[Pumptesting] TODO Aug 7 (thu) check battery Re: Fw: Re: Fw: Pump Test Failure?

Sat Aug 9 14:05:26 EDT 2025

Hi Tara

I appreciate the narrative and detail. However,tThis is where I
embarrassedly admit that I am NOT a mechanically inclined person. I would
need to go through the steps in person to feel confident troubleshooting or
manual overriding anything in the testing procedure. I can set a reminder
to go check if the tank is showing full tomorrow afternoon (based on the
display reading in the pump house) if that helps, but I would not be able
to troubleshoot the battery or solenoid with confidence on my own.

Mike

On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM Tara Halwes <tarahalwes at gmail.com> wrote:

> After 2 days the battery is up from around 6V to around 8.5V. Still not
> 12V but I guess it's charging now? (And / or I don’t actually know how to
> use a multimeter)
>
> tank level display is still jumping around wildly, but went from a lower
> jumping range to a higher jumping range after I unplugged and then plug
> back in the battery charger. Still, the highest number I’ve seen flash on
> the screen is 6.7 and scrolling through the relay statuses, the auto fill
> should be going (and still is not). Based on DaveR's Prior troubleshooting
> guesses, I assume this could still be due to the battery not being
> sufficiently charged for that relay to successfully signal the solenoid
> it's supposed to talk to. we had hoped it would have come on by now, but we
> were also assuming that the battery would be back up to 12 V by now, so I
> believe the next step is either too immediately replace this battery or two
> continue letting it charge and check back to see if the tank fill line has
> been triggered by tomorrow or Sunday.
>
> I’m hoping to have provided enough detail here that any regular tester on
> this list could check on that if you're available this Sunday but if it’s
> not clear enough what I’m talking about please let me know.
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 17:18 Tara Halwes <tarahalwes at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> The tank level was still reading low, fluctuating rapidly between around
>> 4.7 and 5.1 feet.DaveR came out and did a visual inspection, and we
>> measured it at approximately 6 feet, which means the sensor reading is
>> incorrect, but also the level is still low enough that the auto fill
>> solenoid should have triggered, and it very obviously was not running. So a
>> couple things need to happen in the next day or two.
>>
>> First is we need to give the battery on on the sensor panel time to
>> recharge. The battery was down to something like 6 V and should be at 12.
>> It’s fairly new. One of the terminal leads was extremely loose so that was
>> tightened and it is possible That will be enough to get it to charge
>> correctly. It is also possible that when it charges correctly, The other
>> issues will resolve, but in case they don’t:
>>
>> - Make sure the battery charged back up to 12 V
>> - Verify the auto fill triggered and the tank is back up to 8 feet, or at
>> least above 6.9.
>> - if it sounds like it’s filling, but the panel still reads low, visually
>> inspect the tank level. Also check for running water sounds in the great
>> behind unit number 80 as that would indicate it kept filling past 8 feet
>> which it should not do if the sensor is working correctly.
>> - Recalibrate the tank level sensor if it’s still reading incorrectly,
>> but the tank has filled back up. This procedure should be covered in the
>> manual above the control panel, but if not, DaveR can help.
>>
>> Default plan is Tara will do these things, but various medical
>> appointments might necessitate someone else stepping in to check on the
>> battery, etc.
>>
>> The rest of the test went fine and does not need to be redone until next
>> week. The system will come off of TEST in four minutes at 5:21 PM. I will
>> be unavailable for further troubleshooting this evening, but the battery
>> needs to charge anyway.
>>
>> Tara
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 14:51 Mike Gaisford <mgaisford at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I’m not been able to get back there to test. If you’re able to do it
>>> that would be great. Otherwise, I will try to do it tonight.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM Tara Halwes <tarahalwes at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey Julius or Mike,
>>>>
>>>> Did you re-test? If you did, let me know soon? Otherwise I’ll attempt
>>>> it sometime in the next 2 hours and report back.
>>>>
>>>> I’m reachable by phone or SMS text to:
>>>> 508-361-9605
>>>>
>>>> Cheers!
>>>> Tara
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Aug 5, 2025 at 12:37 Phéna Proxima <adam at phenaproxima.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike asked if we should re-test. Per Daver:
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes, re-test as normal. If it keeps happening, try only opening the
>>>>> test valve enough to get a consistent drop in pressure.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Any further questions, let me know. I will also document this
>>>>> conversation and its findings in the SH trustee manual.
>>>>> On Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 at 12:20 PM, Mike Gaisford <
>>>>> mgaisford at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> So is the direction to retest?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Aug 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM Phéna Proxima <adam at phenaproxima.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Update from Daver on the sensor issue:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> No need for Encore. What happened is that the waterflow sensor for
>>>>>> the building's own sprinkler system tripped. The waterflow sensor is near
>>>>>> the test valve. If there's a lot of turbulence in the pipes, that can fool
>>>>>> the sensor into thinking there's water flowing. Opening the test valve wide
>>>>>> open can make this more likely.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It doesn't mean there's anything wrong. Just keep lowering the
>>>>>> pressure until it gets to 80 PSI and the main pump turns on.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org
>>>>>> http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
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