Forum Discussion

olympicman's avatar
olympicman
Explorer
Feb 20, 2019

Water pump switch question

I am in the process of installing the SeeLevel tank monitering system. I bought the monitor that has the water pump switch and the water heater switch.
My current system uses an Intellitec Mpx Low Side 10 amp Latching controller to make the 3 momentary switches "push on push off both same direction" work.
The SeeLevel switch is not a momentary switch it is an on off switch. Will this work with pump controller with no problems?

19 Replies

  • Most RV shops should have the correct switch cheap, like $3-4. Also pay attention to the wire size. Right now it carries no current, but rewiring you will be running all the pump power through that wire.
  • olympicman wrote:
    Again thank you wnii and dougrainer,
    I bought the monitor panel with the switch for water pump as I wanted to keep the whole thing looking like a clean install and have to remove the old system completely. I will look into trying to retro fit the old pump switch into the new unit or buying a new switch.
    Another thought, can I bypass the Intellitec controller completely and just have the new on/off switch operate the pump and have the other two switches inoperable? The pump controller is mounted right by the OEM tank monitor panel.


    Yes, the only difference will be the See Level switch will complete the ground circuit. So, you will wire the 12 volt positive from the Intellitec controller to the Positive of the water pump. Then connect the ground pump wire to the (switch) wire at the controller. Doug
  • Again thank you wnii and dougrainer,
    I bought the monitor panel with the switch for water pump as I wanted to keep the whole thing looking like a clean install and have to remove the old system completely. I will look into trying to retro fit the old pump switch into the new unit or buying a new switch.
    Another thought, can I bypass the Intellitec controller completely and just have the new on/off switch operate the pump and have the other two switches inoperable? The pump controller is mounted right by the OEM tank monitor panel.
  • The controller uses a GROUND signal(momentary switch) to activate the controller to complete the ground to the pump. Having ground to the controller all the time would probably burn it up. Why can't you use the existing switches? Doug
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    olympicman wrote:
    Thanks wnii and dougrainer.
    Doug, if I don't use the momentary switches in the bath and outside shower, would the off/on switch on the seeLevel panel work as the only switch, as I have never used the other two.


    The way those multi-switch momentary systems work is when a voltage "pulse" comes from any of the switches, it changes states from OFF to ON or ON to OFF. Using a normal switch is like holding one of the existing buttons down indefinitely.

    So while you could use the switch as-is, 'ON' won't mean ON. You'll have to click it on, then off to turn the pump on and do it again to turn it off. Just replace the switch using one from Digikey (select SPST and 'OFF-Mom' and pin size in the filter choices then find one that matches the dimensions of the existing one). Any should be sufficient for the minuscule amount of current.
  • Thanks wnii and dougrainer.
    Doug, if I don't use the momentary switches in the bath and outside shower, would the off/on switch on the seeLevel panel work as the only switch, as I have never used the other two.
  • NO, but you could install a Momentary switch in the see level panel. Doug
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    I doubt it. The non-momentary switch would have to be clicked on then off to act like the momentary one.

    You may be able to replace the switch in the Seelevel with a momentary switch. They are generic enough.