Keith:
VERY interestingly enough, the day after I had posted the original diagram without the generator (yesterday, Tuesday) we had a massive wave of thunderstorms, AND a power outage that lasted 4 hours! ... I can't remember the power out for so long....
Needless to say, moneybags had to go out and get a generator! ...
It clearly saved the day; the sumps filled up and overflowed some.
(this serves to bolster my resolve for using ONLY cement board and PT in the framing).
(Note: I have not assembled the pump system yet, except for having 2 pumps, and now the generator)
As for the 'single failure points' in the diagram(s), unless there is redundancy with every element and component, there can always be a failure (and even with redundancy that can happen)...
But the more 'solid or static' things, like connecting cables and wires and pipes (if constructed and protected correctly), are somewhat less likely to fail than motors, batteries, etc.
The reason for having 2 pumps online at any time is a redundancy that can have simultaneous failure, but the 'odds' of it are low (yet a 'spare' pump is a good idea)...
It IS possible that the generator can fail from even small things such as no gasoline (doh!); however, the generator will be a 2nd line failure backup, i.e., the failure would have to be driven to the point where the battery backup has been exhausted -- meaning, a prolonged power failure (which is rare, yesterday notwithstanding.... a prolonged failure AND a torrential storm is even rarer, yesterday notwithstanding)
Yesterdays outage WOULD have exhausted the batteries, I think. But if I had the aux 12 volt connectors for the batteries/inverter, able to reach an automobile, that could have been used instead of a generator (or if the generator failed); although it would definitely be more efficient if the car had an integral inverter, and then switch to this through aux 110 vac connectors... (having BOTH the 12 vdc and 110 vac aux connectors allows for the failure of the car's inverter!).
Honestly, my biggest fear is that I won't be home during a failure that is not automatically corrected by the system.
I did not get a generator that has an automatic startup upon failure (don't know yet if a starter can be installed), so that is a weak spot to consider...
Water level alarms are then very important, since a long power outage during the middle of the night might go unnoticed (although, these are useless anyway -- if no one's home!).
Those FloodStop items look cool; that's the stuff I'm talking about that's good -- all automatic...
I should note that I'm now also looking into water-powered backup sump pumps (powered by town's water pressure)...
I have loved this elec/mech stuff, since my days in that field......
P.S. I'm not forgetting the grade slope and drainage issues for the yard!!
K
sharward wrote:That's looking better, K -- I was actually going to comment that it seemed there were some single points of failure in the original diagram.
Also, kind of related -- have you seen
this cool product? "FlowManager & FloodStop Systems: For Toilet, Washer, Water Heater, Dishwasher or Ice/Water Dispensers... Automatic Water Leak Detection Prevention Shut-Off Valve... Water Leak Detectors." Perhaps you'd find a use for one of their products...?
--Keith