From tarahalwes at gmail.com Mon Sep 8 11:34:16 2025 From: tarahalwes at gmail.com (Tara Halwes) Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2025 11:34:16 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Fire pump testing and interim cistern steps Message-ID: I?m going to be in the north of Camelot a bunch today already so if anyone wants to join me for a pump test or to see what we can do for now to keep the fire cistern full without losing all other water to the site, let me know and we can meet up! This involves checking more things than usual and getting a better understanding of the fresh water system and how the two interact, which may also help the water team. Tara 508-361-9605 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mgaisford at gmail.com Mon Sep 8 12:14:50 2025 From: mgaisford at gmail.com (Mike Gaisford) Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2025 12:14:50 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Fire pump testing and interim cistern steps In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I'm around this afternoon. Just let me know a time that works best. You can remove Julius from the mailing list for now as he's back at school. On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 11:34?AM Tara Halwes wrote: > I?m going to be in the north of Camelot a bunch today already so if anyone > wants to join me for a pump test or to see what we can do for now to keep > the fire cistern full without losing all other water to the site, let me > know and we can meet up! > > This involves checking more things than usual and getting a better > understanding of the fresh water system and how the two interact, which may > also help the water team. > > Tara > 508-361-9605 > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tarahalwes at gmail.com Mon Sep 8 12:33:08 2025 From: tarahalwes at gmail.com (Tara Halwes) Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2025 12:33:08 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Fire pump testing and interim cistern steps In-Reply-To: References:

Message-ID: I can?t because I have no control over the mailing list, but THANK YOU JULIUS YOU ROCK On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 12:15 Mike Gaisford wrote: > I'm around this afternoon. Just let me know a time that works best. > > You can remove Julius from the mailing list for now as he's back at school. > > On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 11:34?AM Tara Halwes wrote: > >> I?m going to be in the north of Camelot a bunch today already so if >> anyone wants to join me for a pump test or to see what we can do for now to >> keep the fire cistern full without losing all other water to the site, let >> me know and we can meet up! >> >> This involves checking more things than usual and getting a better >> understanding of the fresh water system and how the two interact, which may >> also help the water team. >> >> Tara >> 508-361-9605 >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From grsshppr at kumango.net Sun Sep 21 13:10:15 2025 From: grsshppr at kumango.net (Ross Harpestad) Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:10:15 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Transfer test? Message-ID: Hey testers, Are you continuing to test the power transfer switch when you?re doing the pump tests? Ross -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tarahalwes at gmail.com Mon Sep 22 16:56:09 2025 From: tarahalwes at gmail.com (Tara Halwes) Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:56:09 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Transfer test? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Ross, None of us have been doing that as part of regular testing, though the instructions are there. I think we were all already uncertain enough about many of the non-optional things that doing an optional thing didn?t seem to make sense. If you think it should get done more regularly I can try to do it tomorrow. Is there a specific requirement or recommendation for a testing cadence for the power transfer switch? If yes we can clarify that and update the testing process docs, which we really need to do again anyway. I?m sort of holding off because we still need to replace the cistern level sensor and we may or may not change the hardware or process sub-steps around the the Levcon controller and the solenoid to the Cistern pump. ~Tara at 57 508-361-9605 On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 13:10 Ross Harpestad wrote: > Hey testers, > > Are you continuing to test the power transfer switch when you?re doing the > pump tests? > > Ross > _______________________________________________ > Pumptesting mailing list > Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org > http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From grsshppr at kumango.net Mon Sep 22 17:06:40 2025 From: grsshppr at kumango.net (Ross Harpestad) Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:06:40 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Transfer test? In-Reply-To: References:

Message-ID: The reason we were testing it regularly is because when we didn?t, it tended to stick when it was actually needed. That switch covers the emergency power for the pump. We?ve had at least 2 little power blips in the past few weeks, and each time the pump alarm has been calling the fire department, which, for a small power blip it really shouldn?t be. I?m wondering if the transfer switch isn?t properly switching and thus the pump is completely without power and thus reporting to the fire department. In any case, I?ve recommended that the SH trustees investigate but I thought it wouldn?t hurt to ask about the testing of the transfer switch. Ross On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 16:56 Tara Halwes wrote: > Hi Ross, > > None of us have been doing that as part of regular testing, though the > instructions are there. I think we were all already uncertain enough about > many of the non-optional things that doing an optional thing didn?t seem to > make sense. > > If you think it should get done more regularly I can try to do it tomorrow. > > Is there a specific requirement or recommendation for a testing cadence > for the power transfer switch? If yes we can clarify that and update the > testing process docs, which we really need to do again anyway. I?m sort of > holding off because we still need to replace the cistern level sensor and > we may or may not change the hardware or process sub-steps around the the > Levcon controller and the solenoid to the Cistern pump. > > ~Tara at 57 > 508-361-9605 > > On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 13:10 Ross Harpestad wrote: > >> Hey testers, >> >> Are you continuing to test the power transfer switch when you?re doing >> the pump tests? >> >> Ross >> _______________________________________________ >> Pumptesting mailing list >> Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org >> http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tarahalwes at gmail.com Mon Sep 22 20:12:00 2025 From: tarahalwes at gmail.com (Tara Halwes) Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:12:00 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Transfer test? In-Reply-To: References:

Message-ID: Gotcha, makes more sense now! I will try to walk through it to make sure I understand what exactly happens at what point, i.e. what failure to switch looks/sounds like and what error code message is captured, vs what error codes triggered the recent 2 calls. Maybe Adam already knows the latter. ~T On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 17:06 Ross Harpestad wrote: > The reason we were testing it regularly is because when we didn?t, it > tended to stick when it was actually needed. That switch covers the > emergency power for the pump. > > We?ve had at least 2 little power blips in the past few weeks, and each > time the pump alarm has been calling the fire department, which, for a > small power blip it really shouldn?t be. I?m wondering if the transfer > switch isn?t properly switching and thus the pump is completely without > power and thus reporting to the fire department. > > In any case, I?ve recommended that the SH trustees investigate but I > thought it wouldn?t hurt to ask about the testing of the transfer switch. > > Ross > > On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 16:56 Tara Halwes wrote: > >> Hi Ross, >> >> None of us have been doing that as part of regular testing, though the >> instructions are there. I think we were all already uncertain enough about >> many of the non-optional things that doing an optional thing didn?t seem to >> make sense. >> >> If you think it should get done more regularly I can try to do it >> tomorrow. >> >> Is there a specific requirement or recommendation for a testing cadence >> for the power transfer switch? If yes we can clarify that and update the >> testing process docs, which we really need to do again anyway. I?m sort of >> holding off because we still need to replace the cistern level sensor and >> we may or may not change the hardware or process sub-steps around the the >> Levcon controller and the solenoid to the Cistern pump. >> >> ~Tara at 57 >> 508-361-9605 >> >> On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 13:10 Ross Harpestad >> wrote: >> >>> Hey testers, >>> >>> Are you continuing to test the power transfer switch when you?re doing >>> the pump tests? >>> >>> Ross >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Pumptesting mailing list >>> Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org >>> http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting >>> >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tarahalwes at gmail.com Wed Sep 24 15:32:51 2025 From: tarahalwes at gmail.com (Tara Halwes) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:32:51 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Pumphouse Problem follow-up - Requesting update on pump house from Sunday Message-ID: Adam or Ross, (or??) FD on site Sunday presumably was because of power blip Ross mentioned re: transfer switch testing. He said they came because they received an alarm call from our FACP at #90. I want to log relevant details so please reply to this list with the following if you know. 1. Who actually spoke to the FD? 2. What was the specific error or alarm code that was sent from the FACP? 3. Did that align with whatever the FD said they got an alert about? 4. What if anything was done or changed 4.a) with the fire pump control panel? 4.b) with the transfer switch or main power switch? 4.c) with the FACP directly? 4.d) other? 5. What was concluded by the fire department? (Or Encore or Everon if engaged?) 6. What next steps were suggested or planned (aside from asking about Transfer Switch testing which Ross has already done)? 7. Was the controller status checked at the time of the FD visit? It should have been, if the alarm related to power. What was the status? 8. Was the status screen in the ?firmware updating state? at that time? 9. If so, did anyone follow the posted instructions for resetting it? 9.a. If yes, then we have a new problem which is that it?s already glitched again and it?s only been 3 days. 9.b. If no, then it?s just a human process problem/gap we can address without spending money. *Wednesday Sept 24, 2026 - Current status*: - The fire pump controller is in the ?firmware updating? state. - previously gave us a procedure for getting it unstuck from that state, which is posted on the wall above the test instructions. - Courtney and I didn?t want to do that without knowing if the current state is - A) an *intentional* result of something one of you or the Fire Department did on Sunday, versus - B) a new issue since Sunday, vs - C) a thing that wasn?t noticed on Sunday but may have already been happening and thus potentially (accurately) sending an alarm. - Either way we may not have pump power redundancy until the controller is restarted, but it would also be good to understand why this is happening Thanks, ~Tara -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From grsshppr at kumango.net Wed Sep 24 16:05:35 2025 From: grsshppr at kumango.net (Ross Harpestad) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:05:35 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Pumphouse Problem follow-up - Requesting update on pump house from Sunday In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: in order: 1) Shortly after the power blip, I received a call from Everon/ADT/Whatever they're called now saying they received a fire alert. I did inform them we just had a power blip and while that should send them a trouble alert, they shouldn't have gotten a Fire Alarm. She confirmed a Fire Alarm and said the FD was notified. I went onto the campus and met the FD at the pump house. 2) Unknown - The FD was checking the pump when I arrived, they then checked the FACP and reset the alarm before I could look at it. I didn't follow up- I assume the alarm/alert is still in the log. 3) Yes. 4a) Nothing to my knowledge. 4b) Nothing to my knowledge. 4c) A reset was done. 4d) Nothing to my knowledge. 5) Talking to the FD, they agreed the power blip likely tripped the alarm. 6) None. I recall seeing the FD arrive for a power blip a few weeks earlier. Once the FD left, I was getting ready to leave when it occurred to me that a simple power blip should not be triggering a fire alert and subsequently calling the FD. I first thought that perhaps something on the FACP was changed or recoded recently, and I sent a note to Adam. Then it occurred to me that perhaps the power transfer switch didn't engage properly. If that doesn't switch, the Pump Control would indeed be utterly without power and force a FACP alert which could trigger a call to the FD. I then thought to ask if the Power Transfer Switch was still being tested. I considered testing the Power Transfer Switch but was worried that if it didn't switch properly, it may trigger another alert, so I left it untested. 7) Which controller status are you asking about? I personally didn't check the pump controller nor the FACP. I did look at the Power Control Switch and it read normal, but that would be expected as the power was back on and the generator wasn't running. The Power Control Switch isn't smart and doesn't hold a log. 8) Unknown. 9) Not I. 9a) Unknown. 9b) Unknown. I hope this helps. Ross On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 3:33?PM Tara Halwes wrote: > Adam or Ross, (or??) > > FD on site Sunday presumably was because of power blip Ross mentioned re: > transfer switch testing. He said they came because they received an alarm > call from our FACP at #90. I want to log relevant details so please reply > to this list with the following if you know. > > 1. Who actually spoke to the FD? > 2. What was the specific error or alarm code that was sent from the FACP? > 3. Did that align with whatever the FD said they got an alert about? > 4. What if anything was done or changed 4.a) with the fire pump control > panel? > 4.b) with the transfer switch or main power switch? > 4.c) with the FACP directly? > 4.d) other? > 5. What was concluded by the fire department? (Or Encore or Everon if > engaged?) > 6. What next steps were suggested or planned (aside from asking about > Transfer Switch testing which Ross has already done)? > 7. Was the controller status checked at the time of the FD visit? It > should have been, if the alarm related to power. What was the status? > 8. Was the status screen in the ?firmware updating state? at that time? > 9. If so, did anyone follow the posted instructions for resetting it? > 9.a. If yes, then we have a new problem which is that it?s already > glitched again and it?s only been 3 days. > 9.b. If no, then it?s just a human process problem/gap we can address > without spending money. > > > *Wednesday Sept 24, 2026 - Current status*: > > - The fire pump controller is in the ?firmware updating? state. > - previously gave us a procedure for getting it unstuck from that > state, which is posted on the wall above the test instructions. > - Courtney and I didn?t want to do that without knowing if the current > state is > - A) an *intentional* result of something one of you or the Fire > Department did on Sunday, versus > - B) a new issue since Sunday, vs > - C) a thing that wasn?t noticed on Sunday but may have already been > happening and thus potentially (accurately) sending an alarm. > - Either way we may not have pump power redundancy until the > controller is restarted, but it would also be good to understand why this > is happening > > Thanks, > ~Tara > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tarahalwes at gmail.com Wed Sep 24 18:11:52 2025 From: tarahalwes at gmail.com (Tara Halwes) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:11:52 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Pumphouse Problem follow-up - Requesting update on pump house from Sunday In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Yes, helpful: Re: 1, yeah ?Everon?, or ?Everon, formerly ADT Commercial? Re: 4a/4c, yeah I suspected they?d only reset the FACP, and really they shouldn?t be directly interacting with the other controls, right? But if this same thing happens again, I suggest whoever is there in person first take a look at the Fire Pump controller display in the other room and send a picture to this list (send anyway if normal but especially if error or if stuck on firmware screen). Re: 5, in that case they (FD) may be half right, but missing the key detail of what problem to correct so we?re better protected. Re: 6, gotcha, we can either put it on TEST before attempting a test, or inform the FD that we?re doing the thing again and *expect* them to get an alert. We can decide whether to attempt this *before* vs *after* restarting the pump controller to clear the firmware screen. Re: 7, right, sorry, meant the fire pump controller, will attach photo of today?s display. This is approximately what it was doing during a previous blip that called the FD, possibly the same instance you?re referring to but I?m not positive. Courtney watched Daver toggle the main and transfer switches that time to restart the fire pump controller, which is what I didn?t do today because I wasn?t sure of status. It seems unlikely anyone (i.e. Adam or Daver) is intentionally trying to do firmware things without having warned *either* of us though, and it doesn?t sound like a new-since-Sunday problem so I think it?s safe to proceed with restarting the controller and then maaaaybe a transfer switch test. Will do at least the first part tomorrow if Courtney reminds me (she will) Thanks! Tara 508-361-9605 On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 16:05 Ross Harpestad wrote: > in order: > 1) Shortly after the power blip, I received a call from > Everon/ADT/Whatever they're called now saying they received a fire alert. I > did inform them we just had a power blip and while that should send them a > trouble alert, they shouldn't have gotten a Fire Alarm. She confirmed a > Fire Alarm and said the FD was notified. I went onto the campus and met the > FD at the pump house. > 2) Unknown - The FD was checking the pump when I arrived, they then > checked the FACP and reset the alarm before I could look at it. I didn't > follow up- I assume the alarm/alert is still in the log. > 3) Yes. > 4a) Nothing to my knowledge. > 4b) Nothing to my knowledge. > 4c) A reset was done. > 4d) Nothing to my knowledge. > 5) Talking to the FD, they agreed the power blip likely tripped the alarm. > 6) None. I recall seeing the FD arrive for a power blip a few > weeks earlier. Once the FD left, I was getting ready to leave when it > occurred to me that a simple power blip should not be triggering a fire > alert and subsequently calling the FD. I first thought that perhaps > something on the FACP was changed or recoded recently, and I sent a note to > Adam. Then it occurred to me that perhaps the power transfer switch didn't > engage properly. If that doesn't switch, the Pump Control would indeed be > utterly without power and force a FACP alert which could trigger a call to > the FD. I then thought to ask if the Power Transfer Switch was still being > tested. I considered testing the Power Transfer Switch but was worried that > if it didn't switch properly, it may trigger another alert, so I left it > untested. > 7) Which controller status are you asking about? I personally didn't > check the pump controller nor the FACP. I did look at the Power Control > Switch and it read normal, but that would be expected as the power was back > on and the generator wasn't running. The Power Control Switch isn't smart > and doesn't hold a log. > 8) Unknown. > 9) Not I. > 9a) Unknown. > 9b) Unknown. > > I hope this helps. > > Ross > > On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 3:33?PM Tara Halwes wrote: > >> Adam or Ross, (or??) >> >> FD on site Sunday presumably was because of power blip Ross mentioned re: >> transfer switch testing. He said they came because they received an alarm >> call from our FACP at #90. I want to log relevant details so please reply >> to this list with the following if you know. >> >> 1. Who actually spoke to the FD? >> 2. What was the specific error or alarm code that was sent from the FACP? >> 3. Did that align with whatever the FD said they got an alert about? >> 4. What if anything was done or changed 4.a) with the fire pump control >> panel? >> 4.b) with the transfer switch or main power switch? >> 4.c) with the FACP directly? >> 4.d) other? >> 5. What was concluded by the fire department? (Or Encore or Everon if >> engaged?) >> 6. What next steps were suggested or planned (aside from asking about >> Transfer Switch testing which Ross has already done)? >> 7. Was the controller status checked at the time of the FD visit? It >> should have been, if the alarm related to power. What was the status? >> 8. Was the status screen in the ?firmware updating state? at that time? >> 9. If so, did anyone follow the posted instructions for resetting it? >> 9.a. If yes, then we have a new problem which is that it?s already >> glitched again and it?s only been 3 days. >> 9.b. If no, then it?s just a human process problem/gap we can address >> without spending money. >> >> >> *Wednesday Sept 24, 2026 - Current status*: >> >> - The fire pump controller is in the ?firmware updating? state. >> - previously gave us a procedure for getting it unstuck from that >> state, which is posted on the wall above the test instructions. >> - Courtney and I didn?t want to do that without knowing if the >> current state is >> - A) an *intentional* result of something one of you or the Fire >> Department did on Sunday, versus >> - B) a new issue since Sunday, vs >> - C) a thing that wasn?t noticed on Sunday but may have already been >> happening and thus potentially (accurately) sending an alarm. >> - Either way we may not have pump power redundancy until the >> controller is restarted, but it would also be good to understand why this >> is happening >> >> Thanks, >> ~Tara >> >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mgaisford at gmail.com Wed Sep 24 18:17:59 2025 From: mgaisford at gmail.com (Mike Gaisford) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:17:59 -0400 Subject: [Pumptesting] Transfer test? In-Reply-To: References:

Message-ID: Is there a testing schedule/ rotation that I can get back on? I haven?t tested for over a month. Happy to help. On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 8:12?PM Tara Halwes wrote: > Gotcha, makes more sense now! I will try to walk through it to make sure I > understand what exactly happens at what point, i.e. what failure to switch > looks/sounds like and what error code message is captured, vs what error > codes triggered the recent 2 calls. Maybe Adam already knows the latter. > > ~T > > On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 17:06 Ross Harpestad wrote: > >> The reason we were testing it regularly is because when we didn?t, it >> tended to stick when it was actually needed. That switch covers the >> emergency power for the pump. >> >> We?ve had at least 2 little power blips in the past few weeks, and each >> time the pump alarm has been calling the fire department, which, for a >> small power blip it really shouldn?t be. I?m wondering if the transfer >> switch isn?t properly switching and thus the pump is completely without >> power and thus reporting to the fire department. >> >> In any case, I?ve recommended that the SH trustees investigate but I >> thought it wouldn?t hurt to ask about the testing of the transfer switch. >> >> Ross >> >> On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 16:56 Tara Halwes wrote: >> >>> Hi Ross, >>> >>> None of us have been doing that as part of regular testing, though the >>> instructions are there. I think we were all already uncertain enough about >>> many of the non-optional things that doing an optional thing didn?t seem to >>> make sense. >>> >>> If you think it should get done more regularly I can try to do it >>> tomorrow. >>> >>> Is there a specific requirement or recommendation for a testing cadence >>> for the power transfer switch? If yes we can clarify that and update the >>> testing process docs, which we really need to do again anyway. I?m sort of >>> holding off because we still need to replace the cistern level sensor and >>> we may or may not change the hardware or process sub-steps around the the >>> Levcon controller and the solenoid to the Cistern pump. >>> >>> ~Tara at 57 >>> 508-361-9605 >>> >>> On Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 13:10 Ross Harpestad >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Hey testers, >>>> >>>> Are you continuing to test the power transfer switch when you?re doing >>>> the pump tests? >>>> >>>> Ross >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Pumptesting mailing list >>>> Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org >>>> http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ > Pumptesting mailing list > Pumptesting at lists.sawyerhill.org > http://lists.sawyerhill.org/mailman/listinfo/pumptesting > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: