Wisconsin Pond Build

[pondlover]

Beautiful pics!

 

[j.w]

Yes sir very nice pix herz!

 

[herzausstahl]

so has anyone ever tried using a light sensor to control a pond pump? is there any issues of doing this that anyone is aware of? I am planning for spring and looking to just have the stream run during the day and will either put it on a timer (they make programable ones that fit in a wall outlet) or adding an outdoor light sensor to an outlet to control it that way.

 

[taherrmann4]

Interesting concept. I thought most light sensors work where they turn on when it gets dark, but I guess you could always switch it around, don't know.

 

[sissy]

A light sensor I use on my outside lights but that is for dusk to dawn The sensor would not turn it on during the day .But they do sell the plug in timers that you can set for anytime of the day and that would work as long as you have another pump going to filter the water for the fish .I am using one of those on my stock tank since there are only plants in there and no need for a real filter and I feel I will only need the pump going during the daytime hours .I'm guessing the frogs will find it fast this summer and I will have tadpoles in there to clean it .Oh also you need the heavy duty timer as the light weight one is no good for a pump .My son got mine and he got it from an electical supply store ,not sure where else you can buy one .

 

[j.w]

Sissy can you get the timers that are weather proof to put out in the rain? I have the indoor ones and can use them on the covered porch but not out where it's wet.

 

[sissy]

Mine has a plastic cover and is rated for out door use .I looked online and they have several different kinds .Some are rated also for amount of amps you can use .The one I have my son got up in NJ .He is now back up there living and there are more places to find them there than here .This one comes with a heavy duty power cord and has a box on the end with a stake that goes in the ground and the timer can run 2 different things .He called and ask me beacause they had ones that also ran 4 items and ones that ran 4 things but you could set each one to turn off and on at different times .They cost from 25 dollars and up with the power cord but direct plug in was cheaper .

 

[sissy]

This one I found the card for it is made by GE and says it is rated outdoor use only .

 

[addy1]

I have yard timers, I use one for our stream pump works great

 

[j.w]

I'll have to check at Lowes or H-depot and see if they have any. Thanks guys!

 

[herzausstahl]

A light sensor I use on my outside lights but that is for dusk to dawn The sensor would not turn it on during the day .But they do sell the plug in timers that you can set for anytime of the day and that would work as long as you have another pump going to filter the water for the fish .I am using one of those on my stock tank since there are only plants in there and no need for a real filter and I feel I will only need the pump going during the daytime hours .I'm guessing the frogs will find it fast this summer and I will have tadpoles in there to clean it .Oh also you need the heavy duty timer as the light weight one is no good for a pump .My son got mine and he got it from an electical supply store ,not sure where else you can buy one .

Yeah saw it in the store and was thinking you could set it to turn on/off with the light, but I guess they probably don't let you decide that. I did see a programable timer that goes in a wall outlet just like a light switch. Not sure if it was rated for indoor/outdoor, but that shouldn't really matter if it goes in an outdoor outlet box, with a weatherproof cover I think. The outlets I have outdoors are the same as I would use indoors.

 

[herzausstahl]

I'll have to check at Lowes or H-depot and see if they have any. Thanks guys!

I think I have seen them online at both stores. I found them in Menards here, although last time I checked they were out of them and only had the countdown timers. They go in just like an outlet and have wires that you connect to the outlet you want on the timer. I plan to use it just for my stream. I have a separate pump that runs my filter. I also saw a different one at menards that seemed like it was a lot heavier duty. The pump I have uses like 270 some watts which should be the same as most big screen lcd tv's these days.

 

[sissy]

the only thing you have to make sure that it is rated for that use if not it can overheat and start a fire or even worse burn up your your pumps motor .They are just like the extension cords and are rated the same .They have to say heavy duty or say how much load they can take .

 

[addy1]

Check the garden area jw, where they sale the yard lights. That is where you usually find the outside timers.

 

[j.w]

I shall do that addy and I only want them for my pond lights so they shouldn't use too much juice.