Apparatus and method for monitoring a sump pump

An apparatus for monitoring and controlling a motor driven sump pump for a sump having a liquid with a height of an upper surface of the liquid therein, comprising:

• power means for supplying power to the apparatus;
• pressure sensing means for detecting a pressure resulting from the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump, and including a means for converting the detected resulting pressure into a continuous electrical signal, wherein the continuous electrical signal represents the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• control means comparing the continuous electrical signal to a first preselected electrical signal level that represents at least a first preselected pressure for turning the motor either "on" or "off" when the detected pressure is either above or below the first preselected pressure;
• first alarm means cooperating with the sensor for activating an alarm when the detected pressure is above at least a second preselected pressure;
• power detection means for detecting a power failure in the power means;
• second alarm means for activating an alarm when the power detection means detects a power failure in the power means;
• fault detection means for detecting a fault condition in the pump;
• third alarm means for activating an alarm when the fault detection means detects a fault condition in the pump;
• and,
• disabling means for disabling the pump when the fault detection means detects a fault condition in the pump.

An apparatus for monitoring and controlling a motor driven sump pump for a sump having a liquid with a height of an upper surface of the liquid therein, comprising:

• pressure sensing means for detecting both an atmospheric pressure and a pressure resulting from the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• conversion means for comparing the atmospheric pressure and the detected pressure resulting from the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump for generating a gauge pressure, and for converting the gauge pressure into a continuous electrical signal, wherein the continuous electrical signal represents the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• and,
• control means cooperating with the conversion means for comparing the continuous electrical signal to a first preselected electrical signal level that represents at least a first preselected pressure, and for turning the motor either "on" or "off" when the gauge pressure is either above or below the first preselected pressure.

A method for monitoring and controlling a motor driven sump pump for a sump having a liquid with a height of an upper surface of the liquid therein, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a pressure resulting from the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• converting the detected resulting pressure into a continuous electrical signal, wherein the continuous electrical signal represents the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• comparing the continuous electrical signal to a first preselected electrical signal level that represents at least a first preselected pressure;
• and,
• turning the motor either "on" or "off" when the detected pressure is either above or below the first preselected pressure.

A method for monitoring and controlling a motor driven sump pump for a sump having a liquid with a height of an upper surface of the liquid therein, comprising the steps of

• supplying power to the sump pump;
• detecting a pressure resulting from the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• converting the detected resulting pressure into a continuous electrical signal, wherein the continuous electrical signal represents the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump;
• comparing the continuous electrical signal to a first preselected electrical signal level that represents at least a first preselected pressure;
• turning the motor either "on" or "off" when the detected pressure is either above or below the first preselected pressure;
• activating an alarm when the detected pressure is above at least one second preselected pressure;
• detecting a power failure in supplying the power;
• activating an alarm when a power failure is detected;
• detecting a fault condition in the pump;
• activating an alarm when a fault condition is detected in the pump;
• and,
• disabling the pump when a fault condition is detected in the pump.

An apparatus for monitoring and controlling a motor driven sump pump for a sump having a liquid with a height of an upper surface of the liquid therein, comprising:

• AC power means having an AC power level, for supplying power to the apparatus;
• AC power detection means for the AC power level in the AC power means, and for creating a detected AC power level;
• control means for comparing the detected AC power level to a first predetermined value that represents a first predetermined AC power level;
• alarm means activated by the control means when the detected AC power level is above or below the first predetermined AC power level;
• and,
• pressure sensing means for detecting a pressure resulting from the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump, and including a means for converting the detected resulting pressure into a continuous electrical signal, wherein the continuous electrical signal represents the height of the upper surface of the liquid within the sump, and wherein the control means also compares the continuous electrical signal to a first preselected electrical signal level that represents at least a first preselected pressure for turning the motor either "on" or "off" when the detected pressure is either above or below the first preselected pressure.