rayg Posted May 27, 2021 Posted May 27, 2021 Does the Brain Trust have suggestions as to how I can implement a Potentiometer / switch based / other Pond Level mechanism that I can use to trigger an overnight refill? Preferably wireless but that is negotiable depending on related cost/range issues. Thanks ...Ray
MrBill Posted May 27, 2021 Posted May 27, 2021 my personal view is a float valve is the best answer, no electronics. The most common place you will find one of these is in your toilet tank... aka the Fluidmaster 401a. how do you use that with a pond? I've actually seen one just poking up in the corner of a pond before, in that case it's only required to have the correct sized threaded fitting anchored somehow so that it won't raise, lower, or tilt. The pond accessory manufacturers probably have a housing they sell. The swimming pool accessories pages have quite a few, google "pool fillers" (they are actually called 'pool levelers', but a google for 'pool levelers' is polluted with ground leveling kits for above ground pools). This is a popular unit: https://www.pentair.com/en-us/products/residential/pool-spa-equipment/pool-white-goods/automatic_water_fillers.html My pool uses this model, it's quite literally a housing with some fittings, and the guts is a Fluidmaster 401a. But how do you install that in a pond? Remember water seeks it's own level, dig a hole and put it in the ground nearby, connect it with a free flowing pipe to the pond-- the water level in the pond will remain at the same level as the water in the housing of the device-- same principle as when it's sunk into the pool deck, there is literally just a free flowing pipe connecting the fillers housing to the pool, the water level in each remains equal. Want more control? now add a simple solenoid valve to turn the water off, control that with the ISY. In our case the pool fillers happen to be an irrigation zone. With a float valve the filling stops when the pond is full, no electronics to fail. 3
rayg Posted May 29, 2021 Author Posted May 29, 2021 Thanks MrBill great ideas. My pond has a liner in it so no thru holes or adjoining cavities possible. But your link led me to a sump pump float switch which I had thought about previously but that the old man that I am had forgotten about. I need to take better notes. I think I'll try that as it has a built-in switch and can be easily connected to a nearby IO module.
MrBill Posted May 29, 2021 Posted May 29, 2021 1 hour ago, rayg said: Thanks MrBill great ideas. My pond has a liner in it so no thru holes or adjoining cavities possible. But your link led me to a sump pump float switch which I had thought about previously but that the old man that I am had forgotten about. I need to take better notes. I think I'll try that as it has a built-in switch and can be easily connected to a nearby IO module. you can actually connect two bodies of water by siphon too, and there levels will remain constant. we actually use the concept in out greenhouse, but I googled for a graphic to illustrate: http://www.gardengrapevine.com/RainBarrelDwg2.gif In the greenhouse the hose we use is flexible and has a male hose fitting on one end, so I just submerge the hose and get all the air out of it, then screw a cap onto the end with a fitting to bring it to the other container. As long as both ends remain underwater and no air gets into the hose the siphon principle works. How could you use this concept with a pond? Bury a 5 gallon bucket nearby. Use PVC parts to make a semi rigid mount and feed assembly for a toilet float and position it in the bucket. then use a garden hose remnant to connect the bucket to the pond with a siphon.
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