Pool pump controller

A pool, comprising:

• a pool for holding water,
• an electrical pump including a pump motor,
• at least one pump intake connected to draw water from said pool into said pump,
• a pool pump controller, comprising:
• a fluid pressure sensor comprising:
• a diaphragm switch connectable to provide an electrical signal responsive to a change in fluid pressure, said switch comprising:
• a housing with an interior chamber,
• a pressure port in said housing for transmitting a pressure signal to said chamber,
• a diaphragm mounted within said chamber to move in response to a pressure change from said pressure port, the diaphragm including a projecting obstruction member, and
• an opto-coupler connected to complete an optical transmission for one position of said diaphragm, with said obstruction member obstructing said optical transmission for a second diaphragm position, said opto-coupler producing an electrical signal indicative of whether its transmission is obstructed, and
• a pneumatic tube connected at one end to said diaphragm switch, the other end of the tube forming at least one input port having an opening and a check valve placed within the opening to block the flow of water into said pneumatic tube,
• a relay connected to respond to said electrical signal from said opto-coupler so that, when the controller is used to control a pump motor, the relay can be connected to close a current path to the motor.

A fluid pressure switch, comprising:

• a housing with an interior chamber,
• a pressure port in said housing for transmitting a pressure signal to said chamber,
• a diaphragm mounted within said chamber to move in response to a pressure change from said pressure port, the diaphragm including an obstruction member which projects from the diaphragm, and
• an opto-coupler connected to complete an optical transmission for one position of said diaphragm, with said obstruction member obstructing said optical transmission for a second diaphragm position, said opto-coupler producing an electrical signal indicative of whether its transmission is obstructed.

A fluid pressure sensor, comprising:

• a diaphragm switch connectable to provide an electrical signal in response to a change in fluid pressure, said switch comprising:
• a housing with an interior chamber,
• a pressure port in said housing for transmitting a pressure signal to said chamber,
• a diaphragm mounted within said chamber to move in response to a pressure change from said pressure port, the diaphragm including an obstruction member which projects from the diaphragm, and
• an opto-coupler connected to complete an optical transmission for one position of said diaphragm, with said obstruction member obstructing said optical transmission for a second diaphragm position, said opto-coupler producing an electrical signal indicative of whether its transmission is obstructed, and
• a pneumatic tube connected at one end to said diaphragm switch, the other end of the tube forming at least one pressure sensor input port having an opening and a check valve placed within the opening to block the flow of water into said tube.

A pool pump controller, comprising:

• a pressure sensor including:
• a tube with a sensing end forming at least one input port with each said port having an opening with a check valve placed to block the flow of water into said tube and to respond to a change in pressure at said opening, and
• a switch at the other end of said tube, said switch being responsive to said change in pressure by producing an electrical signal, and
• a relay connected to respond to said electrical signal from said switch so that, when the controller is used to control a pump motor, the relay can be connected to close a current path to the motor.