I need some help to locate and install a wifi switch that can be added to an existing electronic circuit before the power switch on a DC to AC power inverter I use as a means to power my backup sump pump in my basement.
There is a toggle switch on the inverter that powers the unit on but since I don't need it on all of the time I would like to be able to turn it off and on remotely if needed.

 

Do you currently have anything wireless? A Google of Wireless Relay Board will bring up several possibilities like this one. There are plenty of other wireless solutions including a simple relay board and a key fob. Really numerous possibilities.

Ron

 

Controlling a power inverter may be more than a simple switch in the power lead. BUT if the switch is controlling the main supply feed, that will be quite a few amps and the average wifi control module will not be able to handle that current.

 

The safest way to do this would be to rig a mechanical actuator to the existing switch.

A push-pull solenoid and a pair of one-shots, with a DPDT relay connected to the remote switch would isolate any of your additions from current carrying.

 

To decide on what the best approach will be requires that we know just what the switch is switching. THAT will require more information.
SOME inverters include a remote control option with a plug in connection. My cheaper inverters do not include that option, because my application would have no use for it at all.

 

I don't have a remote control option with a plug in connection. how would I know if the switch is controlling the main supply feed?

 

This is a easy fix you just need to show more information does the switch turn on the pump when power is out.
If your talking about the thing charging while not being used it turns itself on and off as it needs to keep the battery charged.

 

It has been almost a year since you began this thread.

I need some help to locate and install a wifi switch that can be added to an existing electronic circuit before the power switch on a DC to AC power inverter I use as a means to power my backup sump pump in my basement.
There is a toggle switch on the inverter that powers the unit on but since I don't need it on all of the time I would like to be able to turn it off and on remotely if needed.

So you have a DC to AC inverter powering the pump. The inverter has a switch and you want to be able to remotely bypass the switch to power the inverter On/Off. What is the pump voltage and current demand? Doing what you want to do is easy enough depending on your skill level.

Local control but no Network I would just buy a cheap inexpensive remote relay board like I linked to back there. Local control with a network then I would just use WiFi maybe a chipset like the ESP8266. Then I can control from any PC in the house or just use my phone as long as I am in range of the home network. That or I just tell Alexa to do it. The possibilities are endless.

This comes down to exactly what you want including any bells and whistles. You may also want to go back and answer some members questions looking to help you.


Ron

 

I don't have a remote control option with a plug in connection. how would I know if the switch is controlling the main supply feed?

how about simply providing something concrete? why don't you post model info or photo of the connections available on your unit? or link to a manual?

 

why do you need to control it remotely? because that would also need feedback to tell if it is running or not.
would it not be enough to have something starting/stopping pump automatically?

 

This is a easy fix you just need to show more information does the switch turn on the pump when power is out.
If your talking about the thing charging while not being used it turns itself on and off as it needs to keep the battery charged.

ok let me see if I can describe correctly what I have put together. I have a 12v deep well marine battery with an AC wall wart maintenance charger connected to it. I then have leads from the battery to the power inverter. My sump pump is plugged into the AC outlet on the inverter. When I turn on the inverter the cooling fan comes on so I can only assume this is the only draw on the battery until the sump pump float switch activates the pump and draws power from the inverter via the battery. when the pump is finished with the cycle it shuts off and the only draw once again is the inverter cooling fan and that is the crux of it. As long as the fan is on it seems to draw more current than the maintenance charger can keep up with. My proposed remedy for this, since I don't have to have the inverter on all the time but only when we have heavy rains or an unusually high water table from run off, why not wire or solder in a wifi smart switch in place of the inverter rocker switch use to power on the inverter. if this is possible I could then turn on the inverter form anywhere through my Alexa app when I suspect there would be an unusual amount of water on the way. I have a water sensor in the basement that will notify me through my in home alarm system. I might add that the inverter is running a second pump used strictly as backup should power go out. With the inverter on the battery is only good for maybe two days before the inverter warning lights come on and it start to whistle letting me know that it doesn't have enough juice in the battery to operate. I then have to turn it off and let it charge again and while I'm not entirely sure how long that takes I know its longer than a day.

 

how about simply providing something concrete? why don't you post model info or photo of the connections available on your unit? or link to a manual?

when I originally posted this my life got busy, now that I have revisited this problem I'm open to suggestions. As for a pic, presently I'm in a cast from a foot surgery and going down to the basement is out of the question. Tomorrow if the doctor puts me in a walking boot and lifts the non weight bearing restriction then I'll go down, gets some pics, and upload them.

 

The most important issue is how would you verify that the remote switch on actually worked?? For a sump pump keeping a basement and contents dry, that is rather important. MUCH ORE important than saving even a lot of steps.
The other, really important concern is that leaving the inverter running will waste a lot of the battery charge.
The solution is to have a second float switch engage the inverter when the pump does not operate powered by the mains. So whan the mains power is missing then the level rises two more inches and the inverter runs the pump until the level drops and the inverter switches back off. That scheme will extend the battery charge time quite a bit.

 

To all, this setup works quite well as I have tested several times. I just want to be able to turn it off and on from anywhere.

 

It must be that your power outages are all very short duration.

 

The most important issue is how would you verify that the remote switch on actually worked?? For a sump pump keeping a basement and contents dry, that is rather important. MUCH ORE important than saving even a lot of steps.

I thought about that as well and looked at smart water flow monitors, perhaps in the pvc pipe that the water is pumped out through. Some are pricey some are reasonable either way worth the money to avoid a flooded basement. Worst case I could at least have one of my family get to the house ASAP and manually turn on the backup.

 

It must be that your power outages are all very short duration.

Never been longer than a few hours but that said seems I always hear about an aging power grid and infrastructure. Just trying to stay in front of it never mind so far it's been a fun learning experience for me and my son.

 

I would go about this differently I would run pump on main power and only off inverter when power is off.
A esp 32 and a relay board would fix you up very easy. Working with Alexa app be the harder part if you are not familiar with how it would need to be done.
The esp would switch the power from main to inverter. Your pump load must not be much seeing you said it can run off inverter for a day or so.
something like this would do the job if pump is less then 10 amps id keep it under 7 amps
But we need to no what pump your using.

 

The alternative that I suggested, adding a second float switch, could be more reliable. The only tricky part will be adding a relay to switch the motor over to the inverter when the inverter switched on. The second float switch, set a bit higher than the existing one,would trigger the inverter. That would only happen when the pump did not start because the mains power had failed. It would be the very simplest scheme. And if you had a second pump as a backup, the instalation of controls would be even simpler.

 

To all, this setup works quite well as I have tested several times. I just want to be able to turn it off and on from anywhere.

OK and back several post I made a few suggestions as how to get the results you want including whistles and bells. For example if you turn the pump on do you need to know the pump is actually running. If all you want is to remotely turn the pump on or off l made a few suggestions, would those be viable?

Ron