American Power Fail Switch

[stucco]

Does any one have a supplier for a power fail switch running off 110v for a US system? Thanks...

[Tsaphah]

Judging your skill level, you could build your own. All you need is a low voltage power pack, which most homes have a spare one lying around. Just need to match the relay coil voltage to the power packes voltage. If you have one that's output is AC, we can fix that too.
If you have any questions, just ask.

[stucco]

Thanks for the info, but I can’t quite make out the writing. By low voltage power pack do you mean like the ones for a kids toy or the one that is plugged into my laptop? Sorry u may have to dumb this down a bit for me. Electricity is not my thing.

[Tsaphah]

Sorry about the quality, I'll get it re-drawn. I do mean like the ones for a kids toy, a laptop one will be delivering about 18-20 volts, difficult to get relays at that voltage. Home Depo/ Walmart should sell power adaptors that would work.
Due to so called Health and Safety issues, it is a bit of a pain to get 110/ 240VAC coil voltage relays, except at a electrical wholesale place, and they are quite expensive in comparison to a 12VDC coil voltage relay.
What you need to look for is a relay that will have what is called SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw). THis means that one set of contacts will be open and the other closed. When power is applied to the coil, the open contacts will close, and the closed ones will open (this is the contacts that we want to use).
The other criteria is the current that the contacts can handle, and is measured in Amps. If they are too small, they will burn, so you will be looking at around 10A.

[stucco]

Thank you! Now the 17 year old kid who hates his job at the radio shack will have an idea as too what I’m talking about. I keep getting pointed in the direction of computer backup systems. They seem large, expensive and not for exterior use. The diagram will help a bunch. Thanks again, jon

[Murray]

We have them here that we are sending with our kits to the USA. We sell them for 125.00
We don't have them on our website , if you want one email me. The look the same as our 240 volt fail switch, but have 110-115 volt innards and a USA plug.
It does the same job, it switches on and off a 12 volt x 10 amp pump for the purposes of water movement and aeration.

[warren]

Hello Murray,
I see a bit of a discussion about your switch on another forum. Does your backup switch work well, I presume it does, but one of the membership team over there is implying that your switch is a bit suspect and does not work ?

Sorry to ask such a direct question, perhaps I should have sent a PM.

[Mantis]

I wired and plumbed in one of Murrays fail over switches and bilge pump yesterday and it works no problems.
Worked before it should have as I hadn't plugged the switch into the AC before wiring up the pump, so the pump started and first I knew about it was a jet of water from the new pumps growbed return hitting me square in the middle of my back

[Byron]

hey Warren ask these ney sayers what their issue is with his switches are and see if they can give you an intellectual/constructive answer, or even a first hand expirience with his switches failing? my guess is they are talking about 'a friend, of a friend, of a guy, on this forum they read about a few years ago' that had a bad experience. if you know what i mean?

[Byron]

but thats just my opinion