water siphoning help

trigon · 02-03-2010, 06:53 PM

Hi all,

I have been having a hard time to find a answer to my problem, hope you guys can help.

The setup
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I have two water containers, container A and container B.
Container A is placed on top of container B.
I have a hose connected to both containers.

What do I want to do
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I want to be able to stop/pause the siphon when the water level in container A drops to a low level. Also I want to resume the siphon when the water level in container A rises to a high level.

(maybe using a float switch?)

The catch
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This has to run off no power

Conclude
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So I need some kind of float switch connected to a valve that will open and close (with no power) when the water level drops.

Any help would be great

Gary Slusser · 02-03-2010, 07:50 PM

Look for a float valve, not a float switch because you don't have anything (electric) to switch on/off.

And tank B will automatically be filled by gravity from tank A so valve tank B to shut off tank A water flow when B is full.

trigon · 02-03-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

And tank B will automatically be filled by gravity from tank A so valve tank B to shut off tank A water flow when B is full.

I need tank A to be able to shut off itself when it gets low.

Ill give more information
----------------------
Say tank A holds 10lt
and tank B holds 100lt

Walttheplumber · 02-03-2010, 08:31 PM

does container a have to be on top

Gary Slusser · 02-03-2010, 08:36 PM

Search for a float valve that will do that.

trigon · 02-03-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walttheplumber

does container a have to be on top

Yes, container A must always be on TOP and have water in it, it does not mutter how full container B is.

If using a float valve in container A will it be able to hold the siphon? can it be connected to the hose?

hayewe farm · 02-03-2010, 09:53 PM

The float valve in A will close off the hose but will not let it drain, just like sticking your thumb over the end. Once A is to the high level the valve will open and the water will flow again. You would only lose siphon if water in B goes below hose end.

trigon · 02-03-2010, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayewe farm

The float valve in A will close off the hose but will not let it drain, just like sticking your thumb over the end. Once A is to the high level the valve will open and the water will flow again. You would only lose siphon if water in B goes below hose end.

Thank you, so how would I connect it all together with this float valve?
http://images.villageorigin.com/001490-066/001.jpg

Gary Slusser · 02-04-2010, 10:01 AM

What are you going to use this for?

And why a siphon instead of using gravity to move the water from A to B?

And how is 10 gallon A going to keep 100 gallon B going with a siphon?

trigon · 02-04-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

What are you going to use this for?

To maintain the water level in tank A.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

And why a siphon instead of using gravity to move the water from A to B?

I am using gravity to move water from A to B, the last time i checked transfering water using gravity from one container (which is higher) to another using a hose is called siphoning, am I wrong?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

And how is 10 gallon A going to keep 100 gallon B going with a siphon?

This was an example to try and explain that it does not matter how much water tank B has, I don't need to maintain tank B.

All that matters is that tank A always has water in it, when the water level in tank A is high I want the siphon to start, when it is low in tank A I want the siphon to stop.

I hope I made myself more clear.

Daniel Holzman · 02-04-2010, 06:07 PM

A siphon is an inverted U tube used to transfer fluid from one tank to another. While gravity is the driving force, the key is that the tube is an inverted U, meaning that the siphon typically has to be filled with fluid in order to get the siphon going.

If the tube is a straight shot from A to B, and the fluid level in A is higher than in B, you will also get gravity feed, however it is not called a siphon, and there is no need to fill the tube with fluid to get it going.

trigon · 02-04-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Holzman

A siphon is an inverted U tube used to transfer fluid from one tank to another. While gravity is the driving force, the key is that the tube is an inverted U, meaning that the siphon typically has to be filled with fluid in order to get the siphon going.

If the tube is a straight shot from A to B, and the fluid level in A is higher than in B, you will also get gravity feed, however it is not called a siphon, and there is no need to fill the tube with fluid to get it going.

Ah thank you now i know the difference.

Yes i will be using an inverted u tube, so i will need to use a siphon.

NHMaster · 02-04-2010, 06:15 PM

I don't think you need any valve at all. If you take your pipe off the side of tank A, at the level you want to maintain, when the water is above that level it will drain down into the tank below it. When it rises above the outlet it will begin to drain all by itself.

drtbk4ever · 02-04-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHMaster

I don't think you need any valve at all. If you take your pipe off the side of tank A, at the level you want to maintain, when the water is above that level it will drain down into the tank below it. When it rises above the outlet it will begin to drain all by itself.

These were my thoughts exactly.

However, when the water level in A gets really low do you want it to draw water back in from B? Cause that is a whole different story and I don't have a clue.

NHMaster · 02-04-2010, 06:35 PM

I'd like to see a sketch of what he is planning to do as far as the relative location of the tanks.