Looking for opinions on a simple wireless switch

csarkar001 · 09/11/2010, 03:51 PM

i would like to turn a pump on/off remotely. pump is in the basement and the switch will be in the cabinet of the DT in my office. running wires is not practical.

i dont want a big complicated thing. just want a simple wireless switch with a three prong outlet. only criteria are that it has to be less than $100 and be highly reliable.

does anyone have any experience with any of these? any others worth considering?

BeanAnimal · 09/11/2010, 04:39 PM

Why is running wire not practical? You already have plumbing running the route?

Jeff · 09/11/2010, 05:00 PM

I used one of the wireless christmas light switches (like in your first picture) for awhile to turn on a pump in my basement to pump water up to my tank for water changes. It worked great and only cost around $14.00.

rioshilo · 09/11/2010, 05:08 PM

I use a remote like the first one on my water change buckets. They work great and I have not had any issues with them. I would be hesitant to use them a floor away without a fail safe though.

csarkar001 · 09/11/2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

Why is running wire not practical? You already have plumbing running the route?

i may cave in and run a bunch of extention cords as you suggest, but a wireless switch would be clean (if it were reliable).

as a failsafe, i'm going to plumb an emergency overflow in my sump just in case the switch magically turns itself on.

csarkar001 · 09/11/2010, 07:43 PM

"I use a remote like the first one on my water change buckets. They work great and I have not had any issues with them. I would be hesitant to use them a floor away without a fail safe though."

what brand is this one in your picture?

rioshilo · 09/11/2010, 10:30 PM

Couldn't find any brand names on it. I bought em around christmas time at wallmart or target.

csarkar001 · 09/11/2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rioshilo

Couldn't find any brand names on it. I bought em around christmas time at wallmart or target.

appreciate you looking.

BeanAnimal · 09/12/2010, 06:51 AM

You don't need to run extension cords. I would use low voltage and a relay. If this is just for a water change or top-off then the wireless switch may be ok, I just wouldn't trust it on a return pump.

csarkar001 · 09/12/2010, 07:07 AM

just for water change. but i need to build a failsafe, just in case ...

BeanAnimal · 09/12/2010, 08:20 AM

The easiest way to make the setup fail-safe is to hardware it. I would use low voltage and a relay.

Jeff000 · 09/12/2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

The easiest way to make the setup fail-safe is to hardware it. I would use low voltage and a relay.

Yup, I agree. Be pretty cheap too.

csarkar001 · 09/12/2010, 10:51 AM

i may go the transformer/relay route.

my failsafe is an overflow plumbed into my sump which connects to the house drain.

sys578 · 09/12/2010, 11:51 AM

I also got one of those and works good. Though 2 concerns (with my model perhaps): first is when the power goes out, it trips these and turns the outlet(s) off. I have to turn it back on with the remote. Not too reliable for a return pump IMO. And second, if you got a second unit, it runs off the same frequency and won't run another wireless set.

My model was bought from Lowe's for under $20. I use 2 of the outlets for my K3's inside the tank. The range is decent as well.

09/11/2010, 03:51 PM	#1
csarkar001 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: stamford, ct Posts: 345	Looking for opinions on a simple wireless switch i would like to turn a pump on/off remotely. pump is in the basement and the switch will be in the cabinet of the DT in my office. running wires is not practical. i dont want a big complicated thing. just want a simple wireless switch with a three prong outlet. only criteria are that it has to be less than $100 and be highly reliable. does anyone have any experience with any of these? any others worth considering?

09/11/2010, 05:00 PM	#3
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I used one of the wireless christmas light switches (like in your first picture) for awhile to turn on a pump in my basement to pump water up to my tank for water changes. It worked great and only cost around $14.00. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

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09/11/2010, 04:39 PM	#2
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Why is running wire not practical? You already have plumbing running the route?

09/11/2010, 05:08 PM	#4
rioshilo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Tipp of the burg Posts: 745	I use a remote like the first one on my water change buckets. They work great and I have not had any issues with them. I would be hesitant to use them a floor away without a fail safe though.

09/11/2010, 07:43 PM	#6
csarkar001 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: stamford, ct Posts: 345	"I use a remote like the first one on my water change buckets. They work great and I have not had any issues with them. I would be hesitant to use them a floor away without a fail safe though." what brand is this one in your picture?

09/11/2010, 10:30 PM	#7
rioshilo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Tipp of the burg Posts: 745	Couldn't find any brand names on it. I bought em around christmas time at wallmart or target.

09/12/2010, 06:51 AM	#9
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	You don't need to run extension cords. I would use low voltage and a relay. If this is just for a water change or top-off then the wireless switch may be ok, I just wouldn't trust it on a return pump.

09/12/2010, 07:07 AM	#10
csarkar001 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: stamford, ct Posts: 345	just for water change. but i need to build a failsafe, just in case ...

09/12/2010, 08:20 AM	#11
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	The easiest way to make the setup fail-safe is to hardware it. I would use low voltage and a relay.

09/12/2010, 10:51 AM	#13
csarkar001 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: stamford, ct Posts: 345	i may go the transformer/relay route. my failsafe is an overflow plumbed into my sump which connects to the house drain.

09/12/2010, 11:51 AM	#14
sys578 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 35	I also got one of those and works good. Though 2 concerns (with my model perhaps): first is when the power goes out, it trips these and turns the outlet(s) off. I have to turn it back on with the remote. Not too reliable for a return pump IMO. And second, if you got a second unit, it runs off the same frequency and won't run another wireless set. My model was bought from Lowe's for under $20. I use 2 of the outlets for my K3's inside the tank. The range is decent as well.