Am i destroying ATOs?

[DirtMcGurt]

For over a year I've been using a diy ATO. I didn't make the whole thing, an electric engineer at my work set up the electrical stuff for me. It uses an optical sensor like many other ATOs on the market. Its designed to run for no longer then 15 seconds and it will shut off to keep from over flowing the tank. In case the sensor fails. My problem is... all of a sudden it started to just run. With or without the sensor being submerged. I unhooked it and grabbed a used Auto aqua Smart ATO that I purchased a while back. Apparently its doing the same thing. I plug it in and it just runs. Whether the optical sensor is in the water or not. That's 2 ATOs with the same symptoms. Does anyone have an explanation for this? Could some small surge have fried both sensors? I hate to buy a new ATO and get the same outcome.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Also, I have cleaned both sensors in vinegar and washed them off and I've tried leaving them unplugged a while to reset them. Neither has worked.

 

[Billldg]

For over a year I've been using a diy ATO. I didn't make the whole thing, an electric engineer at my work set up the electrical stuff for me. It uses an optical sensor like many other ATOs on the market. Its designed to run for no longer then 15 seconds and it will shut off to keep from over flowing the tank. In case the sensor fails. My problem is... all of a sudden it started to just run. With or without the sensor being submerged. I unhooked it and grabbed a used Auto aqua Smart ATO that I purchased a while back. Apparently its doing the same thing. I plug it in and it just runs. Whether the optical sensor is in the water or not. That's 2 ATOs with the same symptoms. Does anyone have an explanation for this? Could some small surge have fried both sensors? I hate to buy a new ATO and get the same outcome.

Are you saying that you switched sensors, or controllers? Are they running independently, or are they hooked up to a master, like a apex or ghl?

 

[Billldg]

If you switched controllers, is either or both calling for it to run?

 

[Water Dog]

Is the water level in the ATO reservoir higher than the output of the ATO feed tube? Almost sounds like it could possibly be a siphon issue.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

I'm not running a controller. These are 2 complete systems that were ran independently.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Is the water level in the ATO reservoir higher than the output of the ATO feed tube? Almost sounds like it could possibly be a siphon issue.

They are about the same level. I have a siphon break in my feed hose. I also pulled both of them to test separately in my kitchen sink. I plug them up and they just run wide open. Even when I pull the optical sensor out of the water in the sink. It's so weird.

 

[Water Dog]

Is the siphon break the highest point in the line? If you submerge the optical sensor does it still run? Try having the water level in the ATO reservoir lower than the output line and see if it still happens.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Yes, the siphon break is right under the lid in the reservoir. I dont think it's a siphoning issue since I ran them in my sink and the pump continues to run when the sensor goes below the water line. It's like the ATO system doesn't even see the sensor. If it was just one ATO then I'd think faulty sensor, or something faulty. But its happening to both ATO systems.
I should also add that I plugged them both into the same outlet on the power strip before I tested them in my sink. Since they both worked before... I assumed it still worked the same.

 

[Billldg]

I'm not running a controller. These are 2 complete systems that were ran independently.

What I meant to say is what controller is being used to turn the pump on and off, and is that controller calling for it. Like a Tunze 3155 uses a controller to turn the pump on and off with demand. Basically, what is sending power to the pump and is that calling or not, if not then something is sending power to the pump.

Ah, I just read that you plugged them into the same outlet, what is controlling that outlet that send power to the pump?

 

[DirtMcGurt]

What I meant to say is what controller is being used to turn the pump on and off, and is that controller calling for it. Like a Tunze 3155 uses a controller to turn the pump on and off with demand. Basically, what is sending power to the pump and is that calling or not, if not then something is sending power to the pump.

Ah, I just read that you plugged them into the same outlet, what is controlling that outlet that send power to the pump?

I see what you mean. The controller for the diy ato was made by the engineer at work and the other controller was made by Autoaqua. You make a point. Something in the controller is telling the pump to run. Is that what you're saying?

 

[Billldg]

I see what you mean. The controller for the diy ato was made by the engineer at work and the other controller was made by Autoaqua. You make a point. Something in the controller is telling the pump to run. Is that what you're saying?

Yes, a pump is like a dummy switch, its either on or off. Could be a bad outlet or relay.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Well these dummies are on all the time regardless of any signal from the sensor. That's if the sensor is even working. I just think it's weird that 2 different ATO systems are failing in the same way, one after the other.

 

[Billldg]

Well these dummies are on all the time regardless of any signal from the sensor. That's if the sensor is even working. I just think it's weird that 2 different ATO systems are failing in the same way, one after the other.

Weird, the pump doesn't run unless its sent 120 volts, so I would start with what it sending the voltage to the pump
and work backward. It being a DIY setup makes it a little more complicated for us since we don't have anything to work off of, but, like I said, if a relay or switch is stuck in the closed position then it will send power to the pump. So lets look at it backwards:

In order for a pump to run it has to be sent 120 volt power
Is the power coming from an outlet, and if so what is controlling the outlet
Is the sensor controlling the outlet?

I am sure you see where I am going with this.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

I see where you're going with this and I'm not equipped to do that kind of troubleshooting . I can take my diy system to work and ask someone to run some tests on it. But I also have the 2nd ATO. The Autoaqua smart ato which is a fairly common ATO and its doing the exact same thing as my diy ATO. That's what is really hurting my brain right now lol.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

It's time for some pictures. I'd like to see the DIY unit and hope to construct an idea of how it works. If it's a simple relay or a bit more complicated.

I know that it has already been asked but I didn't quite understand the response. Are you saying that both of these units are completely independent or are you sharing some components like the pump?

Of course pictures will clear a lot of the confusion up.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

I will get some pictures tomorrow. I think will help a lot with communicating the problem.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Here are some pics of the diy unit. The pump and float switch go in the rodi water reservoir. The float switch will shut off the pump if there isnt enough water in the reservoir. The optical sensor goes into the sump and reads the water level. I cant describe the guts of the gray box because a man much smarter then myself built it.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Here are pics of the Autoaqua smart ato. That I purchased used and bought a new replacement pump for it. Both systems are independent. Also, both systems seems as tho they can't read the water level in my sump. As soon as I turn either one on... the pump starts running whether the optical sensor in under water or out of the water. Hope this helps. I'm baffled lol.

 

[DirtMcGurt]

Just to clarify my problem... These are 2 completely different ato systems. Other then the obvious equipment change, all other variables are the same. Same outlet used for power, same location of sensor in sump, ect... So 2 different systems and neither seem to notice when the sensor is submerged or out of the water. I even tried running them in tap water in my sink. I mainly want to know if somehow I'm burning up the optical sensors. Before I buy a new ato stand kill it too.