Autonomous sump pump system
An autonomous sump (ASP) system is designed to remove water from a sump using a source of power other than commercial electrical power or battery power. The ASP system can be a stand-alone unit or, alternatively, can be used along with a preexisting sump pump system. In some embodiments, the ASP system can provide an alert to a building owner of the ASP system failure.
1. A system, comprising:
(a) a sump pump;
(b) a generator to provide power to the sump pump; and
(c) a control unit to control operation of the generator, the control unit comprising:
(c1) a RUN control relay:
(c2) a lower-level float;
(c3) a lower-level float switch coupled to the lower-level float, the lower-level float switch being responsive to the lower-level float, the lower-level float switch providing electrical current to the RUN control relay when the lower-level float switch is closed;
(c4) a first resistor-capacitor network connected in parallel with the lower-level float switch;
(c5) a START control relay;
(c6) a START diode connected in parallel to the START control relay;
(c7) an upper-level float;
(c8) an upper-level float switch coupled to the upper level float, the upper-level float switch being responsive to the upper-level float, the upper-level float switch providing electrical current to the START control relay when the upper-level float switch is closed;
(c9) a second resistor-capacitor network connected in parallel with the upper-level float switch.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the upper-level float switch operates independently of the lower-level float switch.
3. The system of claim 1 , the generator having a capacity of up to approximately 3000 Watts.
4. The system of claim 1 , the generator having a capacity of between approximately 1000 Watts and approximately 1500 Watts.
5. The system of claim 1 , the sump pump having a flow rate of up to approximately 35 gallons per minute.
6. The system of claim 1 , the control unit comprising:
a first circuit to prime the generator, the first circuit comprising the upper-level float switch; and
a second circuit to activate the generator, the second circuit comprising the upper-level float switch and the lower-level float switch, the upper-level float switch operating independently of the lower-level float switch.
7. The system of claim 1 , the generator being a natural gas powered generator.
8. A control unit, comprising:
a RUN control relay;
a lower-level float switch providing electrical current to the RUN control relay when the lower-level float switch is closed;
a first resistor-capacitor network connected in parallel with the lower-level float switch, the first resistor-capacitor network comprising:
a first metal oxide varistor;
a first resistor; and
a first capacitor connected in series with the first resistor, the first metal oxide varistor being connected in parallel to the serially-connected first resistor and the first capacitor;
a START control relay;
an upper-level float switch operating independently of the lower-level float switch, the upper-level float switch providing electrical current to the START control relay when the upper-level float switch is closed;
a second resistor-capacitor network connected in parallel with the upper-level float switch, the second resistor-capacitor network comprising:
a second metal oxide varistor;
a second resistor; and
a second capacitor connected in series with the second resistor, the second metal oxide varistor being connected in parallel to the serially-connected second resistor and the second capacitor.
9. A system, comprising:
a natural gas powered generator having a capacity of up to approximately 3000 Watts;
a RUN control relay for continuing operation of the natural gas powered generator;
a lower-level float switch providing electrical current to the RUN control relay when the lower-level float switch is closed;
a first resistor-capacitor network connected in parallel with the lower-level float switch;
a START control relay for starting operation of the natural gas powered generator;
an upper-level float switch operating independently of the lower-level float switch, the upper-level float switch providing electrical current to the START control relay when the upper-level float switch is closed;
a second resistor-capacitor network connected in parallel with the upper-level float switch.