flow switch

R

Ron P.

Member
What is a flow switch? i know where it is but dont understand what it dose?
What is the diffrence between the reed type and the non reed type?
how do you know if its good or bad?
Why is it better to be rated for 5 amps then for 1 amp?
What can happen if you wire it wrong?
PS thanks for the info on the wireing.
and what did you think of the "dirtball" idea?
 
A flow switch has a magnet inside that moves whenever water is flowing thru it. The Reid Switch just closes and opens from the magnet going near it. Just like an alarm switch. The higher current rating will out last the lower rating but it is not as sensitive as the lower rating switch. Usually the load is about 250 to 500ma or 1/4 to 1/2 of 1 amp so you don't need to worry about the rating so much.
If your flow switch is a spring loaded brass one with the ports 90 degrees from each other it uses the lower amp rating because the magnet inside is weaker than the big one without the spring.

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If it is the big black one then the direction is very important the probe has to be at the top this one is a gravity activated flow switch. When water flows thru it it pushes the magnet up and when there is no flow the magnet just falls down from the weight of it.



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i must be dense

i still dont get what its telling the unit?
I understand its a switch.
is the unit telling the swith to open or close, or the switch telling the unit weather it's open or closed?
How do you know when its broken?
What will the wash unit do or not do if it's broken or miss wired?
 
Ron P.

The purpose of the flow switch is to control the starting and stopping of the burner. Water has to flow through it for the burner to ignite. It is either good or bad, if it is bad the igniter will not work. Usually the problem is a broken reed. If it is wired wrong or has a broken wire it will not work, thus the burner will not ignite. It also has the same principal as a check valve, it will only flow one way.
 
I check the flow switch with a magnet and a meter. I remove the reid switch take the wires loose and take a reading. If there is continuity with no magnet near it the switch is bad. Put the magnet near the switch and you should get a reading. If no reading the switch is bad. You can use a test light a battery and a magnet if you don't have a meter. Just hook one side of the test light to ground and one side of the switch to positive and the other side of the switch to the point on the test light. The light should only light when a magnet is near it.
 
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