Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "How does the Oil Smart system use the 20' piggyback electrical supply cord?"
A. The Oil Smart system has a sensor that turns on the pump when the water level reaches a certain point. The Oil Smart sensor sends a signal through the piggyback cord to turn on power to the pump. This is how the Oil Smart sensor turns on the pump. If the Oil Smart sensor doesn't detect any water at the turn on point, then the pump doesn't get any power and it stays off.
Q. "What do dry contacts do for the system and what kind of connection do they have?"
A.The dry contacts have screw down terminals. When the alarm goes off power is turned on in the 2 screw down terminals. You can connect the dry contacts to an alarm near your desk or some other convenient place. That way, you won't have to physically go to the Oil Smart system every time you want to check and see if the alarm went off.
Q. "Do I adjust the on and off points together or individually?"
A. The on and off points have to be adjusted together. The "on point" is 6" above the "off point" at all times. So, if the "on point" is at 24 inches then the "off point" will have to be at 18 inches.
Q. "Does the red light turn on at the same time as the yellow or white light?"
A. Yes, whenever there is a problem the red light is on. Depending on the type of problem either the yellow or white light will be on as well.
Q. "What is a vortex impeller and what does it do?"
A. A vortex impeller handles debris better than other impellers. It's used to help prevent clogging in your pump. Below is an example of a vortex impeller.
Q. "What is a NEMA 3R enclosure?"
A. This type of enclosure is made for outdoor use and protects the enclosed equipment from rain.
Q. "What does the automatic reset thermal overload protection do?"
A. If the pump gets too hot the thermal overload protection will turn it off until the pump cools down (to prevent damage to the motor). The pump turns back on after it has cooled down enough. This backup protection feature is useful if some debris causes the pump to overheat.
Q. "What does it mean by 'dewatering'?"
A. The pumps are called dewatering pumps because they are made to remove water and pump it somewhere else.
Q. "Are there any advantages of iron vortex impellers vs thermoplastic vortex impellers?"
A. For the most part they function just the same. However, if your pump will be dealing with rocky debris the iron pump is less likely to crack.
Q. "Why is it called a submersible pump?"
A. These pumps are designed to be placed directly in the water and draw the water up from the bottom of the pump. We offer a huge selection of submersible pumps.
Q. "What else should I know about this pump?"
A. Make sure to follow all of the manufacturer's instructions and directions by performing the proper maintenance and inspections to ensure that you are fully protected from flooding and oil leaks; this is ever-so-important with (man-made) safety devices as they will eventually fail. A little vigilance in the form of proper maintenance and inspections can go a long way toward extending the life of your pump system.
