See Water, Inc. is a shareholder-owned manufacturing firm that is located in San Jacinto, CA, one hour southeast of Los Angeles. Since 1995, See Water's primary business has focused on the innovative design and development of proprietary, patented controls that have the unique ability to differentiate between oil and water.

Literature > FAQ's

Oil Smart Products

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.

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.

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: When the water reaches the top sensor the Oil Smart Switch will turn the pump on. 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.

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: 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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Question: Will extreme cold or heat, effect, the switch? Answer: yes the switch is rated between -33°F and 170°F.

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: 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. 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. Switch will not function with incorrect polarity (polarity sensitive).

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