Using to monitor septic tank

[Tblakely.mail@gmail.com]

I specifically bought my Vue to monitor the pump in our septic tank.  After a couple of septic backup’s over years (for various reasons) I decided to get serious about monitoring the tank.  I have a traditional tank alarm with a mechanical float, but it’s failed every time we’ve had a backup.  I also have a camera in there so I can easily see the level; however that requires manually logging into the camera and checking it.

After much consideration and research I came to the conclusion it’s not about the level in the tank, it’s about how much/often the pump is pumping.  The best way to monitor usage was to monitor the power the pump was consuming.  I looked at all the power monitor systems out there (including DIY boards) and Emporia was the winner.  I chose the Vue because you could monitor specific circuits.  I didn’t want to rely on the AI and signature mapping that some others use; had to be sure I knew the pump was working.

Beyond my initial use case, I’ve found the insights into the rest of energy consumption very interesting.  We were already pretty energy conscious, but data confirms the energy wise choices have worked.

[waterboyz]

Camera huh?

I’m planning to install a sensor in my sump pump to monitor it.  I found that I could use a Wyze Labs door sensor and modify it to work with a float switch.  I also plan to monitor the sump pump electrical usage with notifications so I can see if it is running too much, which could also be a problem.

[jj613]

Why not get a ZWave water/temp sensor?   Not to preclude interesting things you can do with a Vue sensor on the pump but specifically for detecting water level rising that’s a $50 device with no moving parts that you could use in parallel.

[waterboyz]

jj613 said:  Why not get a ZWave water/temp sensor?   Not to preclude interesting things you can do with a Vue sensor on the pump but specifically for detecting water level rising that’s a $50 device with no moving parts that you could use in parallel.

I have the Aeotec water sensor that I “misplaced” for 12+ months and plan to use it.  I also have a bunch of unused Wyze Labs door sensors.  I thought that people were able to use them without the cloud.  Still reading.  The problem is remembering what I read HAHA.

I would need something to tell me if the pump is running tooo much.  I also need something to tell me if the water level is tooo high and the pump is or is not running.

[Tblakely.mail@gmail.com]

The ZWAVE sensor is a great idea, I’m going to look at that for my sump pump in the basement.   The challenge in septic tanks is the hostile gases that are created.  I had an airline cable (steel cable) attached to the top of the pump to be able to pull it up, and over about 2 years the effluent dissolved the cable!  This is the 2nd camera I’ve put in there; the first one died after about 3 years and when I pulled it out it was absolutely corroded and gross.  Monitoring tank levels would be so much easier if it was a clean environment.

The other challenge is that it’s a concrete tank and lid.  So getting any sort of wireless signal is challenging.  For my camera(s), I’ve ended up using extension cables on the wifi antennas to bring the antenna’s up out of the lid.  Outside the lid they can get signal easily.

[waterboyz]

tBlakely said:  “… I had an airline cable (steel cable) attached to the top of the pump to be able to pull it up, and over about 2 years the effluent dissolved the cable! …”

You may want to get checked out by a doctor HAHA

I did a quickee lookee around and found these sensors that may help.  You could attach them to a PVC pipe so the wires would be inside the pipe.  Plugging off the pipe just below the lowest sensor and drill holes in the lower section and let the pipe rest on the bottom of the tank.

ebay.com/itm/2PCS-Stainless-Steel-Float-Switch-Liquid-Switch-Water-Level-Silver-Sensor/371742932541?_trkparms=aid%3D1110012%26algo%3DSPLICE.SOIPOST%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D231103%26meid%3D5d01908633d640c4a9c177f31c475fa1%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D142485546396%26itm%3D371742932541%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DPromotedSellersOtherItemsV2WithMLRv3&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219

ebay.com/itm/2PCS-75mm-Stainless-Steel-Float-Switch-Tank-Liquid-Water-Level-Sensor-110V-220V/142485546396?epid=2203386081&hash=item212ccce59c:g:J0QAAOSw7cxZntvZ

ebay.com/itm/Liquid-Water-Level-Sensor-Horizontal-Float-Switch-52mm-PP/174560970818?hash=item28a4a50842:g:TSsAAOSwuUJf6kdV

[ctmiller]

Zwave may not reach, depending on distance.  You could also mount a water detector (leak detector). Cheaper but you may have to throw it out after one use😉

[Author]

Posts