Sometimes you just get lucky, or JG fittings are airtight

[bad coffee]

So I'm going on vacation for a week. But my main top off jug (old oceanic salt jug, ~3 gallons) only lasts 2 days or so. I figured I could just use my water change bucket as a second container.

I was thinking of a float switch, a maxijet, and a piece of tubing.

While I was at Lowes getting filters, I walked by JG fittings. They had a T. I thought about it for a minute

If I hook the T up to my Litermeter, I can pump out of two containers!

So I hooked it all up. I filled the 5 gallon bucket with fresh RO water and turned it on.

It worked like a charm. Then, while I waited for my gallon jug (that I mix Kalk in) to fill.

When I came back to fill my 3 gallon jug, It was half full. It was mostly empty when I walked away.

The litermeter created a syphon between the two jugs! No floatswitch needed!

So now I have an 8 gallon top off jug!

At the end of the whole thing, I looked at it and went "Well, DUH, you're creating a tube between the two jugs! They'll level each other out!

Just had to share.

BC

 

[Deanos]

 

[jhale]

that's cool, I'm trying to figure out what size and kind of container to use for my top off when I go away. my tank needs 3 gallons a day. my normal container is 20 gallons. I need something bigger to leave for a week and feel safe.
Do you know if those restaurant supply stores on bowery sell the large plastic containers. I was thinking something like 30 or 50 gallons on wheels.

 

[samksy]

Hay Brett,

Any pictures of the top off, some close up shot would be cool.

 

[bad coffee]

J,
I think a "Brute" trashcan would be cheaper. But you could check. I know

McMasterCarr has them for $178

Lowes has a 44 gallon Brute for $38. add the wheels for another $30.

Or if you have a couple of 20 gallon tubs you could link them together.

BC (pics coming for Sam.)

[ June 13, 2005, 08:16 PM: Message edited by: bad coffee ]

 

[jhale]

thanks Brett,
that will be my last resort, I was hoping to get something nicer looking than the brute. it has to sit in my living room.

OR, what if I just ran a line from the ro storage tank under the sink. I would need a kent type float valve to put in my sump.
Is there a way to install the float valve in a sump?
I know it's supposed to go through the side of something, but can you have it hanging off the side of the sump somehow?

 

[bad coffee]

The bucket is a bucket with a hose in it. I'm pretty sure you can picture it!

[ June 13, 2005, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: bad coffee ]

 

[bad coffee]

What kind of top off pump do you have? Since you're going on vacation, is anyone going to care that there's 2 big tubs in the living room.

There was someone who tried hooking up a float switch to their RO unit and it wrecked the filter. Every time it would top off, it would only pump a little bit, then stop. The constant start/stop on the RO membrane trashed it in a couple of months.

So I'd say not to attatch it to your tank.

(company's here, time to BBQ. I'll be on later.)

BC

 

[jhale]

okay,

I know about the ro turning on and off.
I have a 4 gallon tank that fills with ro water, it's one of the pressurized blue tanks. the ro filter does not turn on until it's about half full. so the filter would be making two gallons at a time. is that still bad you think?

right now i have a autotop off system with a solenoid in the sump, that activates a powerhead in that white bin, which pumps the ro water into the sump.

I would be eliminating that system with a line from the pressure tank hooked up to the kent float valve in the sump. that is if that's possible to hook up.

 

[jhale]

Originally posted by bad coffee:
What kind of top off pump do you have? Since you're going on vacation, is anyone going to care that there's 2 big tubs in the living room.

that's why I want a nice looking container
in a pinch i could use that funny sized tank i got.
the 45 tall. that would hold enough water but I would not
want it to be permanent. unless i can disguise it as an end table or something

 

[bad coffee]

Three gallons a day wouldn't be that bad. I think if the filter kicked on 2 or three times a day that would be normal use. But how would you attatch it to your filter? would you just sadle valve it to the pipe? Then you'd have to run the tubing over to the tank. It's worth a shot. If you feel it's kicking on the ro unit too much, you could always cap it off and go back to what you were using.

BC

 

[samksy]

Great DIY job! Have a great vacation Brett.

 

[jhale]

I have a line going to a faucet at the sink for fresh drinkin RO water. I can tee off that. It all will come from the tank.

I just have to figure out the float valve for the sump.