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Oil
Smart®
Pump Controller |
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Question: What is the Oil
Smart® Pump Controller ?
Answer:
The Oil Smart® Pump Controller
is an oil containment device
that, when combined with a sump
pump, will pump water without
the risk of pumping oil into the
environment. |
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Question:
Is the Oil Smart® Switch
certified?
Answer:
Yes the Oil Smart Switch is a
patented technology,
Underwriters Laboratory Marine
Listed, UL 508 Industrial
Controller and CE
Certified.
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Question:
How does the Oil Smart® technology work?
Answer:
Sensing is accomplished
by measuring the dielectric
constant of the medium (water or
oil) at the sensor.
To prevent cycling the
pump off and on, the switch has
two sense points (one to control
the water level for pump turn on
and one to turn the pump off). These two independent sensors connect to a logic circuit, which
works as follows:
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When
the water reaches the
top sensor the Oil Smart
Switch will turn the
pump on. |
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When
the water is pumped down
and the lower sensor is
uncovered it will turn
the pump off. |
If
oil is present on the lower or
top sensor it will not activate
the Oil Smart Switch. If oil were totally covering our switch it would not activate or
harm the switch in any way.
As water enters the
structure and eventually covers
both sensors the Oil Smart
Switch will turn the pump on,
the pump would remain on until
the off sensor detects oil or no
more water, the Oil Smart Switch
would then turn the pump off
before pumping out the oil.
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Question:
Is the Oil Smart® Switch a
dielectric continuity type switch?
Answer:
No, the Oil Smart® Switch is a
capacitive type composed of solid-state
circuitry totally encapsulated
in a plastic case.
The technology can be
described several ways:
1.
A proximity sensor circuit
operation.
The medium measured
(water or oil) does not have to
actually touch an exposed
sensor.
A major advantage of our
product is the sensor can be
exposed or not, and the water is
not used as the conductor
between the exposed sensors, un
like the troublesome continuity type.
2.
A capacitive sensor.
A field is generated and
the sensors measure the
dielectric value off the
faceplate of the switch or an
extended stainless steal rod.
3.
A dual mode oscillator.
The method used in
generating the field that
measures the dielectric value.
The Oil Smart Switch is
set to operate at a dielectric
value of 50, the lower range of
tap water.
Oil has a smaller
dielectric value that is why
it’s used as an insulating
material in electric apparatus.
Oil will not cause our
switch to operate or harm it any
way.
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Question:
Can the distance between on and
off be extended?
Answer:
Yes, this is commonly called the
dead span or pumping range, as mentioned above a
stainless steel rod is used as
the off sensor allowing for a
dead span up to six inches
(6”). If a pumping range of more
than 6" is required, there a few
options. One is the Travel Float
Assembly allowing for a pumping
range of up to 20'. The switch
is mounted to a float box and
travels up and down a stainless
steel assembly. Another option
is the Field Adjustable Water
Smart® Switch. The pump down
time can be adjusted to pump
from seconds to minutes to meet
any size sump basin. Unlike the
Oil Smart® Switch, the
Adjustable Water Smart® Switch
is not an oil containment
device. It will prevent a major
oil spill, but to completely
contain an oil spill, the
Adjustable Water Smart® Switch
has to be field adjusted to shut
down prior to pumping oil. |
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Question:
Can the exposed rod cause
electrolysis while exposed in
the water?
Answer:
No as mentioned, the sensor is
capacitive not dielectric. There
is no electron flow with a
capacitive switch.
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Question:
Will the standard 120volt Oil
Smart® Switch operate a 1 HP power motor?
Answer:
Yes the standard stand-alone
120volt Oil Smart® Switch is
rated at 16 amps and will
operate any pump up to 1 HP. To
operate a larger pump than 1HP,
control panels are available
with motor contacts to meet any
size pump or application.
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Question:
How far will the switch allow
the water to be pumped down?
Answer:
This depends on several items
i.e.: size of pump, size of
impellor, is there a check valve
on the discharge line?,
however, Install the Oil
Smart® Switch so the bottom of
the stainless steel rod (off
level) is above the intake
grates of the pump, two inches
(2”) or more, this varies by
the size of the sump and water
back flow, if installation is
too low, the pump will suck air
before the water is below the
off sensor or the back flow of
the plumbing water after pump
shut down will cycle pump on and
off.
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Question:
Will extreme cold or heat,
effect, the switch?
Answer:
yes the switch is rated between
-33°F
and 170°F.
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Installation and Testing:
The following procedure is
offered as a result of customer
questions relating to laboratory
tests. The technology is a capacitive type
controller with the sensitivity
factory set for field
conditions, at a dielectric
value of approximately 50, some
ordinary tap water will not
trigger the switch.
Trouble Free Operation:
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Caution: Remove any pump switch
(float switch) that is currently
in use or supplied by pump
manufacturer. If pump has
manual/auto switch, set switch
to manual.
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Mount switch in secure manner to
pump pvc pipe or suitable
alternative; do not mount to
metallic material. Keep sensors
at least a few inches clear of
any metallic material.
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Switch will not function with
incorrect polarity (polarity
sensitive).
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