent problem, but I think it is the silence switch if I had to bet money on it.

A fun puzzle to work on, because fortunately the pump in the pump tank is functioning properly during all this time!

The test switch only tests the lamp and buzzer. It doesn't test the float switch itself, or any of the wires/connections leading to/from it.

 

[grsthegreat]

The test switch only tests the lamp and buzzer. It doesn't test the float switch itself, or any of the wires/connections leading to/from it.

i fully agree. Nothing in that box tests the float itself.

 

[check]

i fully agree. Nothing in that box tests the float itself.

Sure it does. You just need to test the float switch for continuity by touching your meter to the 2 float switch leads. If there is no continuity, obviously the float switch is not what is causing the alarm to go on constantly.

Will test the switch with the three leads, that is used to silence the alarm, in the morning. Up at the cottage, but it is dark, the fire is going, and the wine is flowing. Don’t really feel like going downstairs to the basement right now!

 

[Firemanbuck]

Didn't read 8 pages of responses first, so apologies if it's already been said.

I had this same problem when the wife called me when I was out of the country. When I got back, I checked the pump chamber and the cable ties that hold the high-level alarm float had busted and dropped the float into the "water". Grabbed a few new ties out of the shop and fixed it right up. So, check to make sure the float switches are all in their correct locations.

 

[MossRoad]

Sure it does. You just need to test the float switch for continuity by touching your meter to the 2 float switch leads. If there is no continuity, obviously the float switch is not what is causing the alarm to go on constantly.

Will test the switch with the three leads, that is used to silence the alarm, in the morning. Up at the cottage, but it is dark, the fire is going, and the wine is flowing. Don稚 really feel like going downstairs to the basement right now!

That's not what he and I are saying. What we are saying is the test switch only tests the lamp and buzzer.

 

[grsthegreat]

Sure it does. You just need to test the float switch for continuity by touching your meter to the 2 float switch leads. If there is no continuity, obviously the float switch is not what is causing the alarm to go on constantly.

Will test the switch with the three leads, that is used to silence the alarm, in the morning. Up at the cottage, but it is dark, the fire is going, and the wine is flowing. Don稚 really feel like going downstairs to the basement right now!

What i ment is the test switch doesnt test the float.