Rule A Matic Float Switch Garbage

[Midnightsun]

I am fed up with the poor longevity of these crap switches. Now I do maintain my shower sumps on a regular basis however this morning my wife says there is a problem while taking her shower. Normally no water backs up when things are working well but now she was standing in 1+ inch of water so I knew the shower sump was having an issue. Sure enough a tap on the float switch and she fired right up. Took the switch out and apart and cleaned her up to what looked like brand new. Reassembled it all and turned on the tap. worked great for about 8 times and then water started to fill too high in the sump so a light tap and off she goes.

Bottom line is the switch internally seems to become intermittent. They seem to last about 4 years or so and they are awfully proud of their product at around $100 cad once delivered and taxes are paid. Last time I replaced it with their 40a model assuming it would last longer but that did not happen. This is the one that is installed in there like the original. https://www.amazon.ca/Rule-40A-Matic-Sw ... 4892&psc=1

I am going cheap Chinese as the ratings are very high and they are so much cheaper. Bought 2 just to have a quick change spare if required. will only be able to use 1 screw down hole but that is more than enough. Have a feeling these will last much longer at 1/5th the price. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B083FQ ... UTF8&psc=1

[pepmyster]

Agree, They don't last long enough to warrant the price. Last time this happened, I bought this one and so far so very good...
https://www.amazon.ca/sspa/click?ie=UTF ... %26psc%3D1

[Midnightsun]

I have not had problems with the pump but the float switch is not dependable at all unless on the first year of a new one.

[bud37]

What is alarming is that the same quality exists in the bilge pumps that are needed to at least give your boat a fighting chance should it start to take on limited water....

Could the soap residue be causing an issue with the float ?.... Well I guess we can consider where these fine products come from.

[Midnightsun]

The floats in the bilge work fine but thats because they never get used. The shower sump ones are always in water and get used constantly.

I have had aquariums almost all my teen/adult life. I put away my last one a few months back. Had a home made auto water top off with one 2$ float switch in SALT water. This setup triggered several times a day 24/7 and in 11 years, never an issue. This was the float.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005 ... 1687633073

Seriously considering installing one like this through the shower sump cover with a small relay to handle the current. Bet you I would never touch it again.

[Midnightsun]

Pep,

Looked the the auto float switch pump you pointed to however the flow and hose size would be too big to fit in mine. Did find this one though that would be a good fit assuming its not too tall. https://www.amazon.ca/AURELIO-TECH-Auto ... =1-29&th=1

[plittle2005]

If this DC switch is failing because of contact burning, it is due to field collapse around the motor coil causing an arc across the points, back-emf, just as they open. This can be avoided if a diode is wired in parallel with the hot lead, across the switch, to shunt the high voltage spike back around the switch.

[Midnightsun]

Update. For those of you with a Rule 98a shower sump which is discontinued by the way along with the Rule 800 pump. https://www.amazon.ca/Rule-98A-12-Volt- ... B000O89DQ0

This float switch will bolt right into an existing hole in the shower sump. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B083FQ ... UTF8&psc=1

This pump will snap right into the existing Rule 800 base however it is slightly taller so it interferes with the cover. Easily solved by using a 2" hole cup saw and opening the cover right over the motor. Can be left like this or just put some duct tape over it if you want to seal it. These covers are not water tight and do have open holes where the wiring passes through. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004LR ... UTF8&psc=1

Had a spare 98a box that I have already salvaged the pump and switch from so I experimented on it for fitment at home with the parts listed above. The float needs to be turned around as shown as there is interference from the plastic screen and float movement if turned the other way. The blue base of the pump is the original Rule base, Even the location of the pump outlet is identical to the Rule and you can see the original Rule transparent hose with internal check valve slips right on.

Hopefully these components will outlast the original ones as they did not fare very well. The good news is these replacement parts are readily available usually next day through Amazon.

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[Viper]

Rule's float switch problems started as did other brands when they moved away from using internal mercury switches. It was a great move for the environment but lessened the life expectancy of the float switches.

[Midnightsun]

Waiting on a 100mm stainless reed float to be used in conjunction with a relay to replace the standard float switch. May even go a step further and install a high water sump alarm. This should permanently solve the switch issues and any overflow issues.