monitor num times it turns on - automatically shut off if too many in 10 minutes.

[feedscrn]

This is the situation, we live in the Caribbean renting a house. The non-potable water for the house is a cistern, w/water supplied by the local government. The house has a pump that pushes water up to a tank on top of the house when it gets a bit low. This is an automatic process when "the pump is turned on". So far, no problem.

This house, it turns out, has a public bathroom attached to it. And you guessed it: this public bathroom uses -our- private water. While I don't mind sharing.... anyone, it turns out- can leave the water running, especially if they are a bit inebriated, as there is a bar nearby.

Usually this is not a problem, as I am home a lot and would just shut the pump off if it's the middle of the night or something.

I'm thinking of an automatic solution to this... To automate this, I need a device that will monitor how many times the pump turns on. If it's, say, 2x or 3x every 10 minutes... meaning that the water was most likely left on... this device would control a relay that will shut the pump off for an hour. Then try again after that. If the frequency of the pump turning on is spaced out more than 10 minutes at a time, then close the relay and let the pump do its thing.

Does any manufacturer make anything like this?

Any helpful suggestions are appreciated.

[DerbyDad03]

Why go crazy with fancy electronics? Find a source for something like this
and install it in the public bathroom. It's a pretty common way to avoid
the issue you are having.

http://www.sanliv.com/self-closing-single-washbasin-faucet-20105

[feedscrn]

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:35:09 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
> Why go crazy with fancy electronics? Find a source for something like this
>
> and install it in the public bathroom. It's a pretty common way to avoid
>
> the issue you are having.
>
> http://www.sanliv.com/self-closing-single-washbasin-faucet-20105

Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power (and cost) for it.

And no.. it's not just the sink. It's mostly the toilet, in which the owner responsible doesn't really care to fix.... consequently it leaks constantly while it's on.

[Tekkie®]

feedscrn posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP

> Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power (and cost) for it.
>
> And no.. it's not just the sink. It's mostly the toilet, in which the owner responsible doesn't really care to fix.... consequently it leaks constantly while it's on.

Put a valve in after your needs then turn it off.
Why should you be responsible for a public
bathroom which doesn't seem too public because the
"toilet owner" won't fix it. Claim ecology.

--
Tekkie

[dadiOH]

How big is the roof tank? If of reasonable size, 500 - 1000 gallons or so,
I'd just put a switch for the pump and turn it off when I went to bed.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

[Gordon Shumway]

If it is your water flowing through your pipes it seems the obvious
solution would require a little plumbing.

Option one:
If the connection to the public restroom is at the end of the plumbing
supply of your house simply eliminate that connection and put a cap at
a convenient location.

Option two:
If the connection to the public restroom is located in the middle of
the plumbing supply of your house simply remove the tee and replace it
with an elbow that will supply the remainder of your house but not the
restroom.

Obviously the same would apply for the drain and vent lines if the
restroom is using your plumbing for that as well.

[feedscrn]

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:13:55 PM UTC-4, dadiOH wrote:

> feedscrn wrote:
>
> How big is the roof tank? If of reasonable size, 500 - 1000 gallons or so,
>
> I'd just put a switch for the pump and turn it off when I went to bed.
>

> dadiOH
>
> ____________________________
>
> Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
>
> Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
>
> Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

Thanks for your reply.... I thought of that... Actually I've been doing this for years... But the problem is that I'm not home all the time... Sometimes I'm back in the US, sometimes I'm out for 3-4 days... I need a 'cop' to monitor the pump for me at this point.

[feedscrn]

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:23:19 PM UTC-4, Gordon Shumway wrote:
> If it is your water flowing through your pipes it seems the obvious
>
> solution would require a little plumbing.
>
> Option one:
>
> If the connection to the public restroom is at the end of the plumbing
>
> supply of your house simply eliminate that connection and put a cap at
>
> a convenient location.
>
> Option two:
>
> If the connection to the public restroom is located in the middle of
>
> the plumbing supply of your house simply remove the tee and replace it
>
> with an elbow that will supply the remainder of your house but not the
>
> restroom.
>
> Obviously the same would apply for the drain and vent lines if the
>
> restroom is using your plumbing for that as well.

That's a nice idea... but it's not possible... All the pipes are underground, inaccessible. That is why I'm looking for the original solution in the OP.... There are no accessible pipes going to the bathroom... For some reason, the owner made sure of that. I looked... :-(

The ONLY Thing I have control of is the pump, and the power to it... That is it...

Sorry it makes it complicated... but it's not my house... This is what I have to deal with.

[gregz]

feedscrn <feed...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:35:09 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
>>
>> Why go crazy with fancy electronics? Find a source for something like this
>>
>> and install it in the public bathroom. It's a pretty common way to avoid
>>
>> the issue you are having.
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.sanliv.com/self-closing-single-washbasin-faucet-20105
>

> Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom
> is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the
> pump and the power (and cost) for it.

I like the ones you have to hold on. How was that supposed to work ?

Greg

[gregz]

Put a on button on entrance with auto shutoff.

Greg

[Stormin Mormon]

Careful! Derby Dad appears to believe that the
purpose of this forum is to provide helpful
suggestions in ways you'd not considered. I
tried providing more information as he brought
up ideas, and he didn't seem to enjoy that process.
You're in trouble, now!
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.
"feedscrn" <feed...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:77003d11-d916-4319...@googlegroups.com...

[Stormin Mormon]

Sigh. Now you've done it. Providing TWO more
posts with more information. Derby is really going
to go to town with you.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.

"feedscrn" <feed...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:b84e7c81-7eeb-4733...@googlegroups.com...


1) Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power (and cost) for it.

2) And no.. it's not just the sink. It's mostly the toilet, in which the owner responsible doesn't really care to fix.... consequently it leaks constantly while it's on.

[hrho...@sbcglobal.net]

On Jun 19, 8:48 pm, "Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61**NOJUN...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Sigh. Now you've done it. Providing TWO more
> posts with more information. Derby is really going
> to go to town with you.
> .
> Christopher A. Young
> Learn more about Jesus
>    www.lds.org
> .
> .
>

> "feedscrn" <feeds...@yahoo.com> wrote in messagenews:b84e7c81-7eeb-4733...@googlegroups.com...

>
> 1) Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power (and cost) for it.
>
> 2) And no.. it's not just the sink. It's mostly the toilet, in which the owner responsible doesn't really care to fix.... consequently it leaks constantly while it's on.

What about a timer in the electricity to the pump, maybe on for one
minute every 20-30 minutes, sometime there will be a wait for water,
sometimes not. When you are there, you can change it to whatever
works best for you.

[micky]

On Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:21:07 -0700 (PDT), feedscrn
<feed...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:35:09 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
>> Why go crazy with fancy electronics? Find a source for something like this
>>
>> and install it in the public bathroom. It's a pretty common way to avoid
>>
>> the issue you are having.
>>
>> http://www.sanliv.com/self-closing-single-washbasin-faucet-20105
>
>Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control...

Aren't you a member of the public? Can't you or some friend or hiree
of yours use it like any other person. While you're in there maybe
you can change the flapper that is causing the toilet to leak, and
change the faucet if they leave that running. Instead of calling
the mysterious man Johnny Appleseed, he could be Johnny ToiletPlugger.

The toilet at least can probably be done in no more time than a normal
person might spend in the toilet for other reasons.

[feedscrn]

Thanks for your post... nice try though.

Looking for an electronic device that can monitor how many times a device, say: a water pump- turns on in, in lets say: 10 minutes. If it turns on more than twice, wait an hour and look again. If it is not turning on so often after an hour, let it rip.

Rinse and repeat.

The thing is that the cistern has precious water.... and I don't want to see it all go down the drain... literally.

[dadiOH]

Got it. Maybe look for something to monitor water flow rather than pump
cycles? Numerous soft water devices have such. What I'm thinking is
something like this...

1. water flowing?
yes
shut off pump after x minutes
wait x minutes, turn pump on, goto #1
no
pump on
goto #1
____________________

Another thought is something like a sprinkler control that would simply turn
the pump on at pre-set intervals for a pre-set amount of time.

--

[DerbyDad03]

On Jun 19, 9:47 pm, "Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61**NOJUN...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Careful! Derby Dad appears to believe that the
> purpose of this forum is to provide helpful
> suggestions in ways you'd not considered. I
> tried providing more information as he brought
> up ideas, and he didn't seem to enjoy that process.
> You're in trouble, now!
> .
> Christopher A. Young
> Learn more about Jesus
>    www.lds.org
> .
> .
>

> "feedscrn" <feeds...@yahoo.com> wrote in messagenews:77003d11-d916-4319...@googlegroups.com...

>
> Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control... The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power (and cost) for it.

Careful! You appear to be taking this thread off-topic. Stormin has
some strong feelings on that issue. He may have something to say about
that...let's wait and see.

[Stormin Mormon]

So, drunks use the bathroom and you want to shut off the water? I see that being a problem.

.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.

"feedscrn" <feed...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:89cfe928-a009-4722...@googlegroups.com...

[mako...@yahoo.com]

Ok how about this
Buy a programmable timer from radio shack etc and set it to turn on the power for 10 minutes every hour.
That will be the most the pump can then run.
You don't need to monitor the status of the pump or anything, just cycle the power.
The pump will come on durning the 10 minutes when it needs to.
If you are using less water the it won't come on during the 10 minute window.
Simple
Mark

[Vic Smith]

I thought you said it isn't your house. So force the owner to take of
it, or live with it. Whatever you do will be considered sabotage by
whoever maintains the public bathroom. I mean, you want to cut off
water flow there for some periods of time, right?
There's nothing you can do except convince the owners to address it.

[Wes Groleau]

On 06-19-2013 18:18, feedscrn wrote:

> The only thing I have control over is the pump and the power
> (and cost) for it.

And the option to rent from someone more reasonable.

[feedscrn]

On Thursday, June 20, 2013 10:40:47 PM UTC-4, Vic Smith wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:41:00 -0700 (PDT), feedscrn
>

Sorry for the delay in replying... Thanks for your suggestion. There are two 'water sources' for the bathroom... The tank on top of the house... which is supplied by the pump from a huge cistern dug in underneath the house. If the pump is off, the tank will still supply some water... I want to be able to shut off the pump so that if the water is left on in the public bathroom, the pump - which is triggered on whenever the water in the tank on top of the house gets low, is shut off... to prevent water in the cistern from flowing out. This usually happens at night... I can check to see whatever is left on in the bathroom the next morning, and shut it off.

People suggested using a timer. Thanks. This is probably the quickest, simplest and cheapest idea.

[feedscrn]

On Thursday, June 20, 2013 12:18:24 AM UTC-4, micky wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:21:07 -0700 (PDT), feedscrn
>

> <....@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> >On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:35:09 PM UTC-4, DerbyDad03 wrote:
>
> >> Why go crazy with fancy electronics? Find a source for something like this
>
> >>
>
> >> and install it in the public bathroom. It's a pretty common way to avoid
>
> >>
>
> >> the issue you are having.
>
> >>
>
> >> http://www.sanliv.com/self-closing-single-washbasin-faucet-20105
>
> >
>
> >Thank You for your suggestion.... I guess I need to say that the bathroom is totally out of my control...
>
>
>
> Aren't you a member of the public? Can't you or some friend or hiree
>
> of yours use it like any other person. While you're in there maybe
>
> you can change the flapper that is causing the toilet to leak, and
>
> change the faucet if they leave that running. Instead of calling
>
> the mysterious man Johnny Appleseed, he could be Johnny ToiletPlugger.
>
>
>
> The toilet at least can probably be done in no more time than a normal
>
> person might spend in the toilet for other reasons.
>

You're suggesting that I 'fix the flapper'... There are two problems with this, unfortunately... one: The flapper works... The floating ball thingie that supposed to be in the toilet is missing, so when the water valve is turned on, the water just flows like there is no tomorrow.

and two: Me fixing the toilet would set a precedent... So that whenever the bathroom appliances need fixing in the future, they would start to come to me, and probably hold me responsible to fix. I want to avoid this scenario altogether.

[DerbyDad03]

You can't fix the toilet without being seen? Follow these steps:

1 - Set your clock for whatever is considered "after hours" for this bathroom
2 - Put on a disguise
3 - Put an Out-Of-Order sign on the door
4 - Lock/Barricade the door so no one can get in
5 - Fix the toilet
6 - Unlock/Unbarricade the door
7 - Walk out of the bathroom
8 - Option 1: If there is no one outside the bathroom, remove the Out-Of-Order sign
8 - Option 2: If there is someone outside the bathroom say "Darn, it really is out of order!"
9 - Go Home

If you used Step 8 Option 2, don't worry about it. Someone will eventually remove the Out-Of-Order sign or you can do it later when no one is around.

[denni...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:34:17 PM UTC-4, feedscrn wrote:
> The ONLY Thing I have control of is the pump, and the power to it... That is it...
> Sorry it makes it complicated... but it's not my house... This is what I have to deal with.

I don't see how your cockamaime, nonexistent electronic doodad is going to make any difference either.

The toilet and sink simply drain the tank when the pump is off, yes? Takes more than an hour to drain the tank this way, yes?

If so you are not going to save a single drop of water.