Waterbug and Apex

[shafiq_hossain]

I purchased two Waterbug sensors thinking they will work if I hook them up to the Break Out box just like I did with my floats. It seems like that is not the case. I would like to see if any of you can confirm, had similar experience and what you did to resolve the issue.

Thanks...

 

[budsreef]

I've not used these myself but I seem to recall reading that those sensors need an independent power source/controller for them to close. Do a Google search and you might find the info you need.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Thanks Budsreef. Do you own an Apex by the way? I had a couple of quick follow up questions.

 

[budsreef]

Yes, I do have the Apex. Ask away, if I can't answer I'm sure someone else here can.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Thanks.

1. Do you have a water leak sensor hooked up to your break out box? If so, what type and how did you hook it (them) up to the Break Out box?
2. If you have more than one leak sensor, did you hook them up to separate switches on the Break Out box? Can they be hooked up to the same switch?
3. Have you programmed your skimmer or skimmer pump to turn off in any instance? If so, what are those parameters?

Thanks.....

 

[elfloyd]

I hooked up a sensor two years ago... so I may have forgotten all the details. But if I remember correctly the breakout box will only work with 5v sensors. I believe the Waterbug is 12v.

Here's what I use:

 

[shafiq_hossain]

Thanks. Did you screw in the sensor on the cabinet floor? I'm trying to figure out where the actual sensors are located on the sensor you pointed out.

 

[elfloyd]

I have the sensor screwed to the bottom of the stand as shown in the picture. (The two sensors run vertically.} I've also mounted it against a wall where the sensors are lying on the stand bottom. Both seemed to have worked just as well. Moisture needs to contact both sensors to close the circuit. I occasionally run a test to make sure all is well. I just lay a damp paper towel against the sensors and wait for the Apex alarm and the email.

If you have two or more sensors to different parts of the stand you do not want to have the two in series (one connected to the other in a single path). Moisture will need to be present in both places before the loop will close.

I currently use one sensor. But will use two in my new build. I will place one near the external pumps / external skimmer and one on the floor of the stand at the opposite end. These will both need a separate connection on the B/O box, tied into the ground (GND).

I may use a third out in my garage at my RODI / Mixing station.

 

[budsreef]

I'm glad elFloyd could answer since I don't have any water sensors and don't have mine skimmer plugged into the Apex.

shafiq.hossain;719998 wrote: Thanks.

1. Do you have a water leak sensor hooked up to your break out box? If so, what type and how did you hook it (them) up to the Break Out box?
2. If you have more than one leak sensor, did you hook them up to separate switches on the Break Out box? Can they be hooked up to the same switch?
3. Have you programmed your skimmer or skimmer pump to turn off in any instance? If so, what are those parameters?

Thanks.....

 

[realfish]

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit. How does the breakout box work. I assume the water sensor or float switch works is just a switch that completes a circuit. When the circuit is completed (or not), you use that as a signal to turn something else on or off.

 

[elfloyd]

RealFish... that is correct. The B/O box has two states... open or closed. The Apex is programmed according to what you want these states to represent.

You can use this to turn something off/on, and/or it can trigger an alarm and email.

 

[budsreef]

That's correct, but the Waterbug sensors aren't just a simple switch so they aren't normally open/normally closed like a float switch. They need to be attached to the Waterbug controller and the Waterbug controller NO/NC contacts are then connected to the breakout box.

RealFish;720029 wrote: Sorry to hijack the thread a bit. How does the breakout box work. I assume the water sensor or float switch works is just a switch that completes a circuit. When the circuit is completed (or not), you use that as a signal to turn something else on or off.

 

[shafiq_hossain]

So, does the Waterbug work better or is more sensitive than the ones elFloyd pointed out. I ended up getting two Waterbug sensors without the Controller thinking I can hook them up directly to the break out box. Now, I'm not sure what to do:

1. Should I buy the Waterbug Controller?
2. Should I chunk the Waterbug sensors and go with the sensors elFloyd pointed out?
3. Or, is there a way I can hook up the Waterbug sensors to the Breakout Box through something else other than a controller? Something I can pick up at radio shack? I guess an electrician might be able to answer this.

Thanks....

 

[shafiq_hossain]

elFloyd,

With respect to hooking up multiple sensors, I was suggesting hooking two separate sensors to the same switches on the break out box and not connecting one sensor to the other. Won't that work?

Thanks...

 

[budsreef]

If you want to use the waterbug sensors, you'll need the controller. Whether the waterbug is better or the sensors elFloyd uses or some other sensors is probably a matter of individual opinion. To get answers about that you might want to start another thread just to ask what others use and what are the pros and cons.

shafiq.hossain;720083 wrote: So, does the Waterbug work better or is more sensitive than the ones elFloyd pointed out. I ended up getting two Waterbug sensors without the Controller thinking I can hook them up directly to the break out box. Now, I'm not sure what to do:

1. Should I buy the Waterbug Controller?
2. Should I chunk the Waterbug sensors and go with the sensors elFloyd pointed out?
3. Or, is there a way I can hook up the Waterbug sensors to the Breakout Box through something else other than a controller? Something I can pick up at radio shack? I guess an electrician might be able to answer this.

Thanks....

 

[shafiq_hossain]

I do see one advantage in using the non-waterbug sensors, which I would hook up directly to the Break out box. I will be able to tell which exact sensor (what area of the floor or what equipment) tripped the sensor. However, and correct me if I'm wrong, if I use the Waterbug with the controller which in turn would be connected to the break out box, I would not be able to tell which sensor was tripped whether I have one or 10 waterbug sensors hooked up to the controller, correct?

 

[budsreef]

I think the controller has a set of contacts for each waterbug so it and the Apex will know which one the alarm is coming from. I've not actually used these so you really should try to find someone that has them that could answer your questions better than I can. Or try to find a website for the company that makes them and look at their documentation.