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

Sun Aug 10 00:44:06 EDT 2025

Gotcha. For now we can simplify to:
DO NOT run a fire pump test this Sunday. We need to let the drinking water
replenish.   We've got an overfilling fire pump tank now that the battery
is back to full charge and able to trigger the refill line. This is why we
lost water tonight.

Hopefully it's as simple as needing the tank float sensor replaced, but
we'll gather more data on that around 2pm or so.

If it seems like it's working correctly, we will need more frequent
monitoring once it's reconnected to make sure we aren't overfilling. I can
show you where to listen for evidence of that, even when you're just out
walking the dog.

~Tara

On Sat, Aug 9, 2025 at 14:05 Mike Gaisford <mgaisford at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Pumptesting mailing list
>>>>>>> Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org
>>>>>>> http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Pumptesting mailing list
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
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