I switched the neutral on my float switch in a cistern

buickanddeere · Mar 24, 2016

MillWeld said:
Not exactly a tractor job but a tractor did dig the hole for the cistern, so...

I put a float switch in the tank to shut the pump off if the water level gets too low. If I ran the hot wire to the switch (as is certainly standard) and the switch ever leaked then I have a potentially dangerous situation on my hands. A cistern with a 125VAC wire in it... and maybe or maybe not it will draw enough current to trip the breaker.. I didn't want to risk it so I ran the neutral to the switch and labeled the junction box in the crawl space as a reminder to me. What are your comments on this?

The cistern is 500 gallons, collects roofwater for a garden and has been in operation a couple of years. Here is the switch.
Series CFS2 | Cable Float Switch | Dwyer Instruments

Wrong , incorrect, immoral and illegal.

arkydog · Mar 24, 2016

i thought that gfci held in the circuit by the line voltage. so if you want to make a circuit 60 volt for a item that requires 60 volt, do they make 60 volt gfci in 60 volt or what size gfci's do they make?

Industrial Toys · Mar 24, 2016

No, A GFI simply looks at the current going out and compares it with what is coming back. IF what is coming back is less, it assumes a leak to ground (through whatever fault) and shuts off.

hr3 · Mar 24, 2016

Where is the pump ? In the tank or remote from the tank ???

MillWeld · Mar 24, 2016

The pump is outside the tank. A foot valve is in the tank.

Apsterbobed · Mar 24, 2016

arkydog said:
i thought that gfci held in the circuit by the line voltage. so if you want to make a circuit 60 volt for a item that requires 60 volt, do they make 60 volt gfci in 60 volt or what size gfci's do they make?

The GFCI will only provide protection on the high voltage side of the transformer, everything on the high voltage side that is downstream of the GFCI, most importantly the pump.

hr3 · Mar 25, 2016

MillWeld said:
The pump is outside the tank. A foot valve is in the tank.

Is the pump hard wired or plugged into an outlet ? Is the pump out in the weather or in a pump house? Before anyone answers your question they should know all the facts.

MillWeld · Mar 25, 2016

Pump is in the crawl space and is plugged in.

hr3 · Mar 25, 2016

MillWeld said:
Pump is in the crawl space and is plugged in.

Then what I would do is put in a GFI outlet and wire this onto your float switch that you already bought

MillWeld · Mar 26, 2016

The deed is done - I switched polarity on the in-tank switch and installed a GFI receptacle. Thanks for the input and guiding me through my ignorance.