Replacement Float Switch for Basement Watchdog Model BWC1 Sump Pump

J. R. Liggitt: Have now been in operation for over six months, with no negative comments, other than it causes the sump pump to operate on a much more frequent basis when installed. Semi-difficult to install. Does not work if the sump pump motor should fail, so be advised!!

United States on Oct 12, 2023

gabrielle r.: Stopped working after 6 months, even after cleaning and testing

Canada on Sep 20, 2023

MBarton: For my particular project, I needed a float valve that could fit within the vertical section of a 3 inch landscape drain within a covered patio area. The idea is to set this up only during storms where the drain cannot keep up to prevent the patio from flooding.

United States on Aug 31, 2023

Vladimir Kagner: Working time for pump should be increased for 30-50 sec at least. To do this I change resistor from 200kohm to 800 kohm.

Canada on Mar 06, 2023

Shygander: easy to install...works great so far

Canada on Apr 04, 2022

Amazon Customer: I tried to locate the sump pump float switch locally but was not successful. I was very happy to find it available through Amazon. It was delivered in 2 days time. In the interim, I was crossing my fingers that the rains would abate because I was relying on my battery backup. Now the Spring rains can come and be pumped safely away.

Canada on Mar 20, 2022

CalgaryPTCalgaryPT: Very happy. The 12 AMP rating is a big bonus. The protection cage is far more robust than I expected and the product is sturdier than I expected as well. I know it is supposed to attach to a discharge pipe, but I hose-clamped it to a small utility pump inside a perforated bucket for draining window wells w/o weeping tile. It works like a charm! What a great way to turn a small utility pump into an automatic model. In my attached pic I am using it with a pump not from the same manufacturer, but this is the whole point. You can add it to most pumps after the fact, and rig it to within 1.4" of the water on the floor, etc. Now you have a automatic utility/sump/dewatering pump you don't have to monitor.

It is not for outdoor use, but in a sheltered location I just attach a portable GFCI and it safes me a ton of monitoring time. The backup (higher) float is genius. In the event of an obstruction, this one kicks in. Somebody thought this product out. Highly recommended. As soon as I finish this review I am buying a second one (just in case).

Only downside is the @#$%^& packaging is that horrible pressed thermoplastic that requires a team of special ops soldiers and...

Canada on Apr 15, 2018

John R: I have a high water table that caused the  Liberty Pumps 287 1/2-Horse Power 1-1/2-Inch Discharge 280-Series Automatic Submersible Sump Pump with VMF Switch  to run every few minutes, even during dry weather (2008 house has 9' ceiling basement & is very close to a reservoir). Since the basement had flooded by several inches during 2011's Hurricane Irene during a blackout (prior to my purchase of the home), I was paranoid about ground water.

Additionally, the previous owner had to replace the sump pump after only 3 years, so I wanted to minimize the on/off cycle, which not only is bad for the sump pump, but is annoying (constant on/off whirl heard from the main floor) and a waste of electricity. I first bought  Glentronics, Inc. BWC1 Basement Watchdog Dual Float Sump Pump Switch with Controller  to "raise" the water level switch.

Installation for this piggyback switch was easy:
1. Plug the sump pump power plug into the back of the this device's power plug, then plug it into the wall power outlet. Note that the power plug is quite large in all dimensions, but it stayed put and didn't lean out at all.
2. Using the supplied metal ring and...

United States on Jun 29, 2013

LimehouseBlues: The basement watchdog arrived today; mounted it on my sump pump, and, behold, it works!

Nice.

The float unit is 2 inches in diameter and 5 inches tall. It fits in my small sump bucket with room to spare. Nice - other float switches won't work in my cramped space. In the fabulous future of flying cars and robotic maids, I expect sumps to be 18, 20, or even 24 inches across. But for now, I must be content with a 12 inch diameter muckhole.

Even better: the float unit apparently runs on low voltage. This is a good thing, since it'll live around water. When it activates, I hear the guy call out, "Click" ... a sure sign that the wallwart has changed states (well, it stays in California, but perhaps it's yearning to return to its birthplace in Shanghai)

I'm happy with its timer, which keeps the pump going for 10 seconds beyond the float hitting the low end. During this time, my sump-pump slurps the last half inch out of delicious sump-syrup from the bucket.

What's wrong with it? Other pump switch connoisseurs and sump-o-philes will object to its color. It is, alas, all black. Hey - everything around a sump is black: the bucket. the hole. The mud is...

United States on Apr 01, 2013