jtexas said:
If you can get your hands on another battery, identical to the first, in parallel will give you 2x the run time (more than 2x actually due to slower discharge rate), but at a cost of 2x the charging time. Unless you can scrounge up another charger. Or use 'em sequentially instead of simultaneously.
You might know the answer to a question I've been wondering about lately...if you used a water level sensor (the kind with bare leads) in a 20 gallon tank, would fish in the tank suffer any ill effects? I'm talking fish in excess of a pound or so, in fresh water.
Thanks!
Yip, i have considered that thanks, see above.
As for the level sensors, i doubt the fish will suffer in any way with the current, but, any current will cause oxidation (i think thats what it's called) on one or both electrodes, and then you will have problems. if its a marine tank, multiply those problems by 100!
I have installed water level sensors in my 600litre tank, so i can have the internal filter shut off before the pump runs dry (while doing maintenance)
However, i did not use electrodes, nor did i use commercially available float switches. It took me a while to figure out a solution, and then........
WALA or shall i say KABOEM!...................
it struck me:
i used a reed switch on the outside of the tank, and used a cylindrical magnet in a plastic tube (from a fax paper roll), and then used carbon fibre rods and tubes to attach to the end of the magnet, and then used poly styrene to fill up all the space in the tube around the magnet. Then i sealed the ends with epoxy leaving a cm. or 2 sticking out each side.
Then i siliconed one sliding track (plastic) on each side and slotted the "floating'' magnet into it so it can run freely up and down depending on the level.
It was all alot easier than it sounds, but it works like a charm, and costed me only a couple a bucks. (waaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than commercial units).
I have never seen this type of a system anywhere before, so i guess i'm a genius!
Patent pending.....so dont get any ideas!!!!!
.......just kidding