Grinder Pump alarm test on oldest system to date

Diane Gray's grinder pump was installed in 1998 and is the oldest system that I have run an alarm test on. Diane has a sink in her basement which will overflow at a level which is still about 1 foot below the overflow tube on her grinder pump. This means her basement is susceptible to a backup and it is important for her to know that her alarm system is working properly.

[@grinderpumpguy]

great video mrdavetrouble. I almost started making grinder pump videos myself. lots of older E-1 system repairs as well as newer Barnes. keep it up and keep it clean.

[@neilbrookins8428]

I fail to see any significant benefit to that battery backup add-on. The light is dim and there is no buzzer. I suppose that during a power failure, you could walk outside and look to see that the water level is high or not. But if the power is off, you should just limit your sewer usage anyway - light or no light. My own unit does not have any alarm when the power is off. I can tell if its full by the sounds in the sewer pipe in the basement. Its good that you are testing this, but I do the same test a little differently. Instead of turning the 30 amp off on the main panel, I turn off the 20 amp in the alarm panel. This way the 15 amp alarm is still on. Then I just run water down the laundry tub sink or the bathtub at full speed until the light turns on. That shows the test passes. Then I turn off the water and turn back on the 20 amp breaker. The alarm then stops. My method doesn't involve filing the tub in advance. This saves some water and saves time because you just run enough for an alarm and then shut off the water. Unrelated to this, I added a 120v relay into my alarm panel and connected the dry contacts to an external alarm system. This allows me to get a message on my cell phone when the water alarm goes off. So, I know even when I'm not home, or out of hearing range of the buzzer.