Flow Sensor on Emergency Drain

[nickkohrn]

I have a spare flow sensor for my Apex, and I’m considering installing it on the emergency drain of my Bean Animal overflow configuration to alert me of potential issues when I’m away from home.

Do you use optical sensors or flow sensors on your emergency drain? If so, has it helped save you from a potential disaster?

 

[DarthSimon]

Great idea. I have a FS on my Emergency Overflow as well.....

 

[nickkohrn]

Great idea. I have a FS on my Emergency Overflow as well.....

Do you have it configured to alarm you when it detects water passing through, or do you simply monitor it?

 

[DarthSimon]

I have flow sensors on my main drain and emergency. I have alarms on both to alert me of outside range flow.

 

[Larry L]

The emergency drain is there for the off chance you get a clog in your main drain(s), like a snail shell or a plug of algae or something. So just make extra sure that there's no chance adding a flow sensor to your emergency drain might make it more likely to clog for similar reasons...

 

[TheHarold]

Yup, a flow sensor in emergency drain kind of defeats the purpose of a clear path for water.

Better off putting in a float switch to see if water level is high.

 

[pluikens]

I agree with putting an optical sensor in the overflow above the height of the main drains so it's wet only if water is about to go over the emergency.

 

[ca1ore]

I toyed with putting a flow sensor on the emergency, but ultimately decided not to for potential clogging reasons. Far better to use a level sensor. I mounted an optical sensor into one end of my external overflow box that only gets wet and triggers an alarm if the water rises high enough to breach the emergency. I do use flow sensors on the three siphon drains though.

 

[nickkohrn]

I appreciate the responses and calls for concern. Maybe I will keep the spare flow sensor as a backup in the event that the one in use fails or as a replacement during maintenance procedures.

I toyed with putting a flow sensor on the emergency, but ultimately decided not to for potential clogging reasons. Far better to use a level sensor. I mounted an optical sensor into one end of my external overflow box that only gets wet and triggers an alarm if the water rises high enough to breach the emergency. I do use flow sensors on the three siphon drains though.

I, too, have a Modular Marine overflow. Did you simply drill a hole in the end that is large enough to accommodate the optical sensor?

 

[ca1ore]

I, too, have a Modular Marine overflow. Did you simply drill a hole in the end that is large enough to accommodate the optical sensor?

Precisely, and at a height where the sensor is normally dry but gets submerged if the emergency is engaged. Use a forstner bit if you can; typical spiral bits can crack the acrylic.