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- Deluxe Madison Float Switch - Vertical Mount - With Nut
Recommended for water applications like level controllers, auto top systems or other aquarium uses.
- Normally closed or normally open (see more)
- Float magnet is encased inside the float
- 24" leads (22 gauge wire) offer project flexibility
- 1/8" NPT tapered fitting - Now includes nut!
Certifications: UL, CSA, NSF
Deluxe Madison Float Switch is great for:
- General water level control application
- Aquarium top-off applications
- Humidification/de-humidification applications
- Hydroponics projects
- Water features
- Air conditioning drain pan applications
Don’t use in heavy duty applications like sewage pumps.
Great for water. Check your fluid's specific gravity.
The wires complete a circuit when the float is down. You can reverse the operation by removing the clip, turning the float upside down and replacing the clip.
A pump rated at just 5 watts can destroy a float switch rated for 50 watts, locking it in the “on” position and pumping a lot of water where you do not want it.
The magnetic reeds enclosed in liquid level sensors are extremely reliable and long-lasting when utilized properly. Failures are nearly always a result of current overloading. Pumps, solenoids and many other devices that require control by a liquid level sensor carry "steady state" current ratings. These devices can draw ten times (or more) their steady state power ratings on start-up or shut-down. When the reeds inside our switches are exposed to this kind of "spiking voltage" they can overheat and become deformed. In some cases they may even weld together or break off, causing the switch circuit to remain closed (or open) regardless of the level of the float. Deformed reeds can also function intermittently, causing problems with troubleshooting. A 50 watt float switch can be destroyed by a pump rated at 6 watts and, unfortunately, it may take many cycles before the failure occurs.
Because they can destroy an otherwise very reliable float switch, care must be taken to completely isolate the switch from the current drawn by pumps, solenoids or other devices subject to spiking voltage. Resistors or diodes may be used, but the most common solution is to utilize a circuit board or a relay.
In the illustration, a relay acts as a switch for a pump, thereby isolating the float switch from any spikes that the pump may draw. The float switch turns the relay coil on and off. In this way, the only current handled by the float switch is that small amount required by the relay coil. Please consult with your relay supplier to assure that the relay current requirements are well within the specs of the float switch.
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had this one for a couple years; works great By karlandtanya on 7/19/2018
karlandtanya would recommend this product to a friendI have a 55 gal bbl with tower packing marerial as a wet/dry and sump (yes, 25-year old tech...) and use this as a sensor for homebuilt ATO.
Solid as a rock for the past 2 years; only have to scrape the fanworms off of it every couple months.
70 gallon system; this keeps the volume constant to within about 500ml. -
Works good By Lonnie on 11/3/2017
Lonnie would recommend this product to a friendI had mine roughly between two and three years. I use two of them for my daily automatic water changes. Like anything else you have to keep them clean to make them function properly. I also have an optical just for safety. -
So far, so good By Rob on 5/1/2017
Rob would recommend this product to a friendI have two of these. They have performed as expected during the past several months. -
Doesn't work By Teresa on 4/10/2017
Teresa wouldn't recommend this product to a friendI had this set up on my ATO and it only worked for 2 days. Luckily I was able to catch it in time. I replaced it with another Deluxe Madison Float Switch and it didn't work either. Finally replaced it with another brand that worked fine. This float valve has some serious quality issues. -
1 out of 3 ain't so good By Ian on 2/28/2017
Ian wouldn't recommend this product to a friendTwo of three are no longer reversible. One of them doesn't return to open setting after being closed unless you push it down manually.