Dear Friends installing of Water Tank Over Flow Alarm appeared to me as an expensive and complicated issue until I visited a friends' house and seen it installed. I could not believe that it was such a simple gadget and easy to install for those who have basic skills & knowledge of electricity.
For those who are interested to install it, I would try to explain it in simplest terms as follows :
Task : To Install Overhead Water Tank Overflow Alarm.
Material Required :
1. Water Tank Overflow Alarm ( This is generally available at Electrical Shops at prices starting from Rs 120/- per pc). In case this is not available, a simple 3 Volt DC (2cells)
Door bell along with a switch can be used.
2.Strong insulated Twin Wire of length from top of your overhead tank to Pump Motor starter or switch location.
3. Insulation Tape to cover joints.
4. Plastic wall fasteners (Guitty) with nails/screws.
Tools Required :
1. Phase Tester.
2. Wire Cutter/Pliers.
3. Candle with Match box.
4. Screw driver.
5. Hammer
6. Medium duty Drilling Machine with 4-5 mm drill bit. (This is required only in case of cemented overhead water tanks)
Financial Implication/Cost : Rs 400 to 600 Depending upon distance of your motor SW/Starter to overhead tank and quality of Wire used
Execution/Procedure :
1. Select a suitable place near your Pump Motor starter/switch and fix the alarm unit on the wall with guitty & screw.
2 Join one end of wires to be taken to water tank with two (Short length) wires coming out of alarm unit properly and insulate with tape.
3. Cut the plug from the AC input wire of Alarm unit and remove 4-5 inch of outer insulation of both the wires. Connect Red wire with starter MCB top connection or top
Position of ON/OFF switch in case of switch only. Connect black wire with the neutral which is generally available un switched in starter motor or switch board as the case may be. Please ensure to switch off the mains supply before carrying out these activities.
4. Just for checking the right connectivity & serviceability, switch On your pump motor. A Red Light will glow at alarm unit indicating availability of power supply to Alarm unit. Now short or join other end of two wires to be taken to top and Alarm should start sounding the warning indicating right connectivity. Switch Off the Pump Motor.
5. Switch Off the Pump Motor and route the wires from Alarm unit to the top of your over head water tank by taking the shortest and safe route. Fix the wires with the help of fasteners to the wall so that they are not hanging loose or obstructing.
6. Heat the end of screw driver with the help of candle and create a hole with heated screwdriver near over flow pipe in PVC water tank. In case of cemented water tank we need to drill a 4-5 mm hole.
7. Insert the wires from outside through the created hole and tie a big knot from inside. Pull the extra wire from outside and wrap with a plastics rope near to the hole so that it does not move inside or outside with application of normal force. Cut the end of wires from inside the water tank by leaving only 1-2 inches length from the knot with pliers.
Testing :
The water over flow alarm is installed now and we can test it by switching On the Pump motor. A red light will glow on the Alarm unit indicating that the gadget is On. As soon as the water tank is filled till the open ended wires level, a short/connection will be extended to the Alarm unit and it will start giving an audio warning to switch off the water pump. When we switch off pump by MCB or switch the supply to the Alarm will also be switched off and it will stop the warning sound.
Alternative/Substitute to Alarm Unit:
In Case this alarm unit is not available in your local market, a simple 3 Volt DC (2 Cells)
Door bell can be used with a switch. The two wires coming down from water tank need to be connected to the two wires coming out of this bell through a switch to switch On and Off. Only thing, one need to always remember to switch On this switch while switching On the pump motor.
Advantages : Many
Sketch : As shown in next post below.