DIY ATO Unit?

[dlhirst]

Thinking of making an ATO unit, and was surprised by the number of YouTube vids on the topic. Anyone do their own unit? Plans to use? Plans to avoid?

[soloimpression]

Nobodys chimed in yet to bad. Let me know how it turns out i wouldnt mind building my own ato unit too

[projectx]

Make sure you use a relay with the float switches, even though the pump may be rated below the amperage max of the switch, the start up current can fuse the reeds together and you get a freshwater flood into your sump or tank.

[Tropical Buff]

Originally Posted by projectx

Make sure you use a relay with the float switches, even though the pump may be rated below the amperage max of the switch, the start up current can fuse the reeds together and you get a freshwater flood into your sump or tank.

Can you give us some details on how the relay needs to be wired? I am in the process of seeting up a ATO as well and have not seen anything showing a relay and agree it makes sense to do so.

[projectx]

The relay has 2 sides, the switch side and the coil side.
on the coil side hook up a 12v power supply to 1 leg of the coil, the other wire of the power supply goes to one side of the float switch, the other side of the float switch will go to the other side of the relay coil.

on the switch side of the relay, cut one wire of an extension cord and attach some additional wire to both sides to make it easier to work with, put one wire on the common side of the switch part of the relay and the other wire onto the open side of the switch, when the float drops it will energize the coil and close the circuit, firing up the pump thats pluggged into the extension cord.

I used a 30amp light relay you can get at checker or NAPA, there is usually a wiring diagram on top of the relay.

hope this helps